Windows 10 Firewall Control (Sphinx-Soft) Discussion Thread

One of the several things that I really like about Windows10 Firewall Control (W10FC) is that I DO NOT NEED TO WRITE RULES. Why? Because W10FC has already written them for me. To wit: W10FC has provided a VERY GRANULAR pre-defined rule for everything I want a firewall to do. For example:

1- As is the case for almost every computer user, I run an Email program several times every day. All I want is for my Email program to handle email and NOTHING else.

2- Here are the details of W10FC's pre-defined rule for an Email ONLY program:

3- W10FC calls its pre-written rules "Zones" -- Here is a list of W10FC's ~38 Rules or Zones:



4- After I installed W10FC, the first time I ran my email program (PopPeeper), W10FC popped-up an alert, asking me what I wanted done. The alert let me scroll through a complete list of W10FC's rules or Zones. I simply highlighted the "EmailOnlyZone" & clicked a button and -- Poof -- it was done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am NOT an expert when it comes to developing firewall rules. Not even close. But I do want a very granular firewall, with well-defined rules for restricting the "connect out" capabilities of every program & file on my computer. On the other hand, I don't want to take the time to "get smart" about the inner workings of firewalls, TCP, ports, etc. -- and with W10FC, I don't need to. I really LIKE that!

Uhh.. by the way, for those of you who ARE firewall gurus, W10FC does allow you to write your own rules and also it lets you edit its pre-written rules, if you so desire.

 

Just a heads up, for anyone who might be interested.
W10FC regularly phones home. Both the paid and the free version do that.
According to the developer, that's because of how the copy protection code is implemented and it can't be changed.
You can, however, block the W10FC executables with another firewall (even the Windows FW).

But the main reason I'm posting this here is because there was a thread about this topic over at the W10FC forums (tapatalk), with some recent activity.
The title was "Does or can Windows 10 Firewall Control phone home? If yes, can users block it?"
The admin apparently deleted that thread, but you can still find remnants of it on search engines.
It looks like Sphinx-Soft doesn't want people to know that W10FC phones home.

 

if you block w10fc, do it recognize the license as legit?
this firewall gets informations from the WFP API, from windows, but i cannot say "before" or "after" the windows firewall.

for me, i dropped this product completely, none of my win11 installations ever seen it, not my latest refresh of win10 seen it. guess what, the windows firewall does a decent job for me with only a hand full of additional blocking rules. w10fc at least blocked my lan connections between machines w10 <- w11, maybe because of sharped settings, maybe insufficient code, i dont know, and finally i tried without and i have luck. no hardening, no sharping, nothing.

 

OK thanks for the info, I don't actually use this app (too complex for me) but I can't stand this ''phoning home'' from apps that are supposed to improve privacy and security. And for me ''copy protection'' is no good excuse.

 

if you dont like vendors which uses this method than your program world will be very small. btw, windows check its legit key also this was. now, what's your excuse?

 

I tried this Sphinx W10FC , I didn't like it. it is very simple Yes/no Action!!. doesn't give you control on Rules you want to create, for example wich Port, wich Remote Address (LocalHost) or external.
I like Malwarebytes WFC by binisoft @alexandrud.
gives you extended properities to control more Rules.
for Example
if you want to control System App to communicate only inside local network. you can't do it by Sphinx W10FC, where it is very easy for Malwarebytes WFC to do it.

Thanks

 

i assume, you installed the free or basic where changing, adding and removing Zones is not possible. The plus version has all this and can set up very granular, similar as WFC. In fact sphinxsoft is a standalone firewall, no addon for the windows firewall thus it behaves very different. i dont both since i changed hardware, dont has advantage for me as i know how to create rules in windows firewall. and thus i dont have any issues i need to fix where those two offered me enough.

 

It was not updated in 5 years anyway, I would not use it for that reason alone.

 

Why mess with perfection?

Quote from
VistaFirewallControl
Site Admin

7:53 AM - Mar 04#654>Is this project still alive?
Yes, sure

 

Is this project still making money? Yes, sure. And they do not need to do a thing.

Sure, why fix vulnerabilities in a security software? What could possibly go wrong when an outdated app is running with SYSTEM rights.

Code:

https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/windows-doubleagent-attack-turns-av-tools-into-malware

 

I respect your opinion, don't use it if your uncomfortable.

Works great for me.

 

@Brummelchen you are correct. I used the free version, Why should I pay as long as there is a software can give me what I need, add more it is not overhead for the operating system (it is built inside OS).
Thanks

 

Trust MS?

Prevents undesired programs and Windows updates, informational incoming and outgoing leakage of applications running locally or remotely. Detects and stops zero-day malware, prevents from “phoning home”, unwanted automatic updates and sending “telemetry”, increases your network security and privacy.

This is what I need.
No overhaed at all. 2 something MB's

 

Just disable "Network Store Interface Service", Windows will think that there is no internet and it will not even try to call home, it will be like a kid in a classroom waiting for a hall pass, during a summer break.

 

Trolling?
Dont like it dont use it.

 

although w10fc is "older", it is still working for a lot of its announced functions. but i dont know about its current benefit and if it is really compatible to win11 23H2 or newer. for me it caused issues on my local networking which is vital for me, so not installed again.

what else? try the "plus" version if you really want to trial w10fc, any other build is waste of time in comparison to eg. binisoft/malwarebytes. time changes experience, for me. and i had a lot firewalls installed, also from security suites.

firewalls are no set and forget feature, it can change everything!

 

On Windows10 I've been using the PLUS version for several years. I like it, no problems.

 

I have criticized Sphinxsoft before, but I still think this firewall is one of the better ones out there.
It's lightweight and it maintains the rules separately from the Windows firewall (unlike say Malwarebytes), which is a plus, because those often get modified by software without asking you.
On the other hand I don't like the activation method, I don't like that it phones home and the free version is quite limited.