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.4.3.0.0

    What's new:
    - New: Auto-update feature was added. If it is enabled, it will check only once, after 20 seconds from the program startup.
    - New: Added proxy configuration support when checking for updates.
    - Updated: The Shell Integration text displayed in the right context menu of executable files is now localized based on the corresponding strings from the translation file.
    - Fixed: Merge Rules feature doesn't work correctly when duplicate entries are part of the input arguments.
    - Fixed: The profile is not updated in Profiles tab if the user changes the profile from WFwAS while a different tab is active in WFC.
    - Fixed: NullReferenceException appears if the user opens the Properties dialog, confirms the changes and then he tries to merge some rules.
    - Fixed: "The root Visual of a VisualTarget cannot have a parent" exception appears when .NET Framework 4.5.2 is installed and the user wants to open the Main Panel.

    New translation strings:
    330 = Allow through Windows Firewall
    331 = Block through Windows Firewall
    606 = A new version of Windows Firewall Control is available
    607 = Would you like to download and update to this new version?
    690 = Automatic check for updates
    691 = Use proxy configuration
    692 = Proxy configuration
    693 = Address
    694 = Username
    695 = Password


    Modified translation strings:

    603 = Unable to connect to the update server. Make sure you have the required rule to allow connections for this program and a correct proxy configuration, if required.
    606 = A new version of Windows Firewall Control is available
    607 = Would you like to download and update to this new version?


    Installation notes: Just use the new installer to update to this new version.

    Download location: http://binisoft.org/download/wfc4setup.exe
    SHA1: ac1750347dc0b96bc40eb4ccb37c7a3c6009da59

    Please share your feedback.
    Have a nice day,
    Alexandru
     
  2. pling_man

    pling_man Registered Member

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    Thanks alexandrud. This latest update is working just fine for me.
     
  3. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    It looks like I confused Windows Firewall Control 4 with "Windows 8 Firewall Control", which is another product. WFC 4 looks simpler. Is there any reason why it won't run inside the sandbox, controlled by Sandboxie? Most of the time, apps will at least be able to communicate with their own service process, even inside the sandbox. Of course I don't expect it to work correctly, but it should at least start up.
     
  4. bberkey1

    bberkey1 Registered Member

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    Excellent, I've been very happy ever since using with WFC, especially the notifications, which has made using the program such a breeze. Fantastic work!
     
  5. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Windows Firewall Control v.4.3.0.1 - Quick fix

    What's new:
    - Fixed: Duplicate context menu items when Shell Integration is enabled when no translation file is used and then a translation file is installed.
    - Fixed: Auto check for updates checkbox does not remember the last value when reopening Main Panel window.
    - Fixed: Proxy configuration dialog can't be closed if only the address is completed but no username and password.
    - Updated: Added a textbox hint for address in proxy configuration dialog.

    Installation notes: Just use the new installer to update to this new version or use the auto check for updates feature. Remember, if enabled, it will check only once after 20 seconds since the process wfc.exe was started. The next check will be on restart of wfc.exe, after 20 seconds. Only if enabled, otherwise, no check.

    Download location: http://binisoft.org/download/wfc4setup.exe
    SHA1: f5dc469dff4808c4c3d86884b02660ec0c2deece

    Thank you for your quick feedback. In this way I was able to fix the problems very quick.

    Have a great weekend,
    Alexandru
     
  6. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I have quickly checked it out, and it seems to be quite cool. I suppose you have to pay to get the "outbound access" alerts? I also noticed that it refuses to go into "medium filtering" mode, is there any reason for this? The "Rules Panel" looks nice, but why do you have to refresh the screen before getting to see anything? But overall you really did a great job, my compliments.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2015
  7. pling_man

    pling_man Registered Member

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    I just installed it on my Windows Vista laptop and I am not seeing the same behaviour as you.

    • I can select Medium filtering.
    • Rules Screen shows automatically (no need to refresh).
    So wait and see what alexandrud thinks.

    PS. You have to donate 10$ to get the Activated version, which allows you to get notifications and also setup temporary rules (which can expire). The donation then gives you access to all the codes you need for the computers in your home. I have activation code but haven't used it yet on my Vista machine.
     
  8. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    BTW, when I enabled "Secure Rules", svchost.exe was constantly using a lot of CPU time, when disabled, it went back to normal. And I have to say that I love the "Shell integration".
     

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  9. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    How does it look when you try to switch to Medium Filtering ? What is the behavior ? Switching to Medium Filtering profile in WFC enables the outbound control in Windows Firewall. Is Windows Firewall enabled ? Do you use any other firewall or security suite which does packet filtering ? The source of not being able to switch to Medium Filtering and the rules not being displayed is the same.
    Regarding Secure Rules feature and high CPU time for svchost.exe, I can't reproduce it. You must give more details about your configuration. All the things that you have mentioned are not normal.
     
  10. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    Now that I think of it, I did disable TinyWall, but the service keeps running, so I will uninstall it. And the rules are being displayed, but I need to refresh in order to see the "connections log" and "new rules wizard".

    Thanks for the feedback, I must have missed this post yesterday.
     
  11. guest

    guest Guest

    Thanks for the "auto update" feature
     
  12. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Windows Firewall Control and TinyWall are both using Windows Firewall rules. You must decide to use only one, not both in the same time. This explains the behavior that you have reported.
     
  13. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I have uninstalled TinyWall, and now I can indeed use "medium and high filtering". And the high CPU usage of svchost.exe has also disappeared.

    However, I still have a couple of problems:

    - I'm not getting to see any data from the connections log. Plus I always have to refresh this screen.
    - Internet Explorer refuses to connect out, even though it's allowed.
    - When I add a "sandboxed" app to the list, WFC says that it can't communicate with its service, is their a problem with Sandboxie?

    Another thing what I don't understand, is how to automatically reject apps from "accepting of incoming connections". I can do it with high filter mode, but then none of the apps in the allowed list are able to connect out.
     
  14. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    1. Did you enable both Allowed connections and Blocked connections from the Log connections area of Connections Log ? The Connections Log does not refresh automatically. You have to manually refresh it. Does it help if you clear the log and start making some connections ? Sometimes, if an entry from the Security Log is invalid, then it may affect the Connections Log.
    2. If you use an x64 operating system, for Internet Explorer, you have to allow both executable files: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe and C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
    3. I have to check this, as I don't use this software.
    4. By default, in Windows Firewall, all programs without an allow inbound rule are denied to accept incoming connections. Use Medium Filtering profile and consider creating only outbound rules to allow the programs that you want to allow connecting to the Internet. Inbound rules are usually required for server applications and should be created only on very few scenarios.
     
  15. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    1 Yes, but it doesn't work. I will reboot and perhaps reinstall WFC. The funny thing is, it worked just fine when TinyWall was still installed. I did do a bit of tweaking, I disabled explorer.exe and svchost.exe from connecting out, and disabled a couple of services, but I don't see how that would have caused the problem.

    2 Yes, my bad, this solved it.

    3 It's very weird, it looks like WFC does make the rule, but after that it starts to malfunction. This only happens when you try to give access to an app located in "C:\Sandbox".

    4 Can you perhaps explain why apps like Fiddler and Download Ninja can accept incoming connections? Perhaps you can check it out. If I block them with SpyShelter they can't open a port. I monitored it with CurrPorts.
     
  16. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    BTW, this only happens when you select "Allow through Windows Firewall" via context-menu. When manually making a rule, it does work. I still need to reinstall WFC and will report back.
     
  17. marzametal

    marzametal Registered Member

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    @Rasheed187

    What are you trying to let out of the Sandbox directory? Wouldn't modifying the sandbox settings be enough to allow net access? The only thing WFC would need to concern itself with is registering the sandboxie licence and checking for updates... or am I way off here... ?

    On a side note, I had to ditch Sandboxie because SpyShelter forced me to choose better compatibility over better protection. Do Sandboxie and SpyShelter still clash, or has someone figured out a fix for this?
     
  18. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    It's about giving outbound access to apps that are installed inside the sandbox. For example, I have Firefox and Opera installed on my real system but also inside the sandbox. All these browsers need separate rules. For some reason, WFC starts to malfunction, whenever I give access to a sandboxed browser (or other app) via the context-menu.
     
  19. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    If you check the rules created from shell extension and the rules created by browsing the file, what seems to be different ? All rules are created through the same mechanism, so it should work the same. What is different besides the path to the executable file ?
     
  20. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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  21. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    I have not yet reinstalled, but I don't get it, it keeps happening. It shouldn't happen, because there's nothing different. As soon I select it from the context-menu, WFC gives an error, see pic. But now WFC keeps running, instead of having to restart it. It has definitively got something to do with Sandboxie.

    Will check it later.
     

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  22. Daniel Fortes

    Daniel Fortes Registered Member

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  23. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    @ alexandrud

    I forgot to mention that it's very cool that you can also block IP addresses.

    BTW, is the high RAM usage normal? I saw it using more than 100MB of RAM.
     
  24. Mr.X

    Mr.X Registered Member

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  25. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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