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Recent versions of Windows pack some underrated security tools, such as the Windows Firewall, which compares favorably with quite a few better known firewalls and even plays nicely with many of them. Windows Firewall Control is a simple bit of freeware that extends the capabilities of the built-in Windows firewall controls. It adds icons and entries to the system tray, desktop, and other locations; adds shell integration in Explorer menus; and other options.
When installing Windows Firewall Control, you're presented with a small dialog containing a variety of check boxes for configuring how you access the program and how it starts. If you run the Windows Firewall at startup (and you ought to, if you run it at all) you can set Windows Firewall Control to run at startup, too. When we'd made our choices and finished the setup process, a small shield logo appeared in the notification area, also known as the system tray. The shield's color indicates Windows Firewall's filtering status; high, medium, low, and no filtering, for when the firewall is turned off. Clicking the icon opens the program's compact console, which offers tabs for Profiles, Options, Policies, Shortcuts, and About. The Profiles tab includes Windows Firewall's filtering slider, a button to access a detailed rules manager, and the ability to lock the current configuration. Among the options is the ability to enable Learning Mode and display notifications. We could also import and export policies.
The interface stays pinned to the corner and can't be dragged around, and you can't pin it open or specify always-on-top. The ability to keep the interface open would add to this tool's usefulness, which is certainly keeping with its mission to extend the functionality of the built-in Windows Firewall. If you use the Windows Firewall, try Windows Firewall Control.
Publisher's Description
From BiniSoft:
Windows Firewall Control is a application developed to provide quick access to the most frequent options used from Windows Firewall. It sits in the system tray and allows user to control the Windows Firewall by navigating to the specific part of the Firewall. Options to enable or disable firewall, access Windows Firewall and its Advanced Security are all given in the system tray right-click context menu. It extends the default functionality of the native firewall by integrating the program into the context menu of the executable files and by showing to the user the notifications of outgoing blocked connections.
What's new in this version: Version 4.0 has added support for defining subnet masks when setting the remote addresses for a rule and A lot of new messages are added in the interaction with the user to improve the usability of the program and the understanding of it.
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All versions:
2.9 starsout of 36 votes
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Current version:
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"Not Free, Don't Be Mislead!"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.9.1.4
Pros
1. Small program, installs to less then 1 MB.
2. Easy to view invalid rules and remove them.Cons
1. Requires Microsoft .Net 4 to run. (48 MB download)
2. Is NOT free, to make it anymore useful over default Windows firewall, one must donate $10.
3. WFC.exe takes 90 MB of RAM, WFCS takes 20 MB of RAM.
4. Control Panel stays on top even when managing rules.
5. Will not all deletion of all rules.Summary
Much better alternative is Sphinx Windows 7 Firewall Control.
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"It's ok, but has problems"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.8
Pros
This is ok for managing your firewall rules,
Cons
but has one major problem in that the shellextension that gives you an option to use the program in windows explorer's context menu is buggy. It locks up the explorer when you have it enabled, so one of its selling points, that of being able to use it in the context menu in windows 7 is not a selling point to consider. Other than that, it seems pretty good. But you can do the same thing from the command line or with a batch file when it comes to the firewall part. It suffers from the same problems other applications have and that is trying to do too much and ending up doing one part half-assed.
Summary
I can take it or leave it. From a batch file, I can create inbound and outbound rules for an entire folder and I can pass it what folder I want done and all the sub-folders as well and I wrote a short program that can use that batch file to make it even simpler to accomplish what I want. So, when you want something quick and dirty without cluttering your system with a whole bunch of new junk, this is not the way to go. But if you are a noob, I guess it is better than nothing and the fancified gui is just fine for the novice, but the problem with the shell extension, will give a novice one heck of a headache that they won't know the source of. So, it is good and bad for the target market. The people that need this most are the ones that will have issues with the one bug in the program and they won't know what is causing it. Ain't it a *****.
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"FIRST SOFTWARE which caused Windows 8 to have problems."
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.7.2
Pros
I have no pros for this software - there is nothing good about it.
Cons
Lock up even a Windows 8 system.
Summary
IT SUCKS and you shouldn't even try it. OR, IN THE VERY LEAST, do a complete system restore ISO before you ever install this crap.
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"Unable to install"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.7.0.5
Pros
Haven't a clue.
Cons
is not intuitively workable.
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"please don't"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.7.0.3
Pros
none of the pros
Cons
all the cons
Summary
foolishly installed this, now i can't get rid of the damnable thing
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"Windows Firewall Control - Tthe best one I've seen"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.6
Pros
- Extends the configuration that is possible to set for Windows Firewall.
- Adds a lot of new functionality to Windows Firewall.
- Easy to use. Help not needed. Every setting is self explanatory.Cons
This product is the best.
Summary
The new Learning Mode which offers the possibility to auto allow digitally signed without showing notifications makes this product closer to all modern firewalls.
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"Outstanding work. WFC made me use Windows Firewall."
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.5.0.2
Pros
This program extends the default settings and posibilities of what you can do with the default Windows Firewall. Very easy to use and very simple and intuitive interface.
Technical support is great. I had a problem with my DPI settings and they released a test version the next day which solved my problem. Then, four days later, a new version came out, which included my fix.
I use WFC 3.5.0.2 on my Windows 8 RTM build 9200 and works great. I am glad that I don't need another firewall. With WFC installed, Windows Firewall gained super powers. :) I'm kidding. It is a great software.Cons
None that I can think about.
Summary
Great job. Keep up the good work in improving of this software.
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"poor, unable to install"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.5
Pros
unknown, won't install
Cons
repeatedly asks permission to install and then apparently fails to do so.
Summary
poor product
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"Version 3.5 is the best version ever. Runs very smooth."
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.5
Pros
- You can control all aspects of Windows Firewall very easy.
- This tool is a must.
- From this version, Lock feature is available to all users.
- Easy to use, very intuitive.Cons
- Learning Mode which gives the user notifications about outbound blocked connections, requires to be a registered user. This requires a donation of 10$. This is very cheap, because you can activate it on all of your home computers (4 in my case). I am a registered user since version 2.9 and I can tell you that this little program worth the money.
Summary
If you want to get rid of 3rd party firewalls and use Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, this little gem is a must. Very powerfull and easy to use. Even if you know nothing about firewalls, this tool will be easy to learn in minutes.
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"Windows Firewall Control is a valuable security tool"
Version: Windows Firewall Control 3.4
Pros
Windows Firewall Control can be configured to start automatically with Windows and it is then incredibly simple to flick between using High, Medium, Low, or No Filtering modes. This is a great alternative to navigating through the various firewall related screen that can be found in the Control Panel. Working in free mode, the program is very powerful, but opt to register for $10 and there are a number of additional options available to you.
Even if there was no trial mode active, I wrote to the developer and he sent me an activation code for testing purposes.
Technical support is great and fast.Cons
none until now
Summary
Whether used in free or registered mode, Windows Firewall Control is a valuable security tools that makes it easy to configure your internet protection.
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