Any idea where the registry keys for allowed applications are stored in windows 8?

[simptri69]

I'm trying figure out how Windows Firewall functions by experimenting with Bittorrent's add exception to windows firewall option, I deleted the entry from the Firewall options and also located that the regkeys are in HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/SharedAccess/Parameters/FirewwallPolicy but I can't figure out what registries are made when an application is added as an exception in the Windows Registry.

Any help would be much appreciated, I have googled several places but nothing helpful so far.

[Computergeek01]

Don't kick yourself too hard OP, the documentation to this stuff has been long since buried behind many a paywall. I am a bit surprised that you never noticed the file in your system32 directory called "FirewallAPI.dll" in your search for an answer. If you don't have a tool to crack it open on hand then I personally recommend "DLL Export Viewer" by NirSoft: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/dll_export_viewer.html

For that matter, just assume that anything by NirSoft has my endorsement by default. I'm not exaