
Enhancing Your Security with Windows Firewall Control
Windows Firewall Control is a powerful application designed to expand the capabilities of the native Windows Firewall. This tool provides quick and efficient access to commonly used firewall options, streamlining the user experience. By operating directly from the system tray, it allows users to manage their firewall settings without the hassle of navigating through Windows’ complex menus. It is fully compatible with various editions of Windows, including Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Server editions from 2012 to 2022.
Acquisition and New Developments
In June 2018, **Malwarebytes** acquired Windows Firewall Control. This acquisition aims to integrate this versatile tool into the Malwarebytes platform, thereby simplifying the management and deployment of security solutions. Notably, following the acquisition, the full-featured version of Windows Firewall Control was made available free of charge, eliminating the need for activation and notifications.
Comprehensive Filtering Options
Windows Firewall Control provides users with four different filtering modes that can be adjusted with a simple click:
- High Filtering: Blocks all outgoing connections, preventing any attempt to connect from or to your computer.
- Medium Filtering: Allows only outgoing connections that match predefined rules, ensuring only permitted applications can connect.
- Low Filtering: Permits outgoing connections that do not match rules, only blocking certain programs from initiating connections.
- No Filtering: Disables the Windows Firewall entirely; this option is not recommended unless another firewall is active on your system.
Key Features of Windows Firewall Control
This application is packed with user-friendly features designed to enhance your firewall management:
- An intuitive interface that resides in the system tray, making it easily accessible.
- Full compatibility with standard user accounts, requiring elevated permissions only during installation.
- A feature to prevent other applications from altering Windows Firewall rules.
- Streamlined rule creation processes for more efficient management.
- A lock function that restricts access to settings within both the program and the Windows Firewall.
- Integration with the right-click context menu for executable files for quick access.
- The ability to swiftly view and delete invalid rules.
- The option to merge similar rules or duplicate existing ones for easier management.
- Quick search capabilities for executable files, enabling fast rule creation.
- A detailed log of recent allowed and blocked connections, with options to create new rules from these logs.
- Customizable settings to choose whether the application launches at user login.
- Functions for importing, exporting, and restoring firewall rules.
- Protection against unauthorized uninstallation, with a feature to restore previous settings upon uninstallation.
- Global hotkeys and various shortcuts to enhance usability.
- And many more features waiting to be explored.
Advanced Notification Settings
The Notifications System provides valuable alerts for outbound blocked connections, with the following modes:
- High: Notifies users of all blocked outgoing connections, including those from system processes.
- Medium: Alerts only for connections blocked from regular applications.
- Low: Automatically permits digitally signed programs while notifying for unsigned ones.
- Disabled: Turns off notifications entirely.
Moreover, users can create temporary rules that will automatically be removed upon expiration or program restart.
Latest Updates and Improvements
The most recent version, Windows Firewall Control 6.20.0.0, introduces several fixes and enhancements:
- Fixed an issue where uppercase notifications exceptions did not function with notifications disabled.
- Corrected functionality related to Secure Rules and group names containing apostrophes.
- Improved the logic with additional locks for Secure Profile functionality.
Download and Additional Resources
Ready to enhance your Windows Firewall experience? Download Windows Firewall Control 6.20.0.0 at just 3.4 MB, offered completely free of charge. For further information and resources, visit the Windows Firewall Control Website.

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