Windows Firewall Control (WFC) by BiniSoft.org

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

  1. peter_brown_usa

    peter_brown_usa Registered Member

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    Hi,

    I have an issue with my new Media Server.

    I have just got the server and loaded Win7. I loaded up my DVD collection into the Windows Media Player so that I can stream to other devices on my LAN (Like my TV's)
    I was all working and all my PC's and TV's etc could see the movies and stream ok.

    I then loaded a few bit of software on including WFC

    Now none of my LAN devices can see the media server WMP when WFC is on. If I turn to No Filtering then my devices can see the media.

    As far as I can see all the correct rules are in place for Private Location for Windows Media Player Sharing Service and Window Media Player. I don't really want to switch on all the Public rules for Windows Media Player Sharing Service and Window Media Player if I have too.

    I can not see anything wrong in the connections logs either and when I try to connect to the server from my devices there are no blocks appearing in the connection log. Any ideas?

    Than k you
     
  2. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    In the Connections Log, check also the recently inbound blocked connections. I remember when I wanted to connect from my Minix miniPC to my computer I had to create also an inbound rule for System on port 131. But, if you switch the Public rules for Windows Media Player Sharing Service and Window Media Player, does it work ?
     
  3. PrinceYann

    PrinceYann Registered Member

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    Bug Report, I am using the latest version of Windows 8.1 and WFC:
    After activating object access auditory, which puts logs under "Windows Logs/Security", the WFC's Connections Log panel does not show any entry anymore.

    Update: Forget about it. The problem wasn't with WFC. Somehow the Firewall log was disabled.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2016
  4. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    OK I see, about the sorting. About logging, I just checked it, if I choose "show all allowed connections" it takes quite long to load. But it would probably also take quite long to load the data from only one day. Perhaps I should install a tool like Glasswire alongside WFC, it also does logging if I'm correct.
     
  5. marzametal

    marzametal Registered Member

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    It's been noted for a while now that ticking both incoming and outgoing for logging purposes will generate delays in log display.
     
  6. PrinceYann

    PrinceYann Registered Member

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    "- Fixed: The parser for Security log entries reads and displays wrong remote addresses
    in Connections Log for some operating systems which are not in English language."

    Thanks. You got a donation.
     
  7. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    That's not what this is about. It's about the huge amount of entries that is generated by Win Firewall per day, so no surprise that WFC has difficultly to load it quickly. Like I said, if you want more details, it's better to use a standalone network monitor such as GlassWire, which will also present the info in a faster way.
     
  8. hjlbx

    hjlbx Guest

  9. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    I installed it and after I launched it, I received these three notifications:
    upload_2016-1-17_13-35-41.png
    I don't know what it does to the alerts and the allow rules. It would have been better to explain what happened on your computer, because on mine it works like with any other program.
     
  10. mlessard

    mlessard Registered Member

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    Hello,
    I'm trying to setup a VPN connection on Windows 8.1 (standard VPN configured in Windows control panel). The connection fails when WFC is activated and no notification is generated. I can't find any specific rule that would block this connection and can't identify the failed attempt in the connection log... Any knows which program or rule I need to configure?
    Thanks!
     
  11. bunchuu

    bunchuu Registered Member

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    I installed WFC yesterday after ditching Bitdefender Internet Security, However I encounter problem when start up my computer this morning. WFC cannot be launched and gave this warning/notification: "can't connect to windows firewall control service". I have been go to this step:
    1. restart, succeed first but the problem is persist after another restart
    2. uninstall and install it again, no change.

    please help me solve this.

    I use windows 10 with emsisoft anti malware.

    Thanks
     
  12. hjlbx

    hjlbx Guest

    Check to make sure Windows Firewall is running in Action Center.

    If not running, enable it. If problem persist, report back here.
     
