blocking some programs in firewall properties

[ITlover]

I have some questions about blocking some programs in windows firewall , when I open the windows firewall window in security centre in control panel, I see some programs listed apart from "File and Print Sharing", "Remote Assistance" ,"Remote Desktop" and"UPnP Framework".

those programs are:

Win Live messenger 8.0
Win Live messenger 8.0 (phone)
Yahoo FTP Server
Yahoo Messenger,

I wanted to know that If I uncheck Yahoo FTP Server, then will I not be able to connect to the Yahoo FTP Server but will I be able to access the HTTP Services?

I know that unchecking any of these services will be blocked by Win Firewall.

[ITlover]

My other question is that for example I uncheck Yahoo Messenger service, will the firewall block the incoming connections meaning will it block other people from chating with me via yahoo messenger only or will I also not be able to use yahoo messenger?

I hope its not a silly question

[AnotherMuggle]

If you uncheck the Yahoo FTP Server option then you will not be able to connect to the FTP Server...you will, however, still be able to access the HTTP Server.

And yes if you untick Yahoo Messenger then Yahoo Messenger will stop working.

A firewall is designed to stop any programs from communicating with the outside world (the internet). The things you are looking at in Windows Firewall are called Exceptions. That means they are exceptions that are allowed to communicate with the outside world uncheck them and they will no longer be able to!

[Ob1]

if you know the ports used for each IM chat program, and have say a linksys firewall you can set it up to block those ports which will not allow those programs to connect to the IM chat servers.

here is a list of the some programs and there port numbers
http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/N100495.asp