Windows Firewall Control (WFC) by BiniSoft.org

Discussion in 'other firewalls' started by alexandrud, May 20, 2013.

  1. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Windows Firewall Control v.4.0.9.7 - Quick fix

    What's new:
    - Fixed: Multiple rules are created for digitally signed programs when Low notification level is used.
    - Fixed: Rules with no Group defined or with a custom Group defined are deleted when importing a policy if the "Disable the ability of other programs to add firewall rules" is enabled.
    - Fixed: Properties of a rule opens if the user exports a single rule and the Enter key is used to confirm the save.
    - New: Added new keyboard shortcuts in Rules Panel. Use Ctrl+R to refresh the active data grid and Ctrl+Tab to switch between tabs. Also using Ctrl+{1,2,3} will switch between the tabs.

    Installation notes: Just use the updater to upgrade to this version.

    Download location: http://binisoft.org/download/wfc4setup.exe
    SHA1: 607725e12db3da737ed5247765e46c7c38d16161

    Thank you for your support and your feedback.
    Have a great week,
    Alexandru
     
  2. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    You will not believe, now it works (v4.0.9.6)! I have recently made a reboot, maybe that was the necessary? However it's fixed!

    EDIT: After make some work in Rule Manager (maked new rules with duplicate others), the ScrollBar don't go to top after change from Outbound Rule to Inbound Rules for example ...

    Ok. Yes, I know that with the mouse, but I use almost every time the keyboard - don't ask me why :thumbd:

    Aha, OK - this was just a confusion with the names (MY confusion!). I have a standard account = Limited account. Sorry! Anyway hung the last uninstall (definitely).

    That's cool, thank you!

    Ok. Damn that really seems to be a difficult thing!

    Thank you, Alexandrud!
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2014
  3. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    It's fixed.

    But you should know that it first did not work. Even after a reboot not. Only when I then closed the RuleManager and once tried, it worked! With the scrollbar it behaved the same way. Worked first not yet.

    Somehow there was still something to take over? Or it has also to do with the Restricted/Limited Account - I don't know.

    EDIT: Here is the same thing as above with Scrollbar:

    After make some work in Rule Manager (maked new rules with duplicate others), this don't work anymore ...


    You could here make a hint for such shortcuts: for ex.:

    Instead... "Refresh list" "Refresh list [Ctrl+R]" or just "Refresh list Ctrl+R" or so ...

    Thank you for the quick update!

    Alpengreis
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2014
  4. Stukalide

    Stukalide Registered Member

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    I'm McLovin' it!

    I've spent the last five minutes jumping between views and refreshing the log with the new shortcuts, tickled with quick-switching/refreshing delight :)

    Awesome update, thanks.

    EDIT:

    Maybe I'm getting a bit too excited over shortcuts, but how about the possibility of setting CTRL-F to put the cursor into the "Search" box for quick filtering (instead of having to mouse into it), much like the browser's "Find" function? :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2014
  5. 2muchtime

    2muchtime Registered Member

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    AppGuard agent exe seems to be blocked, at least it is not showing as allowed.
    In connection logs or manage rules it is not shown.
    Hope it is not just being hidden.
    Might just be a fluke, will keep an eye on it.

    Bummer, to good to be true.
    NOT BLOCKED!
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2014
  6. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Can you try this on a different computer too ? I think there is a .NET Framework problem with the controls. I tried the same steps as you described and it worked fine every time.
    Good point. The next version will have this too.
     
  7. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Hi Alexandru,

    Could you also provide a list of the new (and old) shortcuts? :)
    I just checked and there's nothing now and reading through this topic to find them would not be something that most folks would want to do. :(

    Currently the Options tab does have a "Global Hotkeys" section but both the Main panel and Rules panel show "None"... o_O

    Also, could you add a "Help" function to cover all the features of the program, especially to cover the Global Hotkeys? :)

    Thanks,

    J
     
  8. Sm3K3R

    Sm3K3R Registered Member

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    I have discovered that BitDefender Free may be bypassing wfc rules at start up ,even when set on High Filtering.
    It updates no matter what but the behavior is inconsistent.
    Sometimes wfc front end fails to load.
    Is there a conflict with BitDefender ?!
    Can anyone confirm this ?!
     
  9. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    No, unfortunately I can't. Note: it's not after a first duplicate - it's sometime later. Also: I don't had maked duplicates - I had exported, filtered, marked, scrolled (etc.). I will try to reproduce this ... few minutes ago I had it, but can't reproduce yet ...

    Edit:

    Ah, I have it - I can reproduce now as follow ...


    1. In the Rule Manager go to Inbound rules
    2. Activate Name-sorting
    3. Scroll down to the "Media Center Extended" rules
    4. Select all these (maybe 8 rules for standard rules) and export these to partial file
    5. Switch to Outbound rules

    Now I have this behaviour ...
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2014
  10. Stukalide

    Stukalide Registered Member

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    The new shortcuts are listed in the most recent changelog, at the top of this same page.

    Previously, "Refresh" was F5 (a harder shortcut to reach, moving the hand from home-position), and I don't believe there was any shortcut to switch between the views. So the only shortcut that has changed is "Refresh", from F5 to CTRL-R.
     
