GoKawiilNew free Windows app PacketHound mirrors macOS tool Little Snitch
PacketHound is a free, open-source Windows application that lets users monitor and control which programs connect to the internet, built on top of Windows Firewall rules. It requires administrator rights to modify firewall settings and read security logs, and offers features like pausing protection and reviewing or undoing blocked apps.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
By building on existing Windows Firewall infrastructure rather than a proprietary system, PacketHound's rules persist even when the app isn't running, which could make it more resilient than typical security add-ons. Its open-source GPLv3 license and lack of telemetry may appeal to privacy-conscious users wary of opaque network-monitoring tools.
- PacketHound is free, open-source, and uses standard Windows Firewall rules rather than its own blocking engine.
- It requires admin rights to modify firewall settings and read the Security event log.
- Users can pause protection temporarily or permanently adjust rules for individual apps via a tray-accessible interface.
Source: packethound.app, 2026-11-08
Published there as: “A Little Snitch for Windows”
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