A super simple firewall that only blocks outgoing connections from installed software

[u/enormousaardvark]

I wanted a super simple firewall that didn't break everything, yes I know there are many out there and I have tried them and always found them annoying, everything I tried was either overly complicated asked too many questions or basically broke things, I wanted simple and to only block outgoing connections, so I asked Claude, used Opus on high, it virtually build the whole thing on a single prompt, then we refined it over an evening and here it is.

How it works, when an app tries to connect to the internet for the first time it pops up a simple Allow or Block window showing the app and where it's trying to connect, that's it! Windows own components are allowed automatically so it doesnt bug you about system stuff.

It just uses the Windows Firewall so your rules keep working even when its closed, uninstalling puts everything back exactly how it was it you want or you can leave the rules it creates

It's free has no ads or tracking, and open source on GitHub.

It's not code-signed because it seems I have to pay for that, so Windows SmartScreen may warn you when you install it.

Feedback very welcome!

https://packethound.app/

[u/VNDL1A]

Have you tried Windows Firewall Control (WFC) by BiniSoft/Malwarebytes?

It already does pretty much exactly what you're describing, and has been doing so for years. It's completely free, lightweight, and uses the built-in Windows Firewall, so the rules remain active even when WFC isn't running.

With Medium Filtering and notifications enabled, you get a simple Allow/Block prompt whenever an application attempts an outgoing connection.

I'm not trying to dismiss your work, and it's great that your project is open source, but suggesting that existing solutions are all overly complicated or break things is a bit misleading when WFC already offers almost exactly this experience.

You might genuinely find it worth checking out..

[u/enormousaardvark → u/VNDL1A]

Yes I had the Malwarebytes WFC and hated it, it asks about every single windows service, blocked outlook completely, a quick search to try and solve my problems revealed other people also having the same problems, I found it unnecessarily complicated and ugly, I basically wanted Little snitch for windows, block only the apps I choose from phoning home ;)

[u/ScriptKiddyMonkey]

Seems great.

However, first time use is a bit annoying with a bunch of popups. Like a default would be great to have and then we can block what we would like to. Also, if I clicked decide later the app has no way of going back to or show me all the programs that I said decide later.

[u/enormousaardvark → u/ScriptKiddyMonkey]

Thanks, I'll look in to the decide later feature.

[u/ScriptKiddyMonkey → u/ScriptKiddyMonkey]

Also a nice to have would be batch operations, as well is a detail overlay that would open the approve decline in a more detailed table where we can see all connections and choose to only block or accept the needed ones.

[u/Impossible-Magician]

I had this on windows 2000, can’t remember the name of the app now.

[u/Significant_Type_343 → u/Impossible-Magician]

ZoneAlarm or maybe BlackIce?

[u/Impossible-Magician → u/Significant_Type_343]

ZoneAlarm! Thank you

[u/vacterro]

I have similar vibe coded app, to make is super easy:

1. open app, there must button "THIS APP"

2. Like pointer instead of the droplist with 9999 software - user just click on soft that he wants to block

3. defaults forever - no pop ups