Windows Firewall Control — Managing Windows Firewall is now easier than ever
Program Overview
Windows Firewall Control is a powerful tool which extends the functionality of
Windows Firewall and provides new extra features which makes Windows Firewall better.
It runs in the system tray and allows the user to control the native firewall easily without having
to waste time by navigating to the specific part of the firewall. This is the best tool to manage
the native firewall from Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012. Windows Firewall Control
offers four filtering modes which can be switched with just a mouse click:
High Filtering — All outbound and inbound connections are blocked. This profile blocks all attempts to connect to and from your computer.
Medium Filtering — Outbound connections that do not match a rule are blocked. Only the programs that you allow can initiate outbound connections.
Low Filtering — Outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed. The user can block the programs he doesn’t want to allow initiating outbound connections.
No Filtering — Windows Firewall is turned off. Avoid using this setting unless you have another firewall running on your computer.
Windows Firewall Control doesn’t do any packet filtering and does not block or allow any connection.
This is done by Windows Firewall itself based on the existing firewall rules.
Program Features
√ Notifications of outbound blocked connections.
√ Learning mode that automatically allows digitally signed programs.
√ Create temporary rules which are automatically deleted when they expire or on program restart.
√ Intuitive user interface which is easy accessible through a system tray icon.
√ Full support with standard user accounts. Elevated privileges are required only at installation.
√ Disable the ability of other programs to tamper Windows Firewall rules and state.
√ Integrated support of creating, modifying and deleting Window Firewall rules.
√ Multiple and easier ways of creating new rules in Windows Firewall.
√ Lock feature which can disable the access to the settings of the program and Windows Firewall.
√ Shell integration into the right click context menu of the executable files.
√ Automatically display invalid rules for programs that do not exist any more.
√ Possibility to find and display duplicate firewall rules.
√ Merge multiple similar rules or duplicate existing ones.
√ View recently allowed and blocked connections and create new rules from the Security log.
√ Import and export of partial sets of rules.
√ Protection to unauthorized uninstallation.
√ Possibility to restore previous settings at uninstallation.
√ Global hot keys are supported and various shortcut keys are available.
√ Integrated multi language support in 20 languages.
√ And many, many more. Just try it out.
System Requirements
√ Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.8.
√ Compatible with all x86 and x64 versions of Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012.
√ Windows Firewall service is required to be enabled for Windows Firewall Control to run.
√ DNS Client service is required to be enabled for the notifications to work properly.
Known Limitations
√ Windows Firewall is incompatible with software proxies, web filtering modules, NDIS drivers and any
other security software that may redirect the traffic from Windows Firewall to their own filtering module.
√ Due to multiple system configurations and software installed there may be incompatibility problems.
Please report them and help us to improve Windows Firewall Control. Thank you for your support !
Current version
| Version: | 6.14.0.0 |
| Date: | April 04, 2025 |
| SHA256: | 0fbf810c5d12ca863ceec5f390bbba1780cca4e877e1fb84e3bb801783950603 |
Windows Firewall Control — небольшая бесплатная утилита, которая обеспечивает комфортный доступ пользователю к наиболее часто используемым опциям встроенного брандмауэра операционных систем Windows. Встроенный инструмент Firewall, который реализован в операционках семейства Windows, к сожалению, не достаточно удобен для настройки и управления, что затрудняет использование всех его возможностей особенно неопытным пользователям. Однако с помощью приложения даже новичок, не владеющий техническими тонкостями администрирования ПК, сможет настроить свой сетевой барьер на самые оптимальные параметры.
После инсталляции программа размещается в системном трее (контекстном меню), откуда и осуществляется эффективное управление различными опциями фаервола. Например, можно быстро разрешить/запретить другим программам выходить в сеть, настраивать дополнительные правила, посмотреть текущие активные сетевые соединения, импортировать/экспортировать политики и многое другое.
Windows Firewall Control имеет несколько режимов фильтрации трафика:
- High Filtering (высокий) — все исходящие соединения блокируются, не позволяя подключиться в Вашему ПК.
- Medium Filtering (средний) — блокируются соединения, которые не соответствуют установленному Вами правилу, а остальные работают без ограничений.
- Low Filtering (низкий) — разрешаются соединения, которые в том числе и не соответствуют правилу, но у Вас есть возможность блокировки приложений для предотвращения исходящего соединения.
