Block Phiphon VPN or any application

    

     You may wonder why should we do a thing like this because we use a VPN for our own use. Normally as ordinary people actually we use VPNs in many occasions. We don't want to block them. But think if you are an admin of a company or a school IT teacher, then you may have the need of a thing like that.

    If your company uses PCs and network, you may need to control the use of your network connection to not to waste for unwanted activities by your company employees. Same in schools, you will be using many methods to block unwanted browsing. But VPNs may simply go through your restrictions allowing anyone to do their own work.

    Actually here we have given a spotlight to Psiphon, but the main idea can be differed and used for many more things. So think little bit relative.

    Reason is, one day I wanted to block Psiphon3. Did so many things and ideas exploring the web but didn't succeeded. There were some advanced solutions using network blocks and programming. I couldn't do any of those. So suddenly one of my ideas worked. This is it, i just used windows firewall to block it. Here is how to do that.

    First you have to run Psiphon and check "Task Manager" for running applications. Under Psiphon, there will be another process running on.. Right click on that and find the location of that file.

    Normally it will be inside a "Temp" folder. Get the folder path. 

     Then we have to block that process file by using firewall. We can block the direct application file too, but it will not be very useful because if someone renamed or copied to another location as it is portable, the block will not be functional. That method can be used for other software which are not portable like that.

    So first open "Windows Firewall"  by searching in "Start" or find it in "Control Panel". -> Find "Advanced Settings".

    In left pane, click "Outbound Rules". Find "New Rule" in right side pane under "Actions".

    A window will appear to setup a new rule. Keep "Rule Type" in "Program", Click "Next".

    Enter the file path that we found earlier following with the file name inside the "This program path" text box, Click "Next".

     Check "Block the connection", click "Next".

    Keep all ticks checked and click go to "Next". 

     Here you can give a name and description to the new rule to keep it easily identified by you later among the other rules listed in "Outbound Rules". "Finish" and check whether it works.

    If not, do the same steps to create a new rule in "Inbound Rules". Psiphon will open and run normally, but it will not be connected when rule is on. When you want to connect again, just find your rule and Right Click and "Disable Rule".

    We can use firewall to block many things in different ways, try out changing settings. 

    Good luck..👊