getting started
Help articles tagged “getting started”.
NetSecWall for Android: what it does and how it works (beta)
A free beta DNS firewall for Android 7.0 and newer. It blocks ad, tracker and malware domains on the phone itself, with no root and no account. It isn't on Google Play yet.
Keep NetSecWall running 24/7: the background service and the tray
The NetSecWall background service starts with Windows and keeps monitoring and enforcing blocks even when the window is closed or nobody is signed in. Without it, NetSecWall works while the app runs.
The welcome screen and setup wizard, step by step
On first launch NetSecWall shows a Welcome dialog for reference data and a blocking preset, then a five-page setup wizard. The recommended choice is pre-selected on every page.
How the 7-day free trial works
Every NetSecWall install gets 7 days with every feature unlocked, with no card, account or key. The trial is tied to the PC, starts when the app first goes online, and reinstalling doesn't reset it.
How to install NetSecWall on Windows 10 or 11
Download the installer from netsecwall.com, check its SHA-256 checksum and its SSL.com code signature, then run it and accept the administrator prompt. The 7-day trial starts by itself.
A tour of NetSecWall's menus and keyboard shortcuts
NetSecWall has seven menus: File, View, Protection, Security, Reports, Tools and Help. Open each with Alt and its letter. Ctrl+Tab switches tabs, and Delete removes selected rules.
System requirements for NetSecWall on Windows
NetSecWall needs 64-bit Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) or Windows 11, an account with administrator rights, and an internet connection once to start the trial. It installs no driver.
How to uninstall NetSecWall (and keep or remove your data)
Uninstall NetSecWall from Settings ▸ Apps. It always removes the service and its firewall rules, then asks whether to delete your settings, history and downloaded lists too.
How to update NetSecWall and check your version
On 1.2.1 or later, choose Help ▸ Check for updates… and click Download & install. On 1.1.0 or 1.2.0, download 1.2.1 from the website instead and run it over your install.
Your first week with NetSecWall: a day-by-day plan
Spend the first week learning what normal looks like: start in Monitor only or Learning, put names to the busy rows, answer the new-app pop-ups, then review the Events and Rules tabs.
How NetSecWall works: monitoring, blocking and the two engines
NetSecWall watches every connection on your PC by reading Windows' own network events, and blocks only when you ask, through Windows Firewall rules, its own WFP packet filter, or both.