windows firewall — NetSecWall Help Center

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. 3 min read

How to block an app from accessing the internet Right-click the app in the Live tab and choose Block this app, then permanent, 10 minutes or 1 hour. NetSecWall adds a block rule and closes the app's open connections. 3 min read

How to block a country's IP ranges on Windows In the Live tab, switch View to By Country, right-click the country and choose Block all IP ranges. NetSecWall adds outbound Windows Firewall rules for that country's addresses. 3 min read

See what was blocked in the Windows firewall log Open Protection ▸ Blocked connections (firewall log)… to see up to 300 recent blocked connections. Windows only records them after you turn on one audit setting with auditpol. 2 min read

Create a custom firewall rule for a port, address or inbound traffic In the Rules tab, click New rule… and set the direction, action, protocol, program, ports and addresses. The result is an ordinary Windows Firewall rule that stays whether NetSecWall runs or not. 3 min read

Windows Firewall rules or the WFP packet filter: which engine to use NetSecWall enforces blocks with Windows Firewall rules (the default), its own WFP packet filter, or both. Keep Windows Firewall unless another tool keeps overriding NetSecWall's rules. 3 min read

The "another firewall manager" and "Windows Firewall is off" banners The amber banner means another program also manages Windows Firewall, so pick Take over or Companion mode. The red banner means Windows Firewall is off, so click Enable Windows Firewall. 3 min read

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. 4 min read

Manage every Windows Firewall rule from the Rules tab The Rules tab lists NetSecWall's blocks and, on request, every rule in Windows Defender Firewall. Turn the firewall on or off, filter, create, edit, disable, delete and export rules. 4 min read

Using NetSecWall alongside another firewall manager When another tool manages Windows Firewall, NetSecWall shows an amber banner. Take over lets NetSecWall manage the rules; Companion mode leaves blocking to the other tool. 3 min read

Blocking in NetSecWall: rules and what they actually do A blocked app isn't killed or changed; it just loses network access. NetSecWall can block an app, a country, a website category or everything, and lists every rule it makes in the Rules tab. 3 min read

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. 3 min read

Performance and side effects of running NetSecWall Monitoring is light because NetSecWall reads Windows' own network events instead of sitting in your traffic. Side effects come from blocks you make, and they're quick to trace. 3 min read

Troubleshooting NetSecWall: fixes for common problems Most NetSecWall problems are one of a handful: no internet after a block, an empty Live tab, a firewall conflict banner, a license error or lists that won't update. Start here to find the fix. 3 min read