[KB2590] Why is my printer not working correctly in Automatic Firewall mode? (4.x)

This article only applies to ESET Smart Security. If you have ESET NOD32 Antivirus, see solution "A" in the following ESET Knowledgebase article: Slow or no Internet/network/printer connection: Solution checklist.

If your printer (HP Officejet, Photosmart, or other wireless printer) is unable to connect while your firewall is in Automatic mode, you must create rules to allow communication between your computer and printer. Setting the Personal firewall to Interactive mode will allow you to create the rules, while Automatic mode with exceptions with allow your firewall to continue using the rules you have created with no further interaction. To learn more about the different Personal firewall modes, read ESET Smart Security Personal firewall behavior and user interaction (4.x).

To set your Personal firewall to Interactive mode, create rules and set the Personal firewall to Automatic mode with exceptions, follow the steps below:  

1. Open ESET Smart Security. How do I open my ESET product?

2. Press the F5 key to display the Advanced setup window.

3. From the Advanced Setup tree on the left, click Personal firewall → IDS and advanced options.

4. Enable all options in the Allowed services area, as shown in the screenshot below. Click OK to save your changes.

   

   Figure 1-1

5. After returning to the main program window, if you see Display: Standard mode in the lower left corner, switch to Advanced mode by clicking Change… or by pressing CTRL + M on your keyboard.

6. Click Setup → Personal firewall in the main menu on the left and then click Switch to interactive filtering mode in the Personal firewall area. 

   

   Figure 1-2

7. Attempt to print something with your printer to trigger the ESET Smart Security network traffic prompt. Your ESET Personal firewall will prompt you to allow or deny each connection that is not defined by an existing rule. To create the rules you need, select the Remember action (create rule) check box in the dialog window and click Allow for each box that appears; there may be serveral prompts before printing commences.

   

   Figure 1-3

8. When you have created the rules required for printer functionality, set the Personal firewall to Automatic mode with exceptions. To do this, click Setup → Personal firewall and then click Switch to automatic filtering mode with exceptions.

   

   Figure 1-4  

The Personal firewall will now function as it would in Automatic mode, while maintaining the specific exceptions (rules) that you defined in Interactive mode.

For advanced troubleshooting information on blocked connections in the Personal firewall, click here.