  11. Stukalide

    Stukalide Registered Member

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    Another feature idea --

    • In "Connections Log", the ability to right-click an entry and select "Jump to rules" -- this switches to the "Rules" page and filters the view for that specific program, showing any rules it's already defined by. Additionally, if there are no rules already set for that particular program, then perhaps the right-click entry could be aware of this and gray-out the "Jump to rules" option. But if this latter part would take too much resource-wise, it'd be no problem to jump to a blank filtered rule page, as it's quickly easy to jump back to the log now.

    I often see programs in the logs that I'm either unsure if I've previously set a rule for, or I know that I have but want to quickly see what the particulars of those rules are. Having a "Jump to" entry in the logs would help facilitate this much more quickly and conveniently.

    Note: If these suggestions start to get on anyone's nerves, please let me know, and I'll promptly cease and desist. I enjoy WFC so much, I can't help myself :)
     
  12. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    Would make sense, yes.

    Suggestions bring a program even further - can not imagine that someone would be against that! And you make suggestions, not demands.

    Anyway: WFC is already top - but that does not mean that it can not be better YET!

    Greeting,
    Alpengreis
     
  13. 2muchtime

    2muchtime Registered Member

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    Ignoring the allowing of inbound rules and it will go away, you hope. For some reason you don't reply to any messages.
    Good luck to people that want to chance their security to WFC.:(
    TinyWall does the job! :thumb:
    Hasta la vista!
     
  14. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Yes, they are, but that doesn't help new users who wouldn't likely read this entire thread to check all the Change Logs.
    It would be much better to declare them within the Main Panel.

    And, a Help file is always a big Help in understanding everything the program can do.

    J
     
  15. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Keyboard shortcuts:
    Esc or Middle Mouse Button = close the window (any)
    CTRL+TAB or CTRL+{1,2,3} = switch between views in Rules Panel
    F5 or CTRL+R = refresh the current view

    Launch parameters: wfc -param
    -mp = opens Main Panel
    -rp = opens Rules Panel
    -reset = resets the user settings to the default values
    -uninstall = launches the uninstaller

    *Note: If the program is already executing, the parameter that is used will be passed to the first instance of WFC.

    For the Global HotKeys, you must first define them. This is the reason why they appear as None. Focus the text box and press a modifier key like Ctrl, Alt, Shift and a second key to define a global hot key. For example Ctrl+F12 to launch Main Panel. Or even combinations like this: Ctrl+Shift+M. This behavior is pretty standard to any other applications that use global hot keys.
    Don't know of any incompatibility with Windows Firewall. Anyone else ?
    Indeed, when a column is sorted it does not work. I will try to find a different implementation.
    I put this on my list.
    I reply to messages, but for the question you sent me on email yesterday what response did you expect ? I did not give up on this, but the problem is that I can't reproduce the problem with AppGuard anymore. I can't debug something that I can't reproduce.It seems that this problem exists anymore only on your computer. From the feedback that I received from all of you, this is fixed with the new implementation.
     
  16. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Thanks Alexandu, but again, it would be helpful to have a Help file that's easy to access for newbies.
    :)

    I did set up hot keys for the rules and main, ctrl+shift+R and ctrl+shift+M.
    The ctrl+Tab is neat but Ctrl+R is not any easier than F5, for me anyway...

    J
     
  17. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    That's true, +1 for this!

    But just Ctrl+R is known as a combination for Refreshing - for example from Firefox, IE, Opera, Total Commander, iTunes ...

    Alpengreis
     
  18. Stukalide

    Stukalide Registered Member

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    Not only is Ctrl-R fairly standardized between programs, the biggest benefit is that it's done from the rest/home hand position on the keyboard. F5 requires a movement of the hand away from that position, and with a key that's rarely used, too.

    Now if we could possibly get CTRL-W to close WFC windows like we can in the browser (without resorting to AutoHotKey), 2014 may very well be officially the best year on record :)
     
  19. jwcca

    jwcca Registered Member

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    Thanks guys, the problem is that I'm an 'old dog' and mostly set in my way of doing things so I mostly use the mouse for Refresh and Close. Actually I didn't even know that ctrl+R would refresh Firefox, that's also neat but for me, just me, I'll still click on the icon.

    But, being able to open WFC Rules or Main using the Global HotKeys is very nice to have since it saves a mouse move plus right click plus left click so I will use those. Thanks to Alexandru for providing the facility and to Stukalide for the other suggestions.

    J
     
  20. redge76

    redge76 Registered Member

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    Hi,

    I tried using WFC for some time and I second the feature request for the "condense" feature. I tried to use WFC because I had the feeling I would have a tool to know exactly what is allowed to connect to the outside world. In some way I achieved this for a few days. But after a few weeks, my rule set is a mess. Some rules are found twice. I have 10 rules for the same program which open connection on 10 different ports......... It's a mess.

