Is PacketHound free?
Yes. There's no trial, no account and no adverts. If you find it useful, you can buy me a coffee.
Is PacketHound open source?
Yes. The full source code is on GitHub, under the GNU General Public License v3. You don't have to take our word for what PacketHound does: you (or someone you trust) can read exactly how it works, or build it yourself.
Does PacketHound send my data anywhere?
No. PacketHound doesn't collect anything and has no analytics. It looks up the names of the servers apps try to reach (a normal DNS lookup), so it can show you "example.com" instead of a bare IP address, and once a week it asks this website whether there's a newer version. That request contains nothing about you or your PC, and you can turn it off. See the privacy page.
Windows says "Windows protected your PC". Is it safe?
That's Microsoft SmartScreen's warning for programs it hasn't seen many people download yet. Click More info, then Run anyway. You can check the file is exactly the one published here by comparing its SHA-256 checksum with the one on the download page.
Why does it need administrator rights?
Changing Windows Firewall settings and reading the Security event log both require them, so Windows asks you to confirm when you start PacketHound. If you let it start when you sign in, it starts without asking.
What happens when PacketHound isn't running?
Your rules keep working: they're ordinary Windows Firewall rules. When you exit, PacketHound asks whether to keep blocking apps that don't have a rule yet. Either way, apps you blocked stay blocked.
I blocked something by mistake. How do I undo it?
Open PacketHound from the notification area, find the app on the Rules tab and flip its switch to Allow. Or delete the rule, and PacketHound will ask about the app again next time.
Can I pause it?
Yes. Right-click the tray icon and choose Pause protection, for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour, or until you turn it back on. A timed pause turns protection back on by itself. While paused, apps without a rule can connect freely; your Block rules still apply.
An installer says it failed. What should I do?
Its first connection was blocked before you could answer, and some installers give up straight away. Click the notification PacketHound shows after you allow it (or right-click the tray icon › Pause protection › For 5 minutes) and run the installer again. Protection turns back on by itself. Next time, PacketHound recognises that installer and lets it through before it starts.
What does "Decide later" do?
The app stays blocked and is listed on the Rules tab under Waiting for your decision, where you can decide any time. PacketHound also asks again after 10 minutes if the app is still running, or the next time it connects.
Does it work alongside my antivirus?
Yes. PacketHound uses Windows Firewall, which works alongside Microsoft Defender and most antivirus software. If a third-party security suite has replaced Windows Firewall with its own, PacketHound can't work, because there's no Windows Firewall to manage.
How do I uninstall it?
From Windows Settings › Apps. The uninstaller asks whether to delete PacketHound's firewall rules, then puts Windows Firewall's settings back the way they were before you installed it.
How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?
Open an issue on PacketHound's GitHub page (you'll need a free GitHub account). For a bug, say which version of PacketHound and Windows you're using and what happened. The log in C:\ProgramData\PacketHound often helps.