- No Filtering (без фильтрации) — Firewall Windows полностью отключен (не рекомендуется к использованию).
ТОП-сегодня раздела «Расширения»
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Отзывы о программе Windows Firewall Control
Dev про Windows Firewall Control 6.8.2.0 [20-01-2023]
Хорошая софтинка.
6 | 5 | Ответить
Polygraph про Windows Firewall Control 6.8.2.0 [08-10-2022]
При установке пишет «Сервис недоступен». Это последствия санкций? Если так, то зачем выкладывать заведомо бесполезный софт? Имхо.
6 | 7 | Ответить
Марина про Windows Firewall Control 5.3.0.0 [09-04-2018]
Только время зря потратила, можно блокировать программы связанные только с входящим и исходящим интернет трафиком, да не требовательная и Руссификатор есть, но даже под паролем можно закрыть из диспетчера задач, а чтоб удалить прости снять блокировку)) бесполезная программа, над встроенным в виндовс даже не нужно столько париться чтоб заблокировать доступ програме в инет, думайте сами это моё мнение.
10 | 15 | Ответить
Татьяна про Windows Firewall Control 4.8.3.0 [31-07-2016]
Не плохая прога.
Русифицируется -просто.
+сы. Можно настроить все исходящие соединения в ручную. каким то программам разрешить выход в сеть а каким то -нет…
— сы. Настраивать те же программы в ручную- для многих «геморрой» и эта программа точно не для- домохозяек.
Вообще, родной брандмауер (Windows Firewall)- можно настроить 2 кликами. Ставятся галки- в «запретить входящие соединения» (на умолчании галки эти не стоят- их нужно поставить) И все.
Родной Брандмауер- без посторонних фаерволлов- совсем не плох.
8 | 10 | Ответить
(ерж про Windows Firewall Control 4.1.0.1 [02-07-2014]
Может есть смысл добавить ссылку на загрузку русского языкового файла с сайта разработчика по информации пользователя Valerikа
9 | 7 | Ответить
Admin в ответ (ерж про Windows Firewall Control 4.1.0.1 [03-07-2014]
Ссылка на скачивание русского языкового файла добавлена.
10 | 12 | Ответить
Windows’ default antivirus and firewall are more than enough for most people. However, if there’s one thing they lack, that’s customizability. And that’s where Malwarebyte’s Windows Firewall Control can help.
Although it doesn’t accompany Microsoft’s OS, Windows Firewall Control (or WFC for short) could be part of it. That’s because it’s not a standalone firewall solution. Instead, it’s a front-end that exposes the Windows firewall’s functionality through an easily accessible interface.
So, let’s see how you can use it to control the Windows firewall and anything that connects to and from your PC.
Is the Windows Firewall Enough?
In classic Microsoft tradition, the firewall that comes with Windows is more than adequate for most people. Yes, it may lack some advanced features. However, if you’re among those who need them, you’re probably already using a pro-level solution. We’ve covered both cases in the past by pitting the Windows (Defender) Firewall against pfSense. Check that article for more on how Windows Firewall fares against more full-featured solutions.
For everyone else, the main problem with the firewall that accompanies Windows is its interface. It’s almost non-existent, hidden under the convoluted «Settings» mess that Microsoft’s still trying to streamline. Instead of managing to allow or block an app from connecting to the net with it, it’s easier to start training for a triathlon.
Windows Firewall Control solves precisely that problem, not by offering an alternative solution, but by acting as a more «sanely designed» interface for Windows firewall’s functionality. In other words, the firewall’s «core» remains the same, and WFC controls the «shell».
Before going on, we should acknowledge that some wonder if there’s a point in using a firewall in the first place. We can offer at least a few reasons why you should use a firewall. So, the short answer is «yes», and with Windows Firewall Control it can be easy.
How to Download and Install WFC
To get started, visit WFC’s official site, and notice the download links on the sidebar on the right. Choose the link you prefer, download the app, and install it.
We suggest you leave the installation’s default options as they are. Apart from the installation path, the three extra options:
- Create program shortcuts in the Start Menu and on the Desktop.
- Set WFC to run automatically at user logon.
- Create some recommended rules.
How to Control Security Level With Profiles
With WFC installed, up, and running, you’re set. You don’t have to overthink about your firewall during typical office-related daily computer use. The predefined default rules help with that.
Do you want to increase or drop your level of security quickly? WFC enables you to do it instantly by switching profiles. First, find its icon on the Windows tray.
Right-click on it, and from the pop-up menu that shows up choose your desired security level from Profiles.
Configuring Windows Firewall Control
If you want more control over how your PC communicates with other devices, you should check WFC’s main panel. A single click on WFC’s tray icon will have its main window pop up on your screen.
Move to the Profiles and choose the one you want to set as your default.
It’s more secure to create rules for your software instead of temporarily switching to lower filtering. If, though, you prefer this approach, it’s worth enabling Automatically set PROFILE after X minutes. Then, customize the «profile» and «x» fields to complete that sentence as you like.
This way, when you switch to a less secure profile to test a piece of software, WFC will revert to the default, higher security profile after the time you define.
WFC doesn’t present any notifications by default since they can quickly become annoying. If you don’t mind that, visit Notifications, which should be set to Disabled. Choose Display notifications instead.
You can enable WFC’s Learning mode from the same spot. In this mode, WFC automatically shows notifications for unsigned programs but automatically creates outbound allow rules for any digitally signed program.
You can enable this mode and then take your favorite apps for a test drive, like Word, Photoshop, Krita, GIMP, etc. WFC will (or, at least, should) create rules for them automatically, in what is the easiest way to customize it. Remember to disable Learning mode afterward.
Move to Options to enable WFC’s Shell Integration, to add shortcuts for easy rule creation on the right mouse button’s context menu. You’ll then be able to right-click on any executable and choose if you want to grant it network access.
You can also change WFC’s User interface language or define hotkeys for instant access to its various panels.
We’ll skip both Rules and Security for this tutorial since we’ll see a quicker and easier way to create basic rules for any app later on. We suggest you don’t experiment with the options you’ll find there unless you know what you’re doing.
How to Perform Easy App Control Through the Connections Log
With Windows Firewall Control, you don’t need to create detailed rules for all your applications manually. You can instead go for the following much more straightforward approach.
First, set your filtering level to the recommended Medium. This allows only trusted software to access the network, forbidding everything else from connecting anywhere.
With that level, many of your apps or games might fail to connect to the Internet, access local shares, etc. That’s positive, for it means WFC works, your network is secure, and no untrusted app will have network access if you don’t want it to. But what if you do want a piece of software to access the network?
Right-click on WFC’s tray icon and choose the Connections Log. You’ll see a mostly empty panel appear on your screen.
Hit F5 on your keyboard or choose Refresh list from the Actions panel on the right of the window. After a while, WFC’s Connections Log panel will show a list of all software that tried to communicate through your network connections.
Want to quickly create a permanent rule for allowing or denying access to anything on that list? Right-click on an entry and choose Allow this program or Block this program depending on whether you want it to have access.
Customize and create allows you to manually edit and create such a rule, offering more control, for example, over which ports the app will be able to connect through, etc.
The rest of the options help find more details about the selected executable, the network nodes with which it’s trying to communicate, and finding and managing related rules.
Absolute Control With Custom Rules
Many books have been written on managing networks, firewalls, and configuring how software should connect «through» them. That’s why we decided not to go over such topics in detail for this article. If, however, you want to try your hand at manually creating such rules for your software with WFC, a very generalized version of the process goes like this:
To create a rule from scratch, right-click on WFC’s icon, go for its Rules Panel, and click on Blank rule under Create new rule, from the options on the right.
Alternatively, as we saw in the previous section, choose to Customize and create a rule for any software on WFC’s Connections Log. Similarly, to edit an existing rule, right-click on it from WFC’s Rules Panel and choose Properties.
Choose the app for which you’re creating a rule from Program (if the correct one isn’t already selected). You can also define its Name, Group, and Description, but the essential bits are what comes up right next.
Check the options under Protocol and ports to define the correct networking Protocol, Local ports, and Remote ports that the app will be allowed (or not) to use.
From the right column of options, you can state the Local addresses and Remote addresses the selected software will be either allowed or denied from reaching. You should leave both those options set to Any in most cases.
Under Direction, you can define if the rule will be about Inbound or Outbound connections.
You can disambiguate the whole «will or will not» we kept mentioning from Action by choosing one or the other. From that spot, you choose if you are or are not allowing the app to do what you described in the rule.
Finally, you can also choose if the rule will apply to all or specific Interface types. You can, for example, have different rules for communications through the Ethernet cable connection you usually use when at home and the WiFi you rely on when out and around.
With a click on Apply, congratulations, you’ve just created a networking rule!
Staying Safe With Windows Firewall Control
As we saw, staying safe with Windows Firewall Control is ridiculously simple. If you want, you can dive into its settings and customize everything. However, for most users, its predefined profiles are more than enough, with the occasional almost automatic rule creation here and there.
Who’d have thought that the built-in Windows firewall could be so versatile?
Windows Firewall Control extends the functionality of the Windows firewall and provides immediate access to the most frequent options.
It runs in the system tray and allows the user to control the native firewall easily without wasting time navigating to the specific part of the firewall.
Windows Firewall Control Features:
Similar:
Version History for Windows Firewall Control:
https://www.binisoft.org/changelog.txt
Screenshot for Windows Firewall Control
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Tactical Briefings
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Software
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Windows Firewall Control is a nifty little application which extends the functionality of the Windows Firewall and provides quick access to the most frequent options of Windows Firewall. It runs in the system tray and allows user to control the native firewall easily without having to waste time by navigating to the specific part of the firewall. This is the best tool to manage the native firewall from Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012.
Malwarebytes acquired Windows Firewall Control in June of 2018. Binisoft Windows Firewall Control will quickly integrate into the Malwarebytes platform, which simplifies the deployment and ongoing management of security solutions. Following the acquisition, the full-featured edition of Windows Firewall Control has been re-released at absolutely no cost (the notifications system is now available for free and the program does not require activation anymore).
Windows Firewall Control offers four filtering modes which can be switched with just a mouse click:
High Filtering — All outgoing connections are blocked. This setting blocks all attempts to connect to and from your computer.
Medium Filtering — Outgoing connections that do not match a rule are blocked. Only programs you allow can initiate outgoing connections.
Low Filtering — Outgoing connections that do not match a rule are allowed. You can block the programs you do not want to initiate outgoing connections.
No Filtering — Windows Firewall is turned off. Avoid using this setting unless you have another firewall running on your computer.
Program Features:
- Intuitive and easy accessible interface in the system tray, next to the system clock.
- Full support with standard user accounts. Elevated privileges are required only at installation.
- Disable the ability of other programs to add Windows Firewall rules.
- Multiple and easier ways of creating new rules in Windows Firewall.
- Integrated support of creating, modifying and deleting Window Firewall rules.
- Lock feature which can disable the access to the settings of the program and Windows Firewall.
- Shell integration into the right click context menu of the executable files.
- Display invalid rules with the possibility to delete them very quickly.
- Merge multiple similar rules or duplicate existing ones.
- Search for executable files through folders and create new rules in seconds.
- View recently allowed and blocked connections and create new rules from the Security log.
- Choose if you want the program to start at user log on.
- Import, export and restore all firewall rules or just the selected rules.
- Protection to unauthorized uninstallation.
- Possibility to restore previous settings at uninstallation.
- Global hot keys are supported and various shortcut keys are available.
- And many, many more. Just try it out.
Other specific features:
- Notifications System which provides notifications for outbound blocked connections. Four modes available:
- High — Display notifications for all outgoing connections that were blocked, including System and svchost.exe.
- Medium — Display notifications only for regular programs, without notifications for System and svchost.exe.
- Low — Automatically allow digitally signed programs. Notifications are displayed only for unsigned programs.
- Disabled — Notifications are disabled.
- Create temporary rules which are automatically deleted when they expire or on program restart.
Windows Firewall Control 6.9.2.0 changelog:
- New: Added 3 new providers for WHOIS queries in Tools tab.
- Improved: Removed file extension validation in Properties dialog to allow more rules to be created, especially for Windows Subsystem for Linux.
- Fixed: Rules Panel hangs if a program path is a network path.
- Fixed: The system tray context menu for notifications mode is not updated when changing the language.
Download: Windows Firewall Control 6.9.2.0 | 2.7 MB (Freeware)
View: Windows Firewall Control Website
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