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How to Block Access From All Devices

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16 replies

by shielae2021

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How do you block all devices from accessing your laptop? I think someone is connecting to my laptop. I disconnected my modem then I checked Windows Update on my laptop. It had that it was up to date and the last time it checked was when I logged in. How is this possible if my laptop isn't connected to the internet and wasn't even turned on. I have a smart TV that's connected via Chromecast. I have windows 10 home edition with the following settings.

Network & Internet/Airplane mode/On
Network & Internet/Wifi/Off
Network & Internet/VPN/Allow VPN over metered network/Off
Network & Internet/VPN/Allow VPN while roaming/Off
Network & Internet/Status/Network troubleshooter/Change advanced sharing settings/(eveything under Private and Guest or Public (current profile) is set to Off)
Phone/(not set up)
Privacy/App permissions/access for this device is off on all apps
Privacy/App permissions/Allow apps to access is off on all apps

Device Manager settings:
Dell Wireless 1705 Bluetooth/disabled

I use a VPN whenever I browse the internet. I've also noticed files missing from my flash drive.

16 replies

by rproffitt

That you are running an OS that is not entirely security oriented. Maybe you could add a firewall and set it to DEFAULT DENY and only allow what you allow but for most that's far too much work. Also, no one I know will support you. You must be self supporting. More about DEFAULT DENY at
https://help.dnsfilter.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500008111421-Allow-List-Only-Policy

Such settings are also in most firewalls. I would not count on Windows own firewall in your case. Try one of these: https://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/the-best-firewall-for-windows-10-that-isnt-windows-defender/

by shielae2021

Thank you for the response. My apologies. I have Norton Anti virus. This is my personal laptop so I'm the only one supporting it. Under Windows Defender Firewall the "Guest and public networks" is connected and is being managed by Norton AntiVirus. If you happen to know how to disable that please reply. Otherwise, I'm looking into it and will post if I figure it out.

by shielae2021

I had updated my reply but it reverted back somehow.

This is my personal laptop. I have Norton AntiVirus. Under Windows Defender Firewall "Guest or public networks" is connected and managed by Norton AntiVirus. I found this article to change the trust level of your network that's enabled by default (ARRRGH!). https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v9802264

My reply doesn't load to reply to Norton's firewall below. Maybe if I reply here.
My original question was pre solution. I changed my Norton setting to RESTRICTED. Hopefully that will resolve the problem if it was a hacking problem via smart TV. Please share recommended firewall.

by rproffitt

Is limited in capability.

Your top post asks for far more so why not try RESTRICTED and see if that will do for you.

Frankly your reply only adds to my reasons to never use Symantec or Norton products.

by shielae2021

My initial post was pre-solution. I changed my Norton setting to RESTRICTED. Hopefully that will resolve it if the problem was being hacked via my smart TV (not so smart). Please share recommended firewall.

by shielae2021

My post was pre-solution. I changed my Norton setting to RESTRICTED. Hopefully that will fix the problem if it was a hack via smart TV. Please share recommended firewall.

by shielae2021

My original question was pre solution. I changed my Norton setting to RESTRICTED. Hopefully that will resolve the problem if it was a hacking problem via smart TV. Please share recommended firewall.

by shielae2021

Posts and replies keep getting deleted. I changed my Norton setting to RESTRICTED. Hopefully that will resolve the problem if it was a hacking problem via smart TV. Please share recommended firewall.

by rproffitt

You won't find me writing "use this firewall" because folk have their own ideas about what they want.

In your case, Norton has apparently stripped out almost everything setting and feature I used to see decades ago. My bet is that folk expect Norton to support not only the product but teach what firewalls and all those settings do. I'm seeing a lot of that today versus years ago so I won't write more about that.

-> In short it sounds like you want to take this to the max and that means any firewall that offers the "DEFAULT DENY" so you get hammered with every request so you can decide whether to allow or continue to deny. This does break a lot of things like Windows Update (until you allow it) but hey, give the people what they want!

by shielae2021

The settings posted in the initial question is what I changed to Windows 10. I mainly just want to be able to ensure that nothing can access my laptop until I connect to the internet. I don't save work on my laptop. My laptop isn't set to connect to the internet automatically. I initially thought I blocked everything with my settings not knowing about Norton's default setting allows it. Thank you for everyone's replies.

by shielae2021

My settings in my initial post/question are changes I made to Windows 10. I didn't want anything to access my laptop until I connect to the internet. If the problem is the default Norton setting allowing access to my laptop hopefully this post and replies will help others with Norton.

by rproffitt

I think you have the best your current firewall has to offer according to the articles I linked to.

Now if you want I can blow a gaping big hole in PC security with, of all things it could be called, a Rubber Duck. I own one and it's amazing. Folk have told me it should be illegal. It probably is in some places.

https://docs.hak5.org/hc/en-us/articles/360010471374-15-Second-Password-Hack-Mr-Robot-Style

This is only one of hundreds of tricks you can do with your Rubber Duck.

PCs are not secure computing platforms. Never designed to be that secure!

by jaceytome

Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control. Select the Turn on Access Control check box. You must select this check box before you can specify an access rule and use the Allow and Block buttons. When this check box is cleared, all devices are allowed to connect, even if a device is in the blocked list.

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