The four modes of the firewall are: Simple Firewall v4.0 (October 2020) Website + Download (Majorgeeks / Softpedia)
Henrypp's SimpleWall comes pre-set to "default deny." That is just the same as Simple FW's "whitelist mode." So -- if user decides to leave SimpleWall in default mode, it can be just as limited and "easy" as Simple firewall. However, SimpleWall has much greater power than Simple firewall, but only IF the user wants to use that optional additional power. SimpleWall has some built-in but optional rules, developed by henypp, that the user can easily apply, if & when desired. Simple FW does not. SimpleWall has a user-friendly process whereby users can set their own rules. Simple firewall does not. (SimpleWall does NOT require the user to set rules. SimpleWall does a fine job just as it comes from the box. However, if a user learns more about security -- by visiting this forum or otherwise -- SimpleWall enables a user to apply that additional knowledge to tailor SimpleWall's processes to that user's own specific needs & interests.) SimpleWall can work with Windows own firewall, OR SimpleWall can work in place of Windows firewall. User's choice. Simple FW is totally dependent on the Window's firewall. I find it interesting that, despite SimpleWall's much stronger options, it actually has a lighter footprint than Simple firewall. Go figure.
@Surt -- good stuff but that Wiki is out of date. There is NO need for user to use a cmd.exe to disable Windows firewall. Simply right-click SimpleWall's icon in your computer's system tray & then click on Enable/Disable Filters. The ensuing pop-up enables easy enable/disable of Windows firewall. I suppose henrypp will update his Wikis one of these days. SimpleWall can function whether or not Windows firewall is disabled. However, if the Windows firewall remains enabled it will, in some cases, take precedence over SimpleWall so it is definitely advantageous to have the Windows firewall disabled. Why? Because SimpleWall on its own DOES make limited use of the Windows firewall but, in doing so, provides additional granularity & stronger protection.
I hope for users that this is bad joke. The Windows 10 Firewall has a lot of more dependencies within windows than this function. It has reason that there exist no simple deactivate switch.
Has anyone installed it yet? Has he done away with the tabbed UI that I was bragging about liking so much? I only see one screenshot, has he removed the settings also?
There are several stand-alone firewalls (FW) for Win10 -- these are FW that do NOT require enablement of Win10's internal FW. Here are a few of them: Tiny FW, Evorim FW, ESET FW, Zone Alarm, Comodo, etc etc etc. For those who do not want to use stand-alone FWS, the combination "wall" of Windows FW + router is generally sufficient protection for: 1-Everyday users who (a) use common sense as to what to download, and from whom to download AND (b) do not succumb to phishing emails, AND (c) who do not visit dark-side URLs, or porn sites, etc. and/or 2-Users who do not want to spend time on tweaking the greater granularity of front-ends to the Windows FW and/or stand-alone FWs.
