Block all unwanted traffic with Tripmode
Tripmode is a commercial program for Windows and Mac devices that can be used to block all traffic on the device in a comfortable easy manner.
While you could say that most software and hardware firewalls allow you to do the same, none make the process that easy.
Basically, all you need to do is flip a switch to enable the traffic blocking mode. All traffic is blocked from that moment on, and it is up to you to allow certain applications or system services to connect to Internet servers.
Tripmode has been designed for situations where mobile bandwidth is either limited or required for specific applications or services. Say you have a monthly bandwidth quota when on mobile, and you want to prevent it from being used up by operating system updates, automatic backups or sync jobs, downloads or updates on Steam, or any other automated job that may use bandwidth.
Tripmode for Windows
The program sits quietly in the Windows system tray area after installation or start and will only spring to life when you flip its switch or when the device connects to networks that are unknown to it (automatically then).
It blocks all traffic that programs or the operating system requests, and displays each application or service in its interface to let users know about it.
Blocked services and programs are indicated by a semi-transparent background and if they were never enabled during the session with the traffic reading 0.0 MB.
A simple click on an item allows it through the firewall so that it can connect to Internet servers. If you take Microsoft Edge as an example, it will throw error messages when you enable Tripmode as it cannot connect to Internet servers. Once you allow it, you can use the browser as usual.
Tripmode logs the bandwidth used by allowed applications and services, and lists the figure next to its listing in the program interface, as well as a total for the session and other time periods below the listing.
The functionality the app provides is as basic as it gets in terms of customization options. There is no option to whitelist or blacklist applications or services, to find programs or services quickly in the listing (you need to scroll), let alone settings to allow or disallow outbound or inbound traffic only.
Closing Words
Tripmode is a basic application but that does not need to be a bad thing as it is dead easy to use and efficient in what it does. Its main advantage over the built-in Windows Firewall or other firewall solutions is that ease of use, but it comes at the cost of customization options.
In addition, you cannot automate Tripmode as much as software or hardware firewalls, and if you take the time to do so, things may be in the end even more comfortable after you have done so.
Tripmode costs $7.99 both for Mac and Windows, but you can download and run a 7-day free trial to test the program and see if it works for you.
Have anyone seen Pants around? :)
Speaking of software firewalls, there’s not much about the topic online anymore. Windows Firewall really did seem to kill the market there. BlackICE no longer exists (cos IBM bought it and discontinued it), Kerio no longer exists (cos Sunbelt bought and discontinued it) and Jetico has low scores on the few pages I found. Is Windows Firewall really all that anyone needs? Is Jetico really no better? Won’t someone do a 2016 article on personal firewall software?
It’s not that Firewalls are becoming obsolete, its the fact that most antivirus programs are luring people in to the “Total Protection” deals, that have firewalls built-in to them. It’s getting sad to see that good programs are being disbanded due to something like that. Tho, the Windows Firewall has become something more than a “basic” firewall, however, you’re limited as to what you can do it with. For the majority of the people, that’s all they need.
Yes, I would say the Windows Firewall is all anyone needs. Certainly it is by far the most impressive solution performance-wise, which is a BIG factor in my view, but the availability of its fine-grained settings is something I appreciate as well.
The only thing that keeps the Windows Firewall from being recognized for what it is, an impressive piece of software, is its cumbersome interface. While that may be a disadvantage at first glance, there are multiple third-party applications to handle that more comfortably. From the fully-featured firewall like Windows 10 Firewall Control (Sphinx Software), over the other application with that name, Windows Firewall Control (Binisoft) until the bare-bones tool like Firewall App Blocker (Sordium) it reaches many different target audiences.
I personally have been using Windows 7 Firewall Plus by Sphinx Software for over Four Years now with full control over Outgoing and Incoming requests.
Version 10 is now available for Windows
I like
http://wfn.codeplex.com/ (portable, freeware, opensource)
http://www.sterjosoft.com/netstalker.html (portable, freeware)
The open source WFN (Windows Firewall Notifier) looks very promising. too bad it is still in ALPHA stage…
A 27MB installer and “We log apps traffic volumes to better optimize the solution and that’s it. Information about what type of sites you visit, what content you transfer, etc. is never logged. We take privacy seriously.” doesn’t really make this application attractive. Looks heavy for such a rudimentary firewall assistant. And why log traffic volumes? In what does a user’s traffic volume have anything to do with a firewall application? Never heard of such a thing.
Well spotted Tom. One of the reasons I read Martin’s work is that he normally points out these kind of caveats; but the best thing about gHacks is the extra info you get in these comment sections.
Other than Windows’ built-in firewall who hides the ability to create powerful firewall rules do you know any freeware program(‘s) that do the same, Martin or reader from Ghack.net?
Give Tinywall (http://tinywall.pados.hu/) a try. It’s basically an unintrusive frontent to create rules for the built-in firewall.
Yes you are right, nothing wrong with Windows’ builtin firewall; it doesn’t have a good front-end, which is why I’ve been a happy user of Windows Firewall Control. It’s only 355kB small.
I use it as well, Alexandru has done a good job, listens to his users and implements good ideas & bug fixes quite rapidly.
It should be mentioned that if you want to be alerted to incoming & outgoing connections, then you must purchase the program / make a donation of 10$US. Well worth it in my opinion!
I especially like the user controls in the notification popup dialog, giving the option to allow/deny always, until restart, or for x number of minutes. Very useful!
I like Glasswire , it displays alerts for all new connections and allows you to do a click to block them from the network. It also tracks DNS, Application and Device changes. Also shows you the amount of data use per application, and from where it came from (Each IP).
I found alot of stuff that was using network I didn’t know. The only thing you need to leave up is Host Process for Windows Services, else you cut your own internet ;)
Now if only I could block specific IPs within an application from it…
Comodo Firewall set to “custom ruleset” works like this.You get an alert every time a connection is made unless you allow the application to connect permanently.There are some good guides to set Comodo firewall up and get maximum security from it. I have it configured to block everything unless it goes through a vpn tunnel first and sandbox any unknown files that run. Some don’t like comodo but if its used correctly it can be a good bit of security software. I seem to have gone on a bit when the answer was in the first sentence.Oh well.
The Mac version is great as well.