| - Abstract
- A network-connected application should not be supposed completely safe if the application can be connected from/to any point of a network and/or the internet. Rare the applications are to be allowed to connect from/to anywhere only. A web browser should not be limited to connect the internet in ordinary circumstances. However, there are specific situations web browser should be limited with the connection ability as well (parental control, for instance).
- So the applications are to be limited with the connection abilities to keep the security up. Disk sharing, for instance, hardly is to be provided unrestrictedly; trusted computers/networks can access your shared media only. Windows 7 Firewall Control is the utility to manage applications network access and to provide applications with the network access security.
- The applications security is provided by applying appropriate set of network access rules to applications depending on specific network activities permitted/prohibited to applications individually. The rule is a named set of parameters as IP address/subnetwork, protocol, port number etc. The rules are grouped into named entities, so called zones. The zones are named to reflect the zone purpose typically. The zones are applied/managed by name; so all the rules in a zone are used for application at once providing with one-click application security management. Windows 7 Firewall Control provides suitable procedure for group zone and/or rule management of zones/rules as well.
 - User's manual
- After launching Windows 7 Firewall Control the icon
 appears on the task-bar (usually next to the clock). Right clicking the icon opens the program menu. Left clicking the icon opens the main program interface. - Special Modes
- Windows 7 Firewall Control allows setting special modes for all the listed applications at once. The modes are available by right clicking the icon:
- Mode: Normal - The applications are allowed/prohibited following the zones set in the Applications list;
- Mode: EnableAll - Enables all the applications, switches the firewall off completely;
- Mode: DisableAll - Disables all the applications regardless of per-application zone settings;
- Mode: Expensive/Insecure Connection - The special mode for Internet connection made over Expensive or Distrusted network, over mobile phone/network or satellite. The mode allows applications marked as "Allow in Mode: Expensive/Insecure Connection" only (see "Edit Application Access") to follow the specified security zones only. All the other applications are blocked (excepting some system vital activities). The mode allows selected application access only suppressing other redundant potentially (not required immediately) operations, auto updates, background network operations and so on. (Plus version only)
- Windows Explorer integration (Plus version only)
- Windows 7 Firewall Control allows application network access control directly from the desktop with the context menu.
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