TinyWall as additional Software Firewall for Windows 11

Even under Windows 11, a software firewall like TinyWall is still necessary

There are almost no standalone software firewalls for Windows anymore that are not part of a larger security package. Many users therefore rely on the integrated Windows Defender Firewall. But is that really enough? The answer, as so often in IT security, is: it depends. For the average user, the basic protection provided by Windows 11 may be sufficient. But if you really want to have control over your system and protect your privacy, you will quickly reach the limits of the on-board tools.

I always like to remember a software firewall from the 2000s, such as the “Sygate Personal Firewall”, which of course no longer exists today. The demand for and supply of software firewalls for Windows has also declined massively – precisely because of the integrated firewall.

The pitfalls of the Windows Defender Firewall

Windows 11 comes with an integrated firewall, which is part of the comprehensive Windows Defender security package. It offers basic protection by blocking unwanted incoming network traffic by default. This is good and important. But here comes the crucial point: For outgoing traffic, the Windows Defender Firewall follows an “allow by default” policy. This means that applications and even internal Windows services can connect to the internet by default without you having to explicitly agree or be told about it.

Microsoft justifies this with the “simplification of the provision of applications”. This may be convenient for normal users, but it is a real problem for security-conscious users. Potentially unwanted software or even legitimate applications that send telemetry data can “phone home” unnoticed. Although it is possible to configure detailed rules for outgoing data traffic via the “Advanced security settings”, this is anything but intuitive and requires in-depth technical knowledge. There is a gap here that specialized third-party firewalls close. Windows and Microsoft Office are also becoming more “talkative” from year to year, which of course is not blocked by the Windows firewall.

Why an additional firewall is essential

The need for an additional firewall arises from the desire for real control. A dedicated software firewall offers much more granular control, especially over outbound traffic. It enables a “default block” approach, where every application that needs network access must be explicitly whitelisted by you. This is the “zero trust” approach for your PC: Nothing goes out that you haven’t explicitly allowed.

Especially at a time when cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, a multi-layered security approach is essential. A robust firewall complements your antivirus protection by controlling network access and preventing unauthorized communication. It is the gatekeeper that decides what is allowed in and out, while the antivirus takes care of detecting and removing malicious files.

An additional firewall can also provide additional security for incoming connections in the internal network.

TinyWall: The unobtrusive guardian for your system in 2025

TinyWall by Károly Pados is a freeware solution that closes exactly the gaps mentioned above and is amazingly powerful.

Perfect control over inbound and outbound traffic: TinyWall was explicitly designed as a “two-way firewall” that “blocks and controls both inbound and outbound network traffic”. When installed, it preemptively blocks everything (be careful with remote installation). You then have to manually specify which applications and processes are allowed onto the network. This may take some effort at first, but it gives you full control and an unbeatable sense of security. Whitelisting is surprisingly easy, often by hotkey and mouse click on the application window.

Windows internal services finally silenced: One of the biggest advantages of TinyWall is the ability to control the communication of internal Windows services and even Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. If you’ve ever wondered which Windows background processes are sending unnecessary data, you can “mute” them with TinyWall. Application-based filtering allows you to block even specific services that would otherwise communicate unnoticed.

Virtually no system resources: TinyWall is a real lightweight. It is consistently praised for its minimal impact on system performance. With a memory footprint of only about 20 KB and without the installation of “kernel drivers or bloated background services”, you will hardly notice it running in the background. This is a decisive advantage over many “bloated” security suites, which can directly create their own security vulnerability by being installed as drivers.

Export and import settings (e.g. for new installations): Another handy feature is the ability to export your firewall rules and settings and import them again if required. This is worth its weight in gold if you are reinstalling your system or moving to a new PC. This means you don’t have to reconfigure your laboriously created whitelists every time.

Other convincing advantages:

• No annoying pop-ups: TinyWall silently blocks unauthorized connections. This prevents the dreaded “alarm fatigue”, where you click on “Allow” out of habit.
• Tamper protection: Your firewall rules are protected against malicious software.
• Integrated blocklists: TinyWall can subvert known threats, ads and trackers via domain and port-based blocklists.
• Hosts file protection: Prevents malicious redirects by manipulating the hosts file.
• True freeware: TinyWall is 100% free, with no ads, artificial restrictions or hidden data collection. Your privacy is respected.

Control is the key

TinyWall also offers the option of conveniently displaying all active connections. Currently blocked connections can also be displayed, which of course makes whitelisting much easier.

The integrated firewall of Windows 11 is a good start, but it does not offer the maximum level of control that is actually necessary for real privacy. In particular, the Windows Defender Firewall’s default “allow by default” policy for outbound traffic is a potential security and privacy risk.

TinyWall, on the other hand, is an outstanding freeware solution that closes this gap. Its ability to bi-directionally control all network traffic, effectively “mute” internal Windows services, while being extremely resource efficient and offering convenient export/import capabilities, makes it an essential addition for anyone looking to take full control of their digital security and privacy on Windows 11. TinyWall can easily be used in addition to Windows Defender Firewall and other software products and does not replace them. There are also no compatibility issues – another reason why TinyWall is so highly recommended.

Download

TinyWall can be downloaded from the developer’s website (tinywall.pados.hu).

I recommend downloading TinyWall only from this source.