Smart App Control for Win 11 won't let Minimal Firewall load.

[nrzsdghk]

Smart App Control for Win 11 won't let Minimal Firewall load, so I learned how to turn the SAC on and off. A video told me how to do this to the registry. It really needs this, and must reboot to turn it on. Here is what the Smart App Control registry file looks like to turn it back on. SAON.REG is:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CI\Policy]
"EmodePolicyRequired"=dword:00000000
"SAC_EnforcementReason"=dword:00000001
"SkuPolicyRequired"=dword:00000000
"VerifiedAndReputablePolicyState"=dword:00000001

Then I also figured out SAOFF.REG is:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CI\Policy]
"EmodePolicyRequired"=dword:00000000
"SAC_EnforcementReason"=dword:00000001
"SkuPolicyRequired"=dword:00000000
"VerifiedAndReputablePolicyState"=dword:00000000

These .REG files run from the Task Manager with Administrator mode wouldn't be needed if Minimal Firewall was signed, so the Smart App Control would let it load every time. I haven't learned how to sign applications. I wouldn't be surprised if some company charged a subscription fee, or license fee, or something.

To answer your question about Minimal Firewall blocking the App or the Website here is the answer. MS Edge launched fully when I clicked on Forum Discussions found on Minimal Firewall. The MS Edge App was blocked from the website Forum Discussions on Github. When unlocked Minimal Firewall let Forum Discussions on Github fully work. Adding some rules for MS Edge folders let all the websites come up.

I am also having a little trouble with the Win 11 CoPilot App opening up fully and saying, "Sorry something went wrong." Unlocking Minimal Firewall lets the CoPilot say, "Good Evening _______ What can I do for you today?" Using the Task Manager to find the folders for the CoPilot and parts of it was successful. The new rules for Minimal Firewall weren't successful to let the CoPilot AI do more than, "Sorry something went wrong." I will try to write rules for the exact file names listed in the Task Manager instead of the three whole folders CoPilot is existing inside of. Allowing all the files in the subfolder System32 wasn't enough. The CoPilot AI folder got 535 new rules for CoPilot AI alone. It could be the .dll files upped the number, because the folder had only a few .exe files.

I have a giant number of firewall rules for Minimal Firewall. Trend Micro firewall years ago had a lock on the icon bar to lock everything out, and unlock to open it all up. Maybe, I should have stayed with using only the icon to disable and enable the lock on the firewall.

The other computer we have has a paid firewall that does everything for us, and the paid firewall changes all the firewall rules for us. Because my Mom uses that computer, I don't dare do too many updates on the firewall. I don't know if that computer is doing what I should do. All I know is nothing was blocking any website, or I had to solve the problem in a hurry, or in the early morning hours. Maybe, people get paid to write rules for paid firewalls?

So far nothing other to write about for version 2.4.4, as I have neglected to upgrade to the later versions.

Kind Regards,

[nrzsdghk]

I would like to correct my error, and tell you I stay with, "Minimal Firewall," version 2.6.4. not 2.4.4.

Windows 11 security updates have changed some things! .NET 8 and .NET 10 were updated completely for security reasons. This made it impossible to get the icon to show the program, or switch lockdown, but the, "Minimal Firewall," was up. I was to learn that using a paid software, "Uninstall Tools," lets me remove .NET 10 SDK, with all of the software that goes with it, including the registry entries. .NET 10 SDK has a really useful uninstall program, unlike .NET 8. This totally fixed the icon in the hidden icons bar for, "Minimal Firewall." I now can turn on and off the firewall. Who uses .NET 10, so I shouldn't use their software?

You no longer need to get, "Minimal Firewall," signed, so windows 11 will permit it to run on, "Start Up." I then decided to turn on the, "Smart App Control," and turn off the, "User Account Control." That way, "Minimal Firewall," will load on, "Start Up," with the security features turned on for Windows 11. Finding, "User Account Control," isn't in the menus, but is in the, "Search Bar." It now looks like the security updates have separated, "Smart App Control," from, "User Account Control," like they weren't the same security software in the first place. The registry entry to turn, "Smart App Control," on is the only way possible they will let me turn it back on. The slider in, "User Account Control," always works, but I don't fear hidden malware, or trojan software, when running programs. Sometimes, I turn it on, and it is like, "User Account Control Domination Permissions."

You didn't ask for the, "Diagnostic Package," file, so please ignore it if you don't get any use out of it. I have uploaded the file mostly because I like to learn about everything. Thank you for keeping most compromising information out of the, "Diagnostic Package," file, so you can share it.

Kind Regards,

mfw_diagnostics_20260224_115822.zip

[deminimis]

Would you clarify the issue, I'm a bit confused.

I updated to net 10 in version 2.7.

[nrzsdghk]

I have stopped using, "Smart App Control," that comes with Windows 11, because it intermittently won't let unsigned applications such as, "Minimal Firewall," run. Every other reboot causes the, "Minimal Firewall," to disappear or run. I am lucky, "Minimal Firewall," wasn't erased by Microsoft Defender Antivirus. The new unsigned applications are mistreated as if they were corrupt software. Getting your software signed by someone to tell the, "Smart App Control," that your software is safe to run could be expensive. "Smart App Control," is what the operating system uses to shut down software that isn't approved by Microsoft. I give up trying to "teach, "Smart App Control," to let unsigned applications unapproved by Microsoft to run. All of the other applications that other people write have no problem with, "Smart App Control," but now it is turned off until I turn it back on. Windows 11 tells me I am doing something wrong by turning off, "Smart App Control." If I didn't run, "Minimal Firewall," I could turn, "Smart App Control," back on again with registry editing. I don't like to endanger my Windows operating system, or be forced to reinstall it. Are your other, "Minimal Firewall," users rebooting frequently to use the software. When, "Minimal Firewall," was hidden, and unable to respond, I had to open the task manager to end, "Minimal Firewall." After that I clicked on the, "Minimal Firewall," icon to start it back up to respond normally. Thank you for telling me that your latest update uses dot net 10. It is likely that your updated software is unsigned as well. Wouldn't it be nice if dot net 10 solved this, "Smart App Control," trust problem.

Kind Regards,

[deminimis]

In my opinion, you should leave it on to protect you. If it flags unsigned software, you can open up Windows Security (usually in the notifications try in bottom right you can just click to open the exact place you need to go to), and provide an exception for that program. You might look at some tutorials on YouTube or ask copilot how to do it.