Portmaster

Portmaster is an advanced network monitoring utility that allows enthusiasts and networking professionals a window into the real-time network status of all Windows apps and services, offering insights into possible security breaches and anomalous network connections.

Developed in an open-source environment by the seasoned team at Saffing.io, this networking firewall utility allows all Windows PC users access a comprehensive tool that can effortlessly monitor all aspects of local network traffic, block trackers, detect hidden and possibly malicious network-aware apps, set global and per-app settings, and take full control over the network traffic with an incredible variety of modular tools.



Today's modern apps are almost always built to be aware of many cloud-hosted online services, making each PC machine home to hundreds of apps and services that are constantly in communication with the outside world. But in some cases, this kind of communication can be harmful, and users may not even notice that some nefarious applications are trying to establish network paths that will provide external platforms with tracking data about daily browser usage, transmit ads, and in some rare scenarios, introduce malicious software or real-time tracking.

The solution to all these issues can be found in Safing Portmaster, an open-source network monitoring tool that provides users with a detailed breakdown of all currently active network sessions, established by all apps and background Windows services.

Utilizing visually dense but easy-to-use UI, users are empowered to get a comprehensive and accurate listing of all network ports and apps that are trying to communicate through them. The user interface can be switched between three modes, all offering an increasing number of detailed listings for all network activity - simple, advanced, and developer.

The Portmaster free and open-source application firewall saves a traffic history for the last 10 minutes of use, detailing all accessed domains and other metadata info for each detected app. Users can then examine apps and modify the various aspects of their network permissions, including placing a block on their incoming/outgoing communication, access to LAN, and more. The app can also manage DNS services, with comprehensive privacy filtering that can monitor and notify the user if some app has tried to contact a specific online destination.

Portmaster can be used for free, enabling everyone access to its privacy filtering, secure DNS, and network monitoring tools for one PC. Premium offerings start with the “Supporter” tier that only unlocks advanced priority support, but added features are only found in the “Unlimited” tier that adds support for multiple identities, geo-unblocking, enhanced privacy, and support for up to 4 devices.

PROS

• Automates Port Management
• Simplifies Workflow
• Reduces Errors
• Provides Real-Time Data
• Increases Efficiency

CONS

• Requires Technical Knowledge
• Needs Reliable Internet
• Limited Customization Options