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<blockquote data-quote="a090" data-source="post: 1032715" data-attributes="member: 99949">How do you guys feel about pairing up F-Secure Internet Security with Windows Firewall Control (by Binisoft / Malwarebytes)?&nbsp; I’m not doing this because I mistrust Windows Firewall’s ability to keep me secure.&nbsp; I know it’s a solid firewall these days, which is why many AV products (including F-Secure) don’t include one of their own.&nbsp; I’m sure it’ll keep the baddies out.&nbsp; What I’m interested in is what’s happening within the system itself.The reason why I’m interested in WFC is mainly for the alerts and fine-tuning of which apps can access the net.&nbsp; Say for example I want to download Samsung Magician to update my SSD firmware.&nbsp; But once the update has happened, I don’t want it connecting to the internet.&nbsp; And we all know Samsung’s notorious track record with security.&nbsp; Last year they got hacked twice in one year.&nbsp; Which is why I can use WFC to kill internet access for Samsung Magician until the next firmware update for my SSD.&nbsp; In the meantime, if something crazy happens and the Magician software gets a bad update or whatever, no problem.&nbsp; Because mine wouldn’t get that bad update since WFC killed its internet access.Essentially, I want that granular control over what’s going on in my system.&nbsp; And WFC provides that in a clean and easy to understand interface.&nbsp; I don’t need something crazy like Portmaster.&nbsp; I just want to be able to see alerts for unknown apps accessing the net, as well as for killing internet access to apps on the fly.&nbsp; And being able to re-enable later.Questions:<ol>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">Do you guys forsee any conflicts with F-Secure and WFC?&nbsp; I’m assuming not because while both add rules to the Windows Firewall, they don’t “control” it.&nbsp; If you have F-Secure, you can verify this by going into Windows Security &gt; Settings &gt; Manage Providers and see that F-Secure is “controlling” the section for Virus Protection.&nbsp; It is listed there while Defender is listed as off.&nbsp; While in the Windows Firewall section, no F-Secure is listed there.&nbsp; Windows Firewall stands alone.&nbsp; My understanding is F-Secure adds some rules to the Windows Firewall but nothing more.&nbsp; Maybe protects it from shutting down too…</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">F-Secure seems to be highly compatible with Windows virtualization-based security (VBS).&nbsp; Hardened kernel, Credential Guard, Memory Integrity… that stuff.&nbsp; I have all of those enabled and they work beautifully with F-Secure.&nbsp; Is WFC also compatible with Windows VBS?</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ol">Any alternatives to Windows Firewall Control?&nbsp; I don’t need anything super detailed like the Portmaster.&nbsp; An alternative similar to WFC in features / complexity would be good.&nbsp; I’ve seen people recommend Simplewall.&nbsp; How does it do against WFC?</li>
</ol>Any insight you can provide is much appreciated!&nbsp; Doesn’t have to be answers to all three, even one is good.&nbsp; Thanks!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="a090, post: 1032715, member: 99949"] How do you guys feel about pairing up F-Secure Internet Security with Windows Firewall Control (by Binisoft / Malwarebytes)? I’m not doing this because I mistrust Windows Firewall’s ability to keep me secure. I know it’s a solid firewall these days, which is why many AV products (including F-Secure) don’t include one of their own. I’m sure it’ll keep the baddies out. What I’m interested in is what’s happening within the system itself. The reason why I’m interested in WFC is mainly for the alerts and fine-tuning of which apps can access the net. Say for example I want to download Samsung Magician to update my SSD firmware. But once the update has happened, I don’t want it connecting to the internet. And we all know Samsung’s notorious track record with security. Last year they got hacked twice in one year. Which is why I can use WFC to kill internet access for Samsung Magician until the next firmware update for my SSD. In the meantime, if something crazy happens and the Magician software gets a bad update or whatever, no problem. Because mine wouldn’t get that bad update since WFC killed its internet access. Essentially, I want that granular control over what’s going on in my system. And WFC provides that in a clean and easy to understand interface. I don’t need something crazy like Portmaster. I just want to be able to see alerts for unknown apps accessing the net, as well as for killing internet access to apps on the fly. And being able to re-enable later. Questions: [LIST=1] [*][B]Do you guys forsee any conflicts with F-Secure and WFC?[/B] I’m assuming not because while both add rules to the Windows Firewall, they don’t “control” it. If you have F-Secure, you can verify this by going into Windows Security > Settings > Manage Providers and see that F-Secure is “controlling” the section for Virus Protection. It is listed there while Defender is listed as off. While in the Windows Firewall section, no F-Secure is listed there. Windows Firewall stands alone. My understanding is F-Secure adds some rules to the Windows Firewall but nothing more. Maybe protects it from shutting down too… [*]F-Secure seems to be highly compatible with Windows virtualization-based security (VBS). Hardened kernel, Credential Guard, Memory Integrity… that stuff. I have all of those enabled and they work beautifully with F-Secure. [B]Is WFC also compatible with Windows VBS?[/B] [*]Any alternatives to Windows Firewall Control? I don’t need anything super detailed like the Portmaster. An alternative similar to WFC in features / complexity would be good. [B]I’ve seen people recommend Simplewall. How does it do against WFC?[/B] [/LIST] Any insight you can provide is much appreciated! Doesn’t have to be answers to all three, even one is good. Thanks! [/QUOTE]

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