Gave up on Tinywall

Discussion in 'other firewalls' started by jlg, Sep 21, 2017.

  1. jlg

    jlg Registered Member

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    It was such a nice easy program to install and configure on the fly, but it doesn't keep track of anything without learning mode constantly on, which basically defeats the purpose of a firewall, especially as there are some programs I have that phone home when started and I would like to be able to control that.

    My only real choices are to either keep Tinywall on learning mode forever, or keep trying to find the right exes/processes to whitelist for all these unknown, obscure little programs like Avira, Firefox, Chrome, Sandboxie, Cyberreason, Ccleaner ( don't even get me started on that virus ridden crapfest btw) etc., ad nauseum. I have unblocked blocked programs only to find them blocked again, so Avira has yet to update av definitions even though I completely whitelisted all Avira possible processes.

    The only program the Detect button found on my computer was Malwarebytes, and everytime I added it to the whitelist, it was found again when I ran Detect again, so my experience is simply that Tinywall isn't familiar with any programs anyone has ever used other than Malwarebytes.
     
  2. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I wonder is the problem with Tiny Wall or with the Windows Firewall it controls.
     
  3. Circuit

    Circuit Registered Member

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    Works great on my wife's computer (7x64). Have it set normal mode password protected. Only "dns" checked in special exceptions nothing else. Browser allowed, and EAM. No notifications for her a real plus.
    I would rather have it block programs then to find them unblocked for what ever reason.
    The "detect button" is almost useless, as it does not pick up 64bit programs (C:\Program Files) and only a few in the C:\Program Files (x86), so I don't add programs that way.
    Works for our purposes just great, since the demise of EIS.
     
  4. Stode

    Stode Registered Member

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    one bad thing with tinywall definitely is, if the exe file which is allowed to connect on internet, gets modified, it still allows it to connect, and doesn't recognize the file
    as "new" ..
     
  5. jlg

    jlg Registered Member

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    Yeah, good point Stode, I did wonder about that. As much as I didn't want to, I installed Private Firewall again, only program that gives me full control and absolutely does recognize when a program has changed, but only on a reboot... Can also screw up boot and/or your system if you install programs that require reboots before you can allow the new files, but other than that, and the dreaded leak, once you know its quirks, it's working fine and I never should have removed it to try updated versions of other firewalls that just don't work as well for me: Comodo, ugh, all that extra muck I had to wade through to get to the firewall itself, and then Tinywall, which i really wanted to like.
     
  6. Circuit

    Circuit Registered Member

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    Private Firewall, really? Comodo just as ugly.

    WFC4
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
  7. jlg

    jlg Registered Member

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    I still want to try that, may do it on the Windows 10 pc, but was worried it would take just as much watching as Tinywall.
     
  8. Circuit

    Circuit Registered Member

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    Just set a forget, reliable.
     
  9. Stode

    Stode Registered Member

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    Private Firewall may be a little complex for some, but is definitely a powerful, light-source one, has HIPS and runs also even on Win XP.
     
  10. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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  11. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    Um, is this your Private Firewall https://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html
     
  12. Stode

    Stode Registered Member

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    yes.
     
  13. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    In my recent experience #3431 = lack of support.

    Perhaps @alexandrud will claim otherwise but I've seen even more silently blocked programs since my previous report.

    Phuft!

    By the way, Alex, I have every right to post my complaints in this and / or your thread. It is a public forum after all.
     
  14. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    Tinywall silently blocks any outgoing connection and there's no option to receive alerts.
    WFC free is exactly the same of Tinywall, you get alerts only if you donate $ 10.
    Actually, I don't see any reson to get alerts, you just need to set rules for the apps you want to connect to the internet and then forget about WFC.
     
  15. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    That is fine, but I have donated so...
     
  16. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    Off- topic posts removed
     
  17. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    Um, any experiences, comments regarding Private Firewall support for W10 beyond what is posted at privacyware.
    Thanks
     
  18. Circuit

    Circuit Registered Member

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    Proof? Or just fake news?
     
  19. guest

    guest Guest

    +1
     
  20. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    @Stode
    Despite notice that development of and support for Privatefirewall has been suspended and despite notice that Privatefirewall is not formally certified for Windows 10, but in most cases, it will operate as expected on Windows 10 systems. Privacyfirewall appears functional and seems happy on my W10 Home 1607. I've reviewed User Guide and Help. I've played a little with Training & Settings.

    1) Um, do you know what Privacy network service does. Do you know what calls Privacy network service.
    With Privacy network service Running Automatic = Windows Firewall is Off. With Privacy network service Disabled = Windows Firewall is On. And with Privacy network service at Manual = Windows Firewall is On and I don't know what calls Privacy network service to Start running.
    2) Um, is the appearance of Windows Firewall Off or On....significant or just cosmetic.
    3) When I Exit Privacyfirewall with Privacy network service Running Automatic. Windows Firewall turns On. And machine Restart returns. Windows Firewall Off.
    4) Um, is Privacyfirewall a FW program or a front end for WFP. Seems like Privacyfirewall is a FW program.
    5) I'm imagining Privacy network service Running Automatic is default for a reason.
    6) I'm curious regarding Privacy network service and it's significance.
    7) I'm curious whether Windows Firewall On means Privacyfirewall is working properly on Privacyfirewall Exit.

    Any help n comments Welcome. Thanks
    Edit: @jlg
    dreaded leak ? quirks ? work-around for programs that require reboots ?
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2017
  21. g17

    g17 Registered Member

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    Hello guys, new member here with a tinywall 2.1.8 problem in need of a fix (running on Win10 latest). Also posted in the beta testing tinywall thread.

    I have been getting intermittent crashes on boot, the program stops (but can be restarted successfully always). I did a search and found some similar posts but no answer. Sorry if this has been resolved before.

    I have the full logs from the event viewer and the errorlog from /ProgramData/tinywall and can post them if need be.

    From the error log:

    ------- 08/27/2017 15:53:34 -------
    System.IO.FileNotFoundException: The system cannot find the file specified. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070002)
    at NetFwTypeLib.INetFwRules.Remove(String Name)
    at PKSoft.WindowsFirewall.Rules.RemoveItem(Int32 index)
    at PKSoft.TinyWallService.MergeActiveRulesIntoWinFirewall(Rules FwRules)
    at PKSoft.TinyWallService.ReapplySettings(Rules FwRules)
    at PKSoft.TinyWallService.ProcessCmd(Message req)
    at PKSoft.TinyWallService.FirewallWorkerMethod()
    at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
    at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
    at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
    at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()


    ------- 08/30/2017 17:34:40 -------
    System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
    at PKSoft.TinyWallService.WFEventWatcher_EventRecordWritten(Object sender, EventRecordWrittenEventArgs e)
    at System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogWatcher.IssueCallback(EventRecordWrittenEventArgs eventArgs)
    at System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogWatcher.HandleEventsRequestCompletion()
    at System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogWatcher.RequestEvents()
    at System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogWatcher.SubscribedEventsAvailableCallback(Object state, Boolean timedOut)
    at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
    at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
    at System.Threading._ThreadPoolWaitOrTimerCallback.PerformWaitOrTimerCallback(Object state, Boolean timedOut)

    The event viewer log has similar language in it about the crash error.

    Application: TinyWall.exe Framework Version: v4.0.30319 Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
    Description:
    Faulting application name: TinyWall.exe, version: 2.1.8.0, time stamp: 0x56e1e785
    Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 10.0.14393.1532, time stamp: 0x5965ac8c
    Exception code: 0xe0434352
    Fault offset: 0x0000000000033c58
    Faulting process id: 0x1074
    Faulting application start time: 0x01d315f780cded9d
    Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\TinyWall\TinyWall.exe
    Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNELBASE.dll

    Is this a known error with a fix? Thanks all.
     
  22. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I think TinyWall's development may have been abandoned. If you look on their web site, http://tinywall.pados.hu/
    the copyright notices at the bottom of each page have not been updated since 2016.
     
  23. jlg

    jlg Registered Member

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    bjm - many valid questions about Privatefirewall, and it is a standalone firewall / HIPS program, although I have turned HIPS off at this point due to too many windows update and startup program problems, and the last couple of Windows security updates disabled Privatefirewall from starting up, so it has to be manually started after logon, and new programs that require a reboot have to be added to the trusted list prior to rebooting, and as Privatefirewall is not being updated and the HIPS settings get lost over time, overall, unless you are used to using it, don't use it. I am only using it now to alert me to what programs are making inbound or outbound connections and the rules are easy to set, but with security updates disabling it, it's become a horror to continue using.

    I would just like to have a simple firewall program that will alert me when there are outbound / inbound connections and what programs are initiating them. That's really all I want, something that will allow me to control what is going on and have preconfigured rules for basic programs with updates, and so far I have seen nothing, free or paid that I want to try, so again, asking for suggestions....!
     
  24. imuade

    imuade Registered Member

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    The two most reliable solutions are Binisoft WFC (front end for Windows Firewall, US$ 10 for a lifetime license) and Comodo Firewall (free, you can disable all the other features if you don't want them, even if I suggest to keep at least auto-containment on)
     
  25. Lexor

    Lexor Registered Member

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    @jlg: Have you tried Simplewall and/or Jetico Personal Firewall?
     
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