TinyWall: A more complete firewall

Fire wall windows
Fire wall windows

You may not know it but in Windows, there is a very good firewall which does a good job. Unfortunately, this is very basic and cannot be configured very finely.

Why not make it more efficient and more secure by adding TinyWall software? The latter allows, in fact, to optimize the default protection without requiring expert knowledge.

A firewall is a program that filters what passes from one network to another. Its purpose is to define which communications are authorized or prohibited which circulate between your PC and the outside world (Internet or local network). It is used to secure networks and computers, that is to say, controlling access and blocking what is prohibited.

You should know that all your software uses connection "ports" to communicate with the Internet. The firewall will allow such port (s) on such program. If malware tries to send information outside or if a hacker tries to take possession of your PC, it will be detected and dismissed.

firewall

The firewall integrated into Windows is a very good product, but it requires some adjustments to become 100% safe. TinyWall does not replace it, but simply adds certain settings or features that are sorely missing.

Tinywall comes with pre-defined rules to block incoming and outgoing connections. It allows you to block or unblock LAN traffic in one click. It also knows how to protect the config with a password to prevent the firewall from being damaged by malware, and above all knows how to remain discreet and easy to use.

Of course, the interface is clear even for those who have never really put their hands in the settings of software of this type.

Getting started with TinyWall

Step 1:

First of all, download Tinywall to the main page of the site. Install the program and accept the license terms.

On startup, TinyWall will block almost all programs that communicate with the outside. To remedy this, you will have to place the applications of your choice in the whitelist of authorized programs.

interface-tinywall

Step 2:

To access the interface, take a tour of the systray, the area at the bottom right in the menu bar and click on the TinyWall icon (a small wall).

tinywall1

Here, you will have access to incoming and outgoing data, but also to the mode (by default on Normal). You can choose between Block all, Allow on exit (as the firewall does by default Windows), Disable or Self-learning. This last mode allows you to let the software authorize connections depending on what you are using. It should only be used on a new or certified malware-free system.

Step 3

In Manage, you can put a password to confirm a modification of the TinyWall settings (recommended). You can also apply exceptions manually for your most common software. We advise you not to touch the Special exceptions unless you know what you're doing.

In the main menu you will also see Activate block lists which allows filtering from an updated blacklist in the software.