  13. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    The problem is not a rule that would block it but a missing rule that would not allow it. I assume it doesn't work when you use Medium Filtering profile. If you switch to Low Filtering profile, does it connect ? When it gets blocked next time, check the Connections Log for recently blocked connections, outbound and inbound. Pay attention to svchost.exe and System blocked connections. Have you tried any of the tutorials that can be found on Google ?
    https://www.google.ro/search?q=Wind...-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=Hb6pVsTmHYbyarHcq7AE
    Try to add wfc.exe and wfcs.exe into the exceptions list (whitelist) of Bitdefender and Emsisoft. Probably one of them block our service at Windows start-up. If this does not help, try to set the start-up type of Windows Firewall Control service to Delayed Start.
     
  14. bunchuu

    bunchuu Registered Member

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    there is WFC icon in action center but with notification/exclamation mark and shows warning "can't connect to windows firewall control service".

    I have been add wfc and wfcs in exception list but not solving the problem.
    However, when I try to uninstall it, UAC warning popups and I click "ok" (WFC can make change) and then WFC can run again.
    This is temporary solution since problem shows again in next start up and I have to go "uninstall" step to make it run again.

    Thanks.
     
  15. hjlbx

    hjlbx Guest

    @alexandrud needs to look into this...
     
  16. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    From your description it seems that Windows Firewall API is not available (other security programs scan at boot time which may delay the network initialization) when Windows Firewall Control service starts. This means our service will fail to start properly. Try to set the start-up type as Delayed Start for our service. If this still does not help, when you see that icon again ("Can't connect") try to restart Windows Firewall Control service.
     
  17. bunchuu

    bunchuu Registered Member

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    Thanks for your explaination, Can you tell me how to make windows FW API available? or reset to default setup? maybe this is happened because third party firewall.
     
  18. Sid.D

    Sid.D Registered Member

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  19. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    Some security programs can delay the network initiliazation at Windows start-up especially if they have some boot scan features. If such a feature is enabled, it may delay the start-up of Windows Firewall. When Windows Firewall Control service starts it reads the rules from Windows Firewall through Windows Firewall API. If this is not yet ready, then our service may not start properly and displays that error message. Starting/restarting the WFC service will reinitialize WFC and it will make it work. If you set the start-up of WFC service to delayed start it will be launched with a delay which may ensure that Windows Firewall is initialized and ready to be called by WFC.
     
  20. hjlbx

    hjlbx Guest

    @alexandrud

    Bug

    WFC 4

    Windows 8.1 Home 64 bit - Clean Install

    Kingsoft WPS

    WPS connects to many IP addresses and multiple ports all at the same time.

    Causes WFC notifications to freeze and high CPU usage of wfc.exe; must use Task Manager to kill wfc.exe - only way to close frozen notifications.

    Reproducible - at will - every time use WFC with WPS.

    WFC malfunctions ever time installed with WPS.
     
  21. Alpengreis

    Alpengreis Registered Member

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    This is a known effect (can be the case with other programs too). I had reported it already.

    Maybe this behaviour is not easy to change?
     
  22. alexandrud

    alexandrud Developer

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    I will think about a solution to handle these programs that try insanely to reconnect.
     
  23. marzametal

    marzametal Registered Member

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    How about recording one of the IP addresses, using a program like NirSoft IPNetInfo to get a range, and then creating an outbound block rule for the program with the range included?

    That way, the reconnects will be silenced; until it tries a different range that is... or to prevent the future reconnects, use 1.1.1.1-x.x.x.x,x-x-x-x-255.255.255.255 as outbound block range where x.x.x.x is the IP address used to check for program updates to compliment the allow rule for said program.
     
  24. hjlbx

    hjlbx Guest

    Thanks @alexandrud - as always, greatly appreciated...
     
  25. bunchuu

    bunchuu Registered Member

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    helo, it me again
    I have been checked my security software and I didn't found any boot time scan feature. When I go throught uninstallation step it, UAC warning pop ups, It seems WFC cannot skip UAC (I set UAC at highest level). And the WFC run again (just before uninstallation).
     
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