    There is no easy way to review the rules and sort things out. I would need:
    - The condense feature. (i.e. if I have a rule for port 20 and one for port 21, I need a way to condense this in a rule with “20, 21”). Select 3 rules -> right click -> merge
    - When creating a new rule with the popup it would be great to have the option to add the port/IP to an existing rule for the same program (or any other rule … but first display the rules for the same binary)
    - An easy way to change the group name. Currently you have to open the rule and type a new group name. Please provide a way to select an existing group (ComboBox)
    - Also it would be great to be able to assign multiple rules to a group in one operation. For ex. select 10 rules >right click -> assign group “xxx”. or “assing to new group” + popup to enter group name.
    - A way to represent the rules as a tree would be useful. The possibility to drag/drop a rule from group X to group Y would be good.
    - The current search feature uses only the rule name. So even if I assign a rule to group “test” I can’t filter all the rules belonging to the test group with a search. I fact it would be great to have to search function to work on all field. (for ex. to search all rules with 80 to find all the rules concerning the http port). I know I can quite do this with the sorting of a column, but the sorting is not numerical but alphabetical. And in case of a rule with 2 ports, it does not work.
    - Please sort numerical column with numerical sort order. (for ports i.e. 1 2 3 22 33 and not 1 2 22 3 33)
    - Excel 2010+ has a great interface to filter the data in columns. You could try to implement the same features.
    - The condense feature could have an opposite feature: “explode”. This may tricky to implement as you have to choose which column to use to separate the rules.
    - Possibility to hide some rules. For ex. I know I will never touch the “core networking” rules. So it would be great to have a feature to filter out these rules. This can be implemented with the excel style filter.

    Anyway thanks for this software. I’m still not very happy with it as it’s quite hard to manage correctly (in my sense. I’m sure a lot of people are perfectly happy with it).

    Regards.
    Redge
     
  21. iammike

    iammike Registered Member

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    @redge76

    What I do after I (or wfc) create a rule I always check if it isn't there already. This makes my rule management quiet easy, plus under group I always give the rule the Group name in which program category it falls, so instead of everything in Group "Windows Firewall Control" I use for example "iTunes" "Download Manager" "Internet Browser" "GPS" etc etc, this makes it also easier to sort.

    And If you think WFC is hard to manage don't try to manage your firewall rules with the Windows Builtin one. :thumb:
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2014
  22. redge76

    redge76 Registered Member

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    Yes this is what I mean. To me it does not look like a very advanced feature. A combo-box to select an existing group name.
    And something to help in the "check if it already there" is not really advance too....
    This software is great. I just need some little features to make you life a lot easier.
    I understand the KISS principle. But the excel style filter is easy enough for any manager. So it should be considered quite simple for anyone skilled enough to manage a firewall rule set.
    Without this.... Well, it's better than the built in one. But not that much. (to me...)
    Redge
     
  23. Stukalide

    Stukalide Registered Member

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    I second a number of these! Great ideas. ^I bolded ones I would personally hope for, and also added some comments/ideas for them.

    **Regarding the condensing + changing of multiple rules/entries selected, a bit of feature "condensing" itself :)

    (Note: this isn't any sort of demand; it's just brainstorming via writing/discussion, thinking how these features could best be condensed down and possibly incorporated, if alex so desires)

    Logs:
    -Ability to select multiple log entries at once and create one rule that's the summation of those rules' needs
    -Ability to select multiple log entries at once and create individual rules that satisfies the need of each, with the user's ability to uncheck a particular variable that shouldn't be factored into each rule (e.g., unchecking "Local port", which leaves that variable blank on each newly created rule)

    Rules:
    -Ability to select multiple rules and condense them into one collective rule (and perhaps then "dissolve" the individual rules)
    -Ability to select multiple rules and change a property on all of them via one "Customize" box (e.g., adding an "External IP", or unchecking a variable, which clears that variable on each rule)
    -Ability to select a rule and have it explode into individual rules, with ability to check which box(es) to explode on

    -Function to filter for duplicate rules (although would need clarification what constitutes a duplicate -- rule name? Entire rule? etc.)
    -Function to filter for duplicate programs (i.e., show all rules where there's more than one rule for a particular program)

    Maybe these last two could be condensed into one function -- "Find duplicates", but with a checkbox ability to choose which column(s) to consider for duplication.

    Anyway, just some brainstorming. Anyone feel free to pick these apart or refine.
     
  24. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    @alexandrud

    Just for information: I had the case, that the Notification System was incorrect as follow:

    I had a notice after start of new installed program - so far so good. But then I noticed a increase in CPU activity by WFC of about 44-51% (varying). I allowed the program and closed the notification.

    But then again and again came new notifications (always after closing a notify-window).

    After maybe 20 notifications I gave up and I had to quit and restart WFC, then was quiet.

    Maybe this is somehow interesting for you - because normal was this certainly not ...

    Thanks,
    Alpengreis

    Edit:
    PS: Note: it seems that this program had created a immense number of outgoing connection requests ...
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2014
  25. DrSogaBan

    DrSogaBan Registered Member

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    Don't know whether this is the right place for the question...

    I tried to install the latest version of Binisoft (after downloading from the link provided here). But I have been unsuccessful with the following error message been shown:

    http://s8.postimg.org/aoueut72t/Binisoft_Failed_Install.png

    Please help. Thank you for your advice.
     
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