simplewall
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Simple tool to configure Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) which can configure network activity on your computer.
Features
Properties
- Lightweight
- Privacy focused
Features
- Ad-free
- Firewall
- Portable
- Built-in Firewall
- Outbound firewall
- No registration required
- No Tracking
- Block Trackers
- Built-in timer
- Dark Mode
- Works Offline
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TheEmperorArt added simplewall as alternative to EasyFirewall- nu1iess3 rated simplewall
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What is simplewall?
Simple tool to configure Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) which can configure network activity on your computer.
The lightweight application is less than a megabyte, and it is compatible with Windows Vista and higher operating systems. You can download either the installer or portable version. For correct working, need administrator rights.
Features:
- Simple interface without annoying pop ups.
- Rules editor (create your own rules).
- Internal blocklist rules (block Windows spy / telemetry).
- Dropped packets information with notification and logging to a file feature (win7+).
- Allowed packets information with logging to a file feature (win8+).
- Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) support (win10).
- Windows Store support (win8+).
- Windows services support.
- Free and open source.
- Localization support.
- IPv6 support.
simplewall information
Developed by
Henry++ Licensing
Open Source (GPL-3.0) and Free product.Written in
Rating
Average rating of 4.4Alternatives
37 alternatives listedSupported Languages
- English
AlternativeTo Categories
Security & Privacy, Network & AdminGitHub repository
- 7,778 Stars
- 584 Forks
- 136 Open Issues
- Updated
Comments and Reviews
Free and open sourced! There's a portable version as well as setup version... x32 or x64... Customization interface, 17 languages, preset rules blocking Windows telemetry[619 Rules], blacklist/whitelist, customizable notifications for whitelist, dropped packet logging, in-client updates [no restart required], advanced rules such as boot-time filters [prevents leaking during boot(I recommend enabling)]... Windows firewall GUI is terrible, this is much easier to understand; much easier to edit. Previously I was using Kaspersky total security; after an account of mine was hijacked by some spyware... However during the last month of your Kaspersky license, it nags you, and is preventing windows from sleeping. Unlike paid/freemium firewalls there's nothing to nag you, no donations [in the main interface, there's a "give thanks" in the about window] or ads in the client etc. Even though it's open source they are constantly releasing builds, so no need to self compile, unless you don't trust anyone... Has an update feature, updates ask for approval, updates don't require a restart of the client. Hardware utilization Simplewall [x64] 2.4.6 Size: 1.10 MB (1,154,916 bytes) Size on Disk: 1.12 MB (1,176,120 bytes) [it's odd that windows is reporting size on disk to be larger than the size, normally size on disk is smaller] RAM usage 7.2 - 11mb depending on how many apps are listed/filters... CPU usage 0% - 0.5% [6700k] ; CPU usage when a notification is up/ when you change the interface styling
[Edited by Chaython, September 12] When there's 200 apps there's instability [hangs, when scrolling the application list]
EDIT: no longer recommend it. In v3.6.7 at some point Task Scheduler started constantly hogging the CPU when simplewall was on. Killing SW fixed the issue. At that time it's been a while since had I introduced any new firewall rules. And the dev's feedback was hollow
ORIGINAL COMMENT: Lightweight, easy to manage rules, open source. Comes with optional rules preventing Windows tracking and telemetry.
lightweight, colorful interface, lots of features, can run in parallel with Windows Firewall...
A very good firewall!
Once properly configured, can be very useful in specific environments...
Simplewall is a lightweight, open-source firewall for Windows that leverages the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) to provide granular control over network traffic.
It uses minimal resources, and is basically an easier way to handle Windows firewall.
The feature that keeps most people using it is its ability to block all apps from accessing the internet unless you allow them. It will create pop ups and you can allow, or allow with timer.
This is what I do when I install a new app, I allow it to run for 5-10 minutes to install, and then shut it off from the internet forever, until I need to install an update.
It also helps to block Windows telemetry systemwide, using the same lists that are used by uBlock Origins.
It has better features than TinyWall. It uses far less resources than Portmaster. It doesn't make you disable important Windows security measures like Fort Firewall.
Not perfect, and many people dislike it because the owner is an Eastern European with a bad attitude. But it's a good app. Really, if someone created the same mechanism for blocking all until user acceptance when it connects, this would have real competition. But no one does that in a user-friendly way yet.
It doesn't make you disable important Windows security measures like Fort Firewall.
But you did not mention that:
Simplewall does inglude GPG signatures for the binaries to verify and authenticity/integrity.
You mean that the individual man who built it, who is not from the West, does not pay for an expensive CA. I suppose he could try to get it through the app store cheap for that.
But can't you just create a task in task scheduler as admin, and use it on a standard account (if the reason you're not using an admin account for daily use is for security).
Simplewall does inglude GPG signatures for the binaries to verify and authenticity/integrity.
But it does not help with false positives of Windows Defender. (https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall/issues/1986)
I'm author of Fort Firewall, living in Uzbekistan (not from the West), and I use cheap Certum Open Source Code Signing certificate.
But can't you just create a task in task scheduler as admin, and use it on a standard account
No. (https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall/issues/2000)
The software itself is pretty good if not count some minor bugs. But after I saw the political post on the author's homepage (and aggressive rude posts on his Telegram channel), I understood that I don't want to use any app of the selfish and aggressive nazi. Already found much better alternatives to software I used. Fort Firewall is really awesome for all my firewall tasks. It doesn't glitch on the Windows startup, creates fantastic rules including "Wildcard" and even record an internet statistics.
Doesn't support path wildcards. Which means that after every windows update or after application updates you must get bombarded again with notifications to allow or block applications. I personally recommend Fort Firewall as an alternative for this.
Svchost is another problem. You have svchost.exe as a entity in the apps tab , yet you also have the services that are used by the svchost on the services tab. This is where conflicts appear and you can come into some weird scenarios. Fort Firewall also has this covered.
The System rules and user rules should be merged
Also the disable on the other tabs like applications or services , is pretty useless.
You can have that application disabled in the applications tab yet if you have a user rule that is having that application as allowed , it will ignore the fact that it is disabled.
This might sound simple but after you have over 200 entries in the apps tab and a lot of rules , it makes things like the disable function completely useless
Oh and don't get me started with UWP.
Overall not the worst open source firewall but not in the top 3 either
It's simple, but sometimes that's all you need. I appreciate the ability to block microsoft analytics/telemetry. However you need to configure the default/gen settings a bit. So that enabled filters don't interfer with other software.