Windows Defender Firewall acting up / Windows Security Alert

Hi, TechGuy007

Thanks for your reply!

I understand that this window will only appear when you open FireFox on the 18th, so this is a normal phenomenon. FireFox will appear when you access the Internet again after the update. As a Windows user, I have also encountered the same window.

You don't have to worry about it, because this is a normal phenomenon. If you still have questions, you are welcome to contact us at any time.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

>When did this window appear?

On the 18th upon launching Firefox.

>Did it appear multiple times?

No, once

But nothing changed on the system.

Hi, TechGuy007

Thanks for your reply! Happy Christmas!

When did this window appear?

Did it appear multiple times?

The reason for this window is that FireFox needs to access the network, so Windows Defender pops up. If this window only appears when you open FireFox or run applications and services related to it, then this is a normal network firewall pop-up.

If this window appears randomly at any other time and appears multiple times, it is recommended that you check whether you have downloaded any malware. You can use Windows Defender to scan.

In addition, you can try to enter safe mode to see if the problem still exists:

The entry method is as follows

After booting up, wait for the login interface to appear. Do not log in. Press and hold the SHIFT key, then click Start-Restart Computer

Then after restarting, it will enter the repair mode, select Troubleshoot-Advanced Options-Startup Settings-Restart

Press the number 4 on the keyboard to enable safe mode

Check whether the problem will recur in safe mode

If the problem disappears in safe mode, it means that it is caused by interference from a third-party software. Please try Clean Boot. For specific steps, please refer to the link below:

How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track.

If there is any update, please feel free to contact us.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

No, not popups. One popup. The one above.

Things that never happened: Firefox automatically updated, Windows updated, my network environment changed. So this is not a normal phenom, which is why it was posted here. There are two entries in the list of apps. In the original image above the box for private is checked but grayed out.

Hi, TechGuy007

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

We understand that you have a problem with Windows Security Alert pop-ups.  Don't worry, this may be due to your FireFox automatic update, Windows update or network environment change, resulting in the system's firewall policy reset. This is a normal phenomenon and will not hinder or threaten your use of the system.When the pop-up window appears, you can just click "Allow access" below, which will allow FireFox to access your network.If the pop-up window does not appear again or you want to manually adjust the firewall settings, you can configure it according to the following steps:Open Control Panel and select System and Security.Select Windows Defender firewall.Click "Allow applications or features to pass through Windows Defender firewall" on the left menu.Find Mozilla Firefox (firefox.exe) in the list. If it is not checked, please check the corresponding network type (private or public network).If it is not found, you can click "Allow another application ...", then browse to the installation directory of Firefox (usually in C: \ program files \ Mozilla Firefox ), select firefox.exe and add it.In a word, this pop-up window is a normal firewall prompt behavior, and you can ignore it if it does not affect your use of the system. If you want to manually adjust the firewall settings, you can follow the steps I provided above.If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist