Windows has its own firewall, but unless you want to fight with its advanced section or download an additional program to configure it, it's a fairly dumb firewall. Fortunately, there are many alternatives out there with more complete interfaces, and one that has definitely caught our attention is Portmaster, now in version 1.0. It's a free and open source development that will allow you to establish precise control over the connectivity of your applications, block telemetry, and get detailed information about everything that goes in or out.
The firewall occupies a very particular position: On one hand, it must get out of the way and not bother the user, and on the other, it has to offer multiple advanced options to adjust its behavior if necessary. Windows Firewall falls into the 'so-so' category, fulfilling more or less the first, and more or less the second. That makes it adequate for the vast majority of Windows installations, but if you're thinking about installing a reinforcement, I think you'll find what you're looking for in Portmaster.
Portmaster: A firewall for applications and telemetry blocking
The installation of Portmaster is a bit longer than usual: First we must download the basic module that doesn't exceed 7 megabytes, but the program itself comes with an additional package of 300 megabytes. Add to that a system restart, and a secondary download of filters that takes place in the background. The large size of the application is linked to its development in Electron, but there are plans to replace it in the future.
Once the configuration phase is finished, Portmaster takes us to its Quick Setup, where we essentially define blocks for malware/telemetry, and the Secure DNS server. You can choose one from the list, or configure another in Portmaster's advanced section later. The default options work very well, blocking a good part of the garbage telemetry, trackers, and other recognized unnecessary connections. If you see something you don't like, it's enough to expand its menu, click on the three dots, and choose Block Domain.
However, there is also an entire section dedicated to creating special rules. Want to disconnect an app from the Web? Look it up in the general list and enable the Block Connections parameter to isolate it completely.
Finally, the premium version of Portmaster (9.90 euros per month) can generate multiple identities for each app, and in a way aims to replace traditional VPNs, but it's not critical. Give it a try!
Official site and download: Click here
