PrivateFirewall - Some help with Windows 8 Start Screen Apps

Hi All,

Wondering if someone could help me with this.

I've recently switched from Comodo Firewall to PrivateFirewall (based on recommendations of this firewall on Wilders). Love it so far.

I have it set to custom mode and to alert me when an application requests a connection and for me to manually approve or deny this request.

This is how I had Comodo set up and how I like things to work.

PrivateFirewall has been doing it's job fine for most things but it appears to struggle with a few of the "apps" I execute on the Windows 8 Start Screen.

The main issue at the moment is Netflix. When I execute Netflix via Windows 8 start screen on my secondary monitor it fails to connect. No notification window is given by PrivateFirewall. As I *have* to access Netflix via the start screen in Windows 8 (there is no desktop app per say and I can no longer access it via the browser as it redirects me to the app) I am stuck as how to get PrivateFirewall to "see" it and ask me what I'd like to do.

If I put PrivateFirewall in "training mode" temporarily, it allows Netflix through. When I turn training mode off, it stops netflix again. I thought that training mode would remember it after I turned that mode off but sadly it doesn't.

Has anyone else had this issue and if so could you let me know what I can do to fix this? I thought perhaps if I tracked down the app executable and manually added it to the trusted list, it would work. But, I'm not sure if that is how it would work. I did search for Netflix exe and windows search found a file "Netflix.ni" within Appdata. However, PrivateFirewall won't allow me to access Appdata or even see it so I can't add that file to the trusted list?

In addition, the Google Win 8 Start Screen App appears to be having the same problem. It isn't being allowed a connection and no notification by PrivateFirewall is given.

Tom

 

When you have training mode enabled, go to the port tracking section and check what ports is Netflix connecting to, if it is not listed then you're in trouble, but if you say it connects, then it should be listed.

Then go to the Applications list and see if it is listed. If it is, check that the settings are the same you see in the port tracking, if not, then it is not detecting it right.

Alternatively (would be my first choice) put the firewall in Default -Standard auto response mode- netflix is not a harmful app, if it connects and then appears in the list of apps you can switch back to manual.

Hope this helps you. I don't have windows 8 and in 7 netflix is not an issue with PF

 

Any help with stealthing this firewall please.I tried it but it fails the grc tests.I use a mobile broadband so im not sure if this is significant.
Thanks.

 

Well, when I first installed it -all default- I put my pc in the DMZ of my router and only had to block WMP Network service to get stealth.
It should work with the default settings as PF does maintain a Stealth config -even though some say it's not necesary-.

If you are in a broadband, is your modem capable of doing a DMZ? If not, maybe you are testing the modem and not the Firewall. That is usually the case for most modems this days.
My cable modem does that so I don't really have to care -meaning can't get stealth while using the modem- and meaning also, that what a hacker might see is not my PC so... can't harm it directly.

 

Thank you MasterTB.

 

You're welcome!!