Fort Firewall: Simple Windows Firewall Protection - How to use it
Fort Firewall is a free and open-source firewall solution for Windows, designed to provide advanced network filtering and monitoring capabilities. It offers users control over network traffic by allowing or blocking specific applications, IP addresses, ports, and protocols.
Its integration with the Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) ensures seamless performance and robust protection against online threats.
Key Features of Fort Firewall
- Comprehensive Filtering Capabilities
- Network Address Filtering: Control traffic based on specific network addresses and application groups.
- Service Name Filtering: Filter SvcHost.exe service names for precise control over application traffic.
- Wildcard Support: Use wildcards in application path names to simplify configuration.
- Advanced Traffic Management
- Speed Limit Groups: Set bandwidth limits for specific application groups to manage network resources effectively.
- Blocklists via Zones: Implement customized blocklists for enhanced control over unwanted traffic.
- Traffic Statistics: Monitor and analyze network activity with detailed statistics and graphical bandwidth displays.
- Custom Kernel Driver
- Fort Firewall employs its proprietary kernel driver based on the Windows Filtering Platform. This ensures high efficiency, secure traffic filtering, and seamless integration with Windows systems.
- Portability for On-the-Go Protection
- Portable Installation Option: Ideal for users who need mobility, allowing Fort Firewall to run directly from a USB stick.
- No System Trace: Enhances privacy by leaving no footprint on the host system.
- Easy Uninstallation: Simple steps to remove the portable installation when no longer needed.
- Note: Portable installation requires administrator privileges and the preservation of the README.portable file for proper functionality.
- Password Protection
- Fort Firewall safeguards critical settings with password protection. This feature prevents unauthorized access and ensures only trusted users can modify configurations, boosting overall system security.
Why Choose Fort Firewall?
- User-Friendly Interface: Ideal for beginners while offering extensive customization for advanced users.
- Seamless Integration: Designed to work efficiently with the Windows ecosystem.
- Enhanced Privacy Options: Portable mode and password protection provide added layers of security.
- Real-Time Insights: Traffic statistics and bandwidth graphs offer clear visibility into network usage.
Optimize Your Online Security with Fort Firewall
Fort Firewall is the ultimate choice for users seeking reliable and customizable network protection. Its robust architecture, combined with intuitive features, ensures a secure and efficient online experience.
Fort Firewall - Changelog
🛡️ How to Use Fort Firewall – Step-by-Step Guide
- ✅ Step 1: Launch Fort Firewall
- 🪟 Open the application from your desktop shortcut or Start menu.
- 📌 Tip : If you're launching it for the first time, Fort Firewall may prompt you with a quick setup wizard.
- 🖥️ Step 2: Get Familiar with the Interface
- 🔍 The main window has several key components:
- 📋Program List: Shows all monitored apps with Allow / Block status
- 🎯Action Buttons: Add, Edit, Allow, Block, Remove, and Search programs
- 🧭Tabs: Options, Zones, Services, Rules, Statistics, etc.
- 🎨 Visual Overview:
- Clean layout with easy-to-read columns
- Icons for quick visual identification
- Status indicators for active rules
- 🔍 The main window has several key components:
- 🧩 Step 3: Manage Programs (Rules)
You can control which apps are allowed or blocked from accessing the internet.
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- ➕ Add a New Rule
- Click Add in the top toolbar.
- Browse and select the .exe file of the program.
- In the rule editor:
- 🔁 Name & File Path : Confirm app identity
- 📝 Notes : Optional description
- 🔄 Inheritance : Apply rules to child processes
- ✅ Action : Choose Allow or Block
- 🔒 Internet Traffic : Enable/disable internet access
- 🌐 Zones : Select network environments (LAN, Internet)
- ⏰ Schedule : Set time-based rules (optional)
- Click OK to save the rule.
- 🔧 Edit an Existing Rule
- Select a program from the list.
- Click Edit .
- Adjust settings as needed.
- Click OK to apply changes.
- ❌ Remove a Rule
- Highlight the program.
- Click Remove .
- Confirm deletion if prompted.
- ➕ Add a New Rule
- ⚙️ Step 4: Configure Global Settings
Click the Options tab at the top right to open global preferences.
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- 🔍 General Settings
- 🛡️ Filter Enabled : Turn traffic filtering on/off
- 🤖 Auto-Learn Mode : Automatically detect new apps
- 🔐 Self Protection : Prevent unauthorized uninstallation
- 📋 Logs : Enable debug logs for troubleshooting
- 🎨 Interface Settings
- 👁️ Show/hide tray icon
- 📍 Always-on-top option
- 🎨 Customize UI theme and font size
- 🌐 IP Address Management
- 📦 Define local and remote IP ranges
- 🚫 Block specific IPs or entire subnets
- 📁 Application Groups
- 📂 Organize apps into groups (e.g., Work, Games, Browsers)
- 🎯 Apply rules to whole groups instead of individual apps
- 📊 Statistics
- 📈 View real-time traffic graphs
- 📉 Monitor upload/download speeds
- 🎨 Customize graph colors and refresh rate
- ⏰ Schedule Rules
- 🗓️ Create time-based rules:
- Block social media during work hours
- Allow games only after school
- 🗓️ Create time-based rules:
- 🔍 General Settings
- 🌐 Step 5: Manage Network Zones
Navigate to the Zones tab to define how different networks are treated.
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- 🏠 Local Area Network (LAN)
- 📶 Control internal network traffic
- 🔒 Secure your home/business network
- 🌍 Internet
- 🌐 Define which websites/IPs are trusted
- 🚫 Block known malicious zones or servers
- 🏠 Local Area Network (LAN)
- 🧰 Step 6: Monitor System Services
Go to the Services tab to view system-level processes.
-
- 🔧 Features:
- 🔍 See running services and their status
- 📈 Track service resource usage
- 🎯 Mark services as "Trackable" for firewall monitoring
- 🔧 Features:
- 📜 Step 7: Apply Preset Rules
Use built-in rules in the Rules tab for faster configuration.
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- 🌟 Global Rules
- 🧱 Apply before or after custom app rules
- 🧩 Set default behaviors for unknown programs
- 🧩 Default Rule Sets
- 📦 Predefined configurations for common use cases:
- Privacy protection
- Game mode
- Work mode
- Minimal internet access
- 📦 Predefined configurations for common use cases:
- 🌟 Global Rules
- 💾 Step 8: Backup & Restore Your Configuration
- 📁 Save your current settings to avoid reconfiguring everything:
- Go to File > Backup > Export
- Choose a location to save the .reg backup file
- To restore: File > Backup > Import , then select your backup
- 📁 Save your current settings to avoid reconfiguring everything:
- 📈 Step 9: Monitor Network Activity
Use the Statistics and Traffic Graph tabs to:
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- 📊 Visual Monitoring:
- Watch live data transfer
- Identify spikes or suspicious activity
- Check bandwidth usage by app
- 🎨 Customization:
- Change graph colors
- Adjust scale and refresh speed
- 📊 Visual Monitoring:
- 🔄 Step 10: Keep Fort Firewall Updated
- 🔁 Stay secure by updating regularly:
- 🛠️ Update Steps:
- Go to Help > Check for Updates
- Follow on-screen instructions to install the latest version
- 📌 Tip: Enable automatic update checks in Options > General
- 🛠️ Update Steps:
- 🔁 Stay secure by updating regularly:
🎯 Final Tips & Best Practices
- ✨ Smart Setup Suggestions:
- ✅ Start in Auto-Learn Mode to identify active apps
- 📂 Group apps logically (e.g., Social, Productivity)
- 🔒 Block unknown apps until confirmed safe
- ⏰ Use Schedules for parental or productivity control
- 🚫 Regularly review and clean up outdated rules
🛡️ With this guide, you now have full control over your system's network security using Fort Firewall !