Windows Firewall Block Outgoing Connections

  

Learn how to open a port, block or close a port, in Windows Firewall in Windows 10/8/7. To configure the same, you will have to open Advanced Settings. May 25, 2009  How to block outbound connections with the Windows Firewall Press the Start button. Open Control Panel. Click on Administrative Tools. Click on Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Click on Windows Firewall Properties. Select the Private Profile.

by Martin Brinkmann on July 01, 2016 in Software - Last Update: July 07, 2016 - 11 comments

Folder Firewall Blocker is a free open source program for Windows devices that lets you block inbound and outgoing connections of every executable file in a specified folder.

One of the shortcomings of the Windows Firewall, and the majority of firewall programs for the matter for Windows, is that you cannot specify paths to block all executable files stored under that path from inbound or outbound Internet connections.

If you wanted to block all programs in the user folder or temporary folder for instance, you would have to specify them one by one in Windows Firewall.

If you don't want programs under a certain path to connect to the Internet, then you have only a couple of options to prevent that.

You can block all connections and whitelist those that you require, use a program like Windows Firewall Notifier that display notifications when programs try to connect to the Internet, or use Folder Firewall Blocker to block all executable files in a folder.

Folder Firewall Blocker

Folder Firewall Blocker is a simple program. All you need to do to make use of it is to launch it, click on folder to select a local folder, and then on the block button to block all executable files in that folder.

A prompt is displayed when you hit the block button that acts as a confirmation. Hit yes to proceed or no to cancel the operation.

Folder Firewall Blocker adds rules for every .exe program in the folder to Windows Firewall. It highlights that in the interface while it is adding the rules. You may verify this by checking the inbound or outbound rules in Windows Firewall as well.

The latest version of Folder Firewall Blocker supports .exe files and other executable file types: com, bat, cmd, vbs, vbe, js, jse, wsf, wsh, msc, scr, msi, cpl, ocx, dll, drv and sys.

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Shortcomings

As great as the option is to block connections of every executable file in a folder, its use is limited.

The program has several shortcomings that prevent it from reaching a wider audience:

  • It supports only .exe files and not other executable file types.Fixed in recent versions that support multiple executable file types.
  • It won't parse subfolders, only the root folder.Fixed in recent versions of the application. A new 'scan subfolders' option is now available.
  • It won't block future additions to the folder.

While you may be able to work around the second and third issue, there is nothing that you can do about the first.

You may simply run the program on each folder separately. While that works to get all exe files blocked, it may take a long time depending on the folder structure. If you wanted to block all user profile executable files from connecting to the Internet, you'd spend a long time running Folder Firewall Blocker on all folders under the path.

You can run the program regularly to cover new executable files, but the protection won't be realtime.

Closing Words

Folder Firewall Blocker is a promising program, especially after recent updates that introduce support for more executable file types and subfolder scanning to the application.

We have adjusted the rating of the program based on the updates as it improved the program by a lot.

Now You: Which firewall do you use, and why?

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By default, Windows Firewall blocks incoming connections from the Internet unless the receiving program is on the exceptions list, but it does nothing to stop outgoing connections. Even if you uncheck or remove the program from the exceptions list, this change only affects incoming traffic, so the program can still access the Internet.

If you’re worried what a program might do with that privilege, such as sending error reports, submitting user data or automatically updating itself, you can block it with outbound rules through the firewall’s advanced settings. Once a blocking rule has been established, it remains on the list of configured rules, so you can quickly enable or disable it to control the program’s access.

Adding Connection Rules

1. Open the Control Panel (press “Win-X,” then select “Control Panel”) and click “System and Security,” “Windows Firewall” and then “Advanced Settings.”

Windows Firewall Block Outgoing Connections Mac Host

2. Click “Outbound Rules” in the left pane and select “New Rule” in the right pane. To block incoming traffic, click “Inbound Rules” instead; the procedure for creating a new blocking rule is identical for inbound or outbound rules, except for the initial Inbound Rules or Outbound Rules selection.

3. Select “Program” and click “Next.”

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Does Windows Firewall Block Outgoing Connections

4. Select “This Program Path,” click “Browse,” choose the program you wish to block and then click “Next.” If you choose “All Programs,” then Windows Firewall stops all outgoing (or incoming) connections.

5. Select “Block the Connection” and click “Next.”

Block Outgoing Connections Mac

6. Check when you want the rule applied and click “Next.” To totally block the program, select all the check boxes. If you only want to block the program when connected to, for example, a coffee shop’s public hotspot, only check “Public.”

7. Enter a descriptive name and click “Finish.” If you are establishing similar rules, make sure this name enables you to tell them apart, such as “Block Installed Chrome” versus “Block Chrome Portable.”

Firewall Blocking Network Connection

8. Test that the program is blocked by firing it up and attempting to access the Internet.

9. To later disable the rule, click the entry in the Inbound or Outbound Rules list and click “Disable Rule” in the lower right panel. If you see “Enable Rule” instead, it means the rule is currently disabled; click “Enable Rule” to make it active again.

10. Repeat the process, but select “Inbound Rules” in Step 2 to also block incoming traffic to the program.