windows firewall

WSL 2 development servers are reachable from other devices on your LAN by making the app listen on its WSL network interface, creating a Windows portproxy rule from the Windows host’s LAN address to the current WSL IP address, and allowing that TCP port through Windows Defender Firewall. This...

The Plex Media Server message “Not available outside your network” means Plex cannot establish a direct inbound connection from the internet to your server. The fix is usually to restore automatic router mapping or create a TCP port-forward to the server’s local IP address. These instructions...

MakeUseOf has highlighted simplewall, a free, open-source Windows network-control tool aimed at users who find Microsoft Defender Firewall’s advanced console too rule-centric for everyday outbound decisions. The appeal is straightforward: simplewall starts with the executable. Rather than...

saw this in my firewall log... what is this about? 2026:06:15|02:46:06|Blocked|1|IPv4 TCP files.nflxso.ca/172.67.152.151:443(64973)|Windows host process (Rundll32)|MSOfflineZone/https[NoBln] Outgoing|C:\windows\syswow64\rundll32.exe

Set Up and Use Windows Firewall Outbound Rules to Stop Apps Going Online Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 15 minutes If you want to stop a desktop app from accessing the internet without uninstalling it, Windows Firewall outbound rules are one of the most effective built-in tools you...

Create an Always-On VPN: Auto-Connect on Wi‑Fi + Kill Switch with Windows Firewall (Win10/11) Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 25 minutes An “always-on” VPN setup is ideal when you want your PC to automatically protect itself the moment you join Wi‑Fi—and to stop all internet traffic if...