PortMaster is GREAT but Confusingly Disorganized with BAD Labels
Windows Update
Portmaster restricts access to everything quite well, including Microsoft-related network traffic. But how can Windows Update be allowed to function? Well, bad news, the user interface blows donkey snot.
The main culprit is the misleading Block Connections Toggle Switch on Apps and Profile items would lead one to believe that if turned off, say for Windows Service: WUAUSERV, everything would be allowed. Nope.
Block Connections: OFF
In Portmaster parlance, it means that setting turns off force-block all connections (whatever the fork that means on any given day). There are other settings that still continue to BLOCK!
Windows Update Test
Test on Windows 11: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates caused Portmaster to show network activity from:
- Windows Service: Wuauserv
Other Windows Update-related services such as Delivery Optimization (DoSvc), Update Orchestrator Service (UsoSvc), Windows Update Medic Service (WaaSMedicSvc), and MoUsoCoreWorker were not involved, so ignore all the moron script kiddies on forums out there.
Both active services were configured with.
Solution
Look under Settings of Windows Service: Wuauserv and turn off Big Tech, Microsoft. That's it.
Journey (the path, not the band)
The prominent placement of "Block Connections" and it's mere existence with that label EXPLICITLY STATES that blocking off, is misleading. And even though there's a tiny yellow 'hint dot' that vaguely indicates, with very poor wording as to the location of settings that it references, as to what might be blocking it, it doesn't help. Of the two items it notes that might interfere, neither of them interfere, yet a third item, the Microsoft One does interfere and it doesn't even note that. Woof!
And further more: The Default Network Action is set to Allow under Windows Service: Wuauserv. The word balloon for Default Network Action also states, "The default network action is applied when nothing else allows or blocks a connection. This affects both outgoing and incoming connections. This setting is the weakest of all and is commonly overruled by Force Block settings or Rules." That is NOT the definition of Default! Fallback is the proper term as an item of 'last resort'. Default is a misleading label.
Conclusion
Portmaster is great! Didn't see that coming, did ya?
But it needs some help on it's disorganized, discombobulated interface, and some more accurate labeling.
Thanks for making guys. Keep up the good work.