Using the Windows Firewall INF File in Windows XP SP2

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), now in Beta testing, includes significant enhancements to the Windows Firewall component (formerly known as the Internet Connection Firewall). Windows Firewall is a stateful host firewall that discards unsolicited incoming traffic, providing a level of protection for computers against malicious users or programs. To provide better protection for computers connected to any kind of network (such as the Internet, a home network, or an organization network), Windows XP SP2 enables Windows Firewall on all network connections by default. Network administrators can use the Windows Firewall INF file (Netfw.inf) to modify default settings either before installation or after installation. This article describes the usage of the Windows Firewall INF file.