EasyMalwareBlocker - Network Application Control Panel
Q: What is the Network Application Control Panel good for?
A: The EMB Network Application Control (NAC) actually is a firewall. It monitors all incoming* and outgoing data from and to the Internet.
*It blocks any unnecessary "listening" ports automatically (incoming firewall).
*Version 2.0 only
If a program unknown to EMB wants to send data over the Internet the EMB Network Monitor will warn you with an option to block this kind of request (outgoing firewall).
Our 'NAC' panel provides detailed information about programs AND modules which are involved when the Internet is being accessed. Each program and each module can be individually allowed or blocked.
Q: I have just installed and started a new program. EMB's NAC has detected that it wants to access the Internet (a red popup is shown), but I don't really see why it should do that. What am I supposed to do?
A:
- a) Some programs constantly check for updates (eg for a new version of the program) and therefore need access to the Internet. Besides checking for new updates they might also send home some spied data. If you do not like that behaviour and you want to keep the program just deny access to the Internet and keep using the program. If you don't like it anyway, uninstall it immediately.
You can also try to rename the .exe file in question and see if the main program still works properly (in most cases, it does).- b) You may have installed a so-called trojan horse type of program. They do the desired job but they usually also send personal data to their home servers where it's being analyzed. As a result they can send personalized ads to your computer (Most of them just only do that. That's not very serious, but who likes to be observed without knowing it?). Others may modify or delete files or if you have been careless and/or were tricked into clicking a button which you shouldn't have before EMB has been installed they could also empty your bank accounts. Not very likely to actually happen, just worst case scenarios but which sometimes do happen indeed.
Often malware authors use modules (eg a file with extension '.dll') to access the Internet. These modules are loaded when a program which has access to the Internet (most of the time it's the Internet Explorer) is started. EasyMalwareBlocker detects if a module is loaded which is unknown to EMB and shows a yellow popup. Please read all the text on that popup including the notes on the right (and the 'Help' text if necessary) very carefully! Even computer newbies can make educated decisions when they use their common sense!
Version 2.0: If you really need the program, keep it but do deny access to the Internet for that particular program on the 'NAC' panel.
Version 3.x: If you really need the program, keep it but do deny access to the Internet for that particular program on the 'NAC' panel as a reminder and use it only when offline.
If not, uninstall it immediately. See the FAQ for more details.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell benign programs from trojan horse type of programs. When modules are loaded with programs that access the Internet like with browsers usually it is difficult to tell if these are (also) used to send sensitive data over the Internet. Lists of trojan horse programs and information on particular modules can be found in the Internet. Computer professionals can use a network analysis program, eg Wireshark.
Screenshot of a NAC (firewall) popup when a program wants to access the Internet (outgoing Firewall)
You can allow or block this program. The popup provides you with all the necessary technical information and you can get more information in the Internet.
Screenshot of a NAC (firewall) popup when an unknown third party module is involved (outgoing Firewall)
You can allow or block this module. The popup provides you with all the necessary hands-on and technical information. You can get more information from the Internet by a click of a button.
Screenshot of Network Application Control Panel (outgoing Firewall)
Each program and each module can be individually allowed or blocked.
