So I was wondering plugins that phone home what should all be blocked so it doesn't phone home? I found a folder blocker app online I'm not sure if it's for windows 10 but I thought if I needed the .dll and the application itself blocked just putting everything in a folder if it's not already in there and blocking the whole folder. Can I hear your guys suggestions I'm still new to windows 10 and its practices.

 

How to Block a Folder from Firewall with Firewall Folder Blocker - YouTube

 

Almost all plugins are forms of dynamic linked libraries, which only have life breathed into them when they are loaded by an application. Almost all audio plugs become part of the host executable, the DAW, and it's that which you should explicitly firewall. The folder in which they reside is largely irrelevant.

 

as above, i dont even block ableton because it crashes push 2 if blocked, and i never had plugins calling home,R2R take care of the calling home stuff, so DAW is only needed if its not been patched by R2R if im correct

 

ALWAYS ALWAYS firewall your DAW if you want to test stuff, plugins can not call home without the DAW having free access to the internet (unless of course the plugin can be used outside of a DAW, then you need to block the plugin .exe)

 

Last edited: Jul 22, 2019

I can personally recommend TinyWall, set to whitelist mode. It uses the standard Windows firewall to block any application from connecting to the internet, unless you're manually whitelisting it. That way you don't have to worry about manually blocking things.
You just need to manually whitelist your default applications (internet browser, game launchers like steam, etc.) whitelist on the initial setup.

 

I block my daw which is legit Reaper, with ZoneAlalrm Free. A very flexible firewall and antivirus solution.

 

devs will more and more make warez life harder especially for win 10 ...

az quote from fl driver post

 

for win , windows firewall control , but dont use password :it get locked then and need email dev then...

 

yes thats the best free firewall out there, good choice

 

Thanks guys hey oly so I'm going to install arturia and tone 2 complete and after I block the app and its respective folders I should be free from it going to demo correct?

 

I like Windows Firewall Control, too. It is simply a front-end interface for setting rules in Windows Firewall.
It was created by an independent developer BiniSoft and I paid a small fee II think $15 or $20) for the full version, which enabled notifications of all blocked connections with a popup to choose "Block, Allow, or Block for now and ask again next time".
That is a key convenience, along with ability to look at a simplified and clear list of rules with filtering (All rules & User created rules), ability to filter duplicates and invalid rules, export all the rules to import if reinstalling windows, etc.

Now it is fully free with Malwarebytes Logo. They bought the program and hired the developer.
Who knows how they will handle this program. If they begin charging for it at some point, I'll pay a reasonable amount, but if they do some subscription or yearly renewal, and don't "grandfather" users who paid for the full thing, I'll look at other options.

I used Zone Alarm years ago and it seemed similar as far as notifications, but I can't remember if it had any listing of rules for cleaning up duplicates (maybe it keeps it clean itself by checking).
I downloaded TinyWall but never got around to trying it once I used WFC.

 

Interesting. Can anybody recommend me a firewall for Windows 10 which works like Little Snitch for Mac? Haven't find anything useful yet..

 

the windows little snitch..i think

you must be really profound with tone2

 

If you use a firewall, you have to block your DAW, folders have nothing to do with this.
If the plugins you install have any standalone or exe installed with them, they should be blocked too.
A serious firewall will watch each and every connection attempt and ask permission to you, so even if there were something hidden you would know.
Tone 2 comes with a bit more complex protection system which not only call home, but from one plugin, can verify the licences of the others and if they are not legit, delete them. This and it's solutions have been largely discribed at sister site.
Conclusion: I insist, get a SERIOUS firewall, one which you can put in complete manual mode, so it won't take any decision without asking. Once in manual mode, you have to know what you're doing.

Example: getsn.exe wants to connect to the internet, I don't know what is this program... How can I tell the firewall what to do? I have to search info on the internet, once I know what it this program I take the decision.
I seems quiet tedious but with ZoneAlarm, you can tell it to remember your answer, so after a week or so, all usual programs have got their answer memorized, and things get much easier.

 

Yes it has a list of rules which allow you to modify them
Yes it keep it clean automatically
Connections are controlled in separate way for out going, incoming, local and internet, for each program.
Each program that have been treated has his own line of rule, which make it easy to find and modify if necessary.

 

gr8 advice mate, you should all listen to it, cant be any easier.

 

Yes thank you guys for the amazing advice I'll definitely check out the programs listed... I hope it work or R2R can fix the issue... for now should I go with V.R or R2R for the arturia plugins?

 

Been using this a few days and looks to be the best firewall i found to date.
just install click on enable filters and thats it.
https://www.henrypp.org/product/simplewall
i found zone-alarm let a program on the web the other day or it sliped the net
so i went looking for somethine elace to try.Is very good

Maybe best is having simplewall & zone-alarm installed.

Tip of the day:
If you download malwarebytes,
go offline and install the demo then set your pc clock a few years ahead,
turn back on your web to activate the demo,shut down malwarebytes then put you clock back to today
and you have a very very long demo malwarebytes when its restarted.

 

Last edited: Jul 24, 2019

pls we need mono tip of the day thread ...