Block apps to use internet

Hi,

I dont want to use all portable apps (except apps which needs connection: Iron, Firefox, Skype, uTorrent...) to use my internet connection. Because some of them are checking for updates automatically, some of them sends datas to their servers (for statistic), some of them redownload their advertisement banners and for some security reasons.

On Windows 7 (I did not test for older versions of Windows) if you have not disabled Windows default Firewall you can block any app you want with this command:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="PFOXITREADER" dir=out action=block program="D:\PortableApps\PortableApps\FoxitReaderPortable\App\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe"

But because "Foxit Reader.exe" file calls the "D:\PortableApps\PortableApps\7-ZipPortable\App\7-Zip\7zFM.exe" file, you need to change the path of file on the command. New command should be:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="PFOXITREADER" dir=out action=block program="D:\PortableApps\PortableApps\FoxitReaderPortable\App\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe"

You can use a ".bat" file to block them all portable apps (except some) at once.

Create a txt file and put the commands for each app on each line. Than save and close the text file and rename it as .bat file.

To unblock an app you need this command:

netsh advfirewall firewall delete rule name="PFOXITREADER"

You can create 2 files "blockApps.dat" and "unblockApps.dat" to enable and disable quickly on any machine.

For example I create two "bat" files for my own portable apps. You can check them: h t t p : / / w w w . 2 s h a r e d . c o m /file/NLNH4_N9/batfiles.html