Comcast version does NOT disable Windows Firewall properly

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

I run my own IT biz. I handle small businesses from 1 to 30 PCs. Most of my clients are Comcast broadband business subscribers because that is basically the only company we have here. Please don't get me started on this MONOPOLY BS! lol

Since Comcast dropped that disaster McAfee and got Norton, I let my clients know that they can now download and install Norton for free. This makes them very happy.

 

Anyway, I have noticed a MAJOR problem with Norton 360 for Comcast. ALMOST every single time it does not fully disable WIndows Firewall! So, I have to go in and manually do it. I have probably done 300-400 installs. Most likely more. I can say with first hand experience and authority that this Comcast 360 product does not fully disable Windows Firewall. Period! Clean installs or upgrades. Clean new PC or older PC. From XP to 7, 32 and 64 bit. If I had to guess, I would say 90-95% of the time it fails to disable WF. These installs are done CLEANLY with just Norton and not the other crap Comcast software they promote.

 

I cannot speak for the regular retail Norton 360. I can say I have seen the same thing numerous times with store bought NIS 2013. This is the product I recommend for all other clients. Again and again I have to go in and manually disable Windows Firewall. Even on my home network and test setup - (12 PCs each running NIS 2013 - real PCs and even add another 20 or so VMWARE virtual machines used for testing, etc.). 9 out of 10 times NIS fails to disable WF.

 


If there is a solution, I would love to know it. Mostly, I am just posting here to maybe officially declare a bug or glitch and hope it gets looked into.

 

Thanks.

 

PS -

Yes, almost every time there is the lovely orange/yellow banner telling you that these settings are being managed by Norton.

2

Hi Superlebowski

I’ve just checked my system by turning the windows firewall on and Norton provided a warning that asks, do you want to turn windows firewall off, I clicked no and then restarted the system and Norton did not provide notification that the windows firewall was on when the system restarted, which I think it should do?

When I turn the windows firewall on and Norton pops up and I click yes to turn it off it does turn the windows firewall off.

Can I put a point of debate forward, if Norton is allowed to turn the windows firewall off then why can’t windows turn the Norton firewall off?

Would it be a possibility that the few machines that had the windows firewall disabled where already disabled before Norton was installed?

I have NIS 2013 but I would think it’s the same for all Norton internet security products that could have an addition in the future so that Norton can detect another firewall and prompts the operator to disable it as at present it doesn’t report after installing or if the windows firewall has been switched on and the machine is restarted.

 

 

ATB

 

intesec

 

 

 

 

3
Hi superlebowski,
First of all we need the answer to SOJ's excellent question as to what you are referring to. 
Also you may have noticed that SOJ stated that Norton is managing the firewall.  I'm sure we all agree that management is different than totally disabling.  I am curious also exactly what you do to totally disable the Windows firewall when you  "go in and manually do it". 
I personally think the what is called  "Windows Firewall is turned off" by Norton is a correct statement - if you go into Control Panel Windows Firewall > Advanced Settings, it will state windows Firewall Off in Domain/Private and Public Profile - but under the Caution that the settings are being managed by vendor application Norton product. So Windows Firewall is OFF - but not totally disabled.
Also, perhaps another surprise for you - Comcast Business Class (CBC) customers no long are using the "Comcast clone of N 360".  As of April 1st the CBC is being offered the Norton Internet Security Online product, which is different from N 360 - but similar to NIS retail.  I do not believe there is any differences between CBC NIS Online and the former NSS in regards to the handling of Windows Firewall.
FWIW - IMHO, I think it is a matter of terminology and a muisunderstanding of the term "turned off - but managed" verus "totally disabled".  I do agree the verbage used by Norton (turns off Windows Firewall) may not be perfectly clear - perhaps manages would be a better term.
I can tell you, we see the same thing with the retail version of NIS and N 360 - the windows Firewall is turned off in Norton verbage
 
 
4

I run my own IT biz. I handle small businesses from 1 to 30 PCs. Most of my clients are Comcast broadband business subscribers because that is basically the only company we have here. Please don't get me started on this MONOPOLY BS! lol

Since Comcast dropped that disaster McAfee and got Norton, I let my clients know that they can now download and install Norton for free. This makes them very happy.

 

Anyway, I have noticed a MAJOR problem with Norton 360 for Comcast. ALMOST every single time it does not fully disable WIndows Firewall! So, I have to go in and manually do it. I have probably done 300-400 installs. Most likely more. I can say with first hand experience and authority that this Comcast 360 product does not fully disable Windows Firewall. Period! Clean installs or upgrades. Clean new PC or older PC. From XP to 7, 32 and 64 bit. If I had to guess, I would say 90-95% of the time it fails to disable WF. These installs are done CLEANLY with just Norton and not the other crap Comcast software they promote.

 

I cannot speak for the regular retail Norton 360. I can say I have seen the same thing numerous times with store bought NIS 2013. This is the product I recommend for all other clients. Again and again I have to go in and manually disable Windows Firewall. Even on my home network and test setup - (12 PCs each running NIS 2013 - real PCs and even add another 20 or so VMWARE virtual machines used for testing, etc.). 9 out of 10 times NIS fails to disable WF.

 


If there is a solution, I would love to know it. Mostly, I am just posting here to maybe officially declare a bug or glitch and hope it gets looked into.

 

Thanks.

 

PS -

Yes, almost every time there is the lovely orange/yellow banner telling you that these settings are being managed by Norton.

5

The following article explains the point that yank and I are making (it refers to SEP, but applies to any third-party firewall on Windows 7):

 

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH123729&key=55089

 

 

6

Sorry for the delayed response. Got a nasty stomach bug...need I say more? lol

 

Anyway, sorry if I was not clear. I think I am partially right. I am still seeing with Comcast version Windows Firewall warning messages. I do not mean warnings from Norton managing it, I mean the actual popup Windows dialog boxes that you would see on a system without Norton on it.

 

Now I thought, as the article SendOfJive posted, Windows Firewall should be on but should show the orange warning that Norton is managing it. But doing research and searching these forums I found a similar discussion with the conclusion of needing to go in and manually DISABLE Windows FW. Now maybe I have it confused, and saw settings for an older product or OS? I will assume article psoted here is correct, as was my previous understanding. That would resolve that issue.

 

But it still does not explain why I see an overwhelming amount of Comcast 360 versions still giving WINDOWS popup warnings. So I am still mystified. If I do manually trun off the Windows Firewall, we never see the unusual and unexpected pops up again.