Thorough management of application connections Once initialized, the app creates an icon in the system tray area and allows you to select the security profile, ranging from no filtering (turns off Windows Firewall) to high filtering mode (blocks all inbound and outbound connections). It mainly caters to experienced users, such as network administrators. In other words, the firewall's 'core' remains the same, and WFC controls the 'shell'.Windows Firewall Control is a tool that provides fast access to the Windows Firewall settings and enhances functionality by letting you manage networking rules for each application. Windows Firewall Control solves precisely that problem, not by offering an alternative solution, but by acting as a more 'sanely designed' interface for Windows firewall's functionality. Instead of managing to allow or block an app from connecting to the net with it, it's easier to start training for a triathlon. It's almost non-existent, hidden under the convoluted 'Settings' mess that Microsoft's still trying to streamline. Check that article for more on how Windows Firewall fares against more full-featured solutions.įor everyone else, the main problem with the firewall that accompanies Windows is its interface. We've covered both cases in the past by pitting the Windows (Defender) Firewall against pfSense.

However, if you're among those who need them, you're probably already using a pro-level solution. In classic Microsoft tradition, the firewall that comes with Windows is more than adequate for most people.

So, let's see how you can use it to control the Windows firewall and anything that connects to and from your PC.

Windows firewall malwarebytes