[KB3323] Restore default settings to the ESET firewall (15.x – 16.x)

Issue

Solution

Revert firewall settings to defaults

Back up your firewall settings

If you have created custom rules or exceptions that allow applications or external devices to run without being blocked by the ESET firewall, ESET recommends that you record them before restoring default settings. Restoring default settings will delete these rules and exceptions.

Export ESET configuration settings using an .xml file.

Follow the instructions to configure the ESET firewall to function like a new installation.

  1. Open the main program window of your ESET Windows product.

  2. Press the F5 key to open Advanced setup.

  3. Click Network Protection → Firewall and click the default icon for the section settings you want to revert (Basic in this example).

Figure 1-1
Revert each section separately

The settings in each section have to be reverted separately. Repeat the steps for each section you need to revert to the default settings.

  1.  Click Revert to default.
Figure 1-2

View built-in (pre-defined) rules in ESET firewall

  1. Open the main program window of your ESET Windows product.

  2. Press the F5 key to open Advanced setup.

  3. Click Network Protection → Firewall, expand Advanced and click Edit next to Rules.

Figure 2-1
  1. Select the check box next to Show built in (predefined) rules at the bottom left side of the Firewall rules window to view built-in rules.

Figure 2-2

Remove firewall rules manually

  1. Make sure that you can view hidden files and folders.

  2. Start Windows in Safe Mode.

  3. Navigate to the appropriate directory for your operating system as shown below:

    • C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET Security

  4. Delete the following files to permanently remove all firewall rules:

    • epfwdata.bin
    • EpfwTemp.dat
    • EpfwUser.dat