Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: How to block a program
• Method 2 of 2: How to temporarily disable the program
• Tips
• Warnings

In this article, we will show you how to prevent a program from accessing the network in a firewall. To do this, log in as an administrator. Keep in mind that blocking a program in a firewall does not prevent it from running on your computer.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: How to block a program

1. 1 Open the start menu . Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
2. 2 Open your firewall. Enter firewall, and then click Windows Firewall at the top of the Start menu.
3. 3 Click on Extra options. It's a link in the upper left corner of the window.
4. 4 Click on Outbound rule. This tab is on the left side of the window.
5. 5 Click on Create rule. It's in the upper-right corner of the window. A new window will open to create a firewall rule.
6. 6 Check the box next to "For the program". You will find this option at the top of the page.
7. 7 Click on Further. This button is at the bottom of the window.
8. 8 Select a program. Do this to point to the path of the program:
   • check the box next to "Program path" and click "Browse";
   • click "This PC" on the left side of the window;
   • scroll down and double click on the name of your hard drive (for example, "C:");
   • double click on the "Program Files" folder;
     • if the program you want to block is located in a different folder, navigate to it.
   • locate the program folder and then double-click on it;
   • click on the EXE file of the program.
9. 9 Copy the program path. Click on the address bar at the top of the window to highlight the path, and then click Ctrl+Cto copy it.
   • This is necessary because Windows will change the path to the file when it opens in the firewall, thereby breaking the rule. To avoid this, manually insert the file path.
10. 10 Click on Open. It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
11. 11 Replace the path in front of the program name with the copied path. Highlight the path on the Program Path line up to the last backslash before the application name, and then press Ctrl+Vto paste the copied path.
    • For example, to block Chrome in "C: Program Files Google Application chrome.exe", select everything except " chrome.exe" and replace the highlighted with the copied path.
    • Do not change the name and extension of the program at the end of the path, otherwise the rule will not work.
12. 12 Press three times Further. It's in the lower-right side of the window. You will be taken to the last page.
13. 13 Enter a name for the rule. Do it on the top line.
    • For example, if you are blocking Google Chrome, name the rule "Block Chrome".
14. 14 Click on To complete. This button is at the bottom of the window. The rule will be saved and will take effect; now the program will not be able to connect to the Internet (until you remove or disable the rule).

Method 2 of 2: How to temporarily disable the program

1. 1 Open the start menu . Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen or press the key ⊞ Win.
2. 2 Open your firewall. Enter firewall, and then click Windows Firewall at the top of the Start menu.
3. 3 Click on Allow a program or component to run through Windows Firewall. You will find this option in the upper left corner of the firewall window.
4. 4 Click on Change parameters. You will find this option in the upper right corner of the window (above the list of installed programs).
   • In the pop-up window, click Yes.
   • You will not be able to change firewall settings without administrator rights.
5. 5 Find the program you want to block. Programs that are or are not blocked by the firewall will appear in the center of the page. Scroll through the list of programs and find the program you want.
6. 6 Add the program to the list (if necessary). If the program you need is not in the list, add it:
   • click "Allow another program" under the list;
   • click "Browse";
   • open the program folder and find the program's EXE file in it;
   • click on the EXE file;
   • click "Open", click on the name of the program, and then click on "Add" if the program is not automatically added.
7. 7 Click on the checkmark to the left of the program. The checkmark will disappear - this means that the program is blocked in Windows Firewall.
   • If there is no such checkbox, Windows Firewall is already blocking the program.
   • Leave two checkboxes to the right of the program (for the options "Home or work (private)" and "Public").
8. 8 Click on OK. This button is at the bottom of the window. The changes will be saved, and the program will not be able to connect to the Internet.

Tips

• Blocking a program in a firewall prevents malware from entering your system and slowing down your computer's performance.
• If you don't know where the program you want is located, right-click on the program's shortcut and click File Location.

Warnings

• If you block a program in the firewall, some Windows processes may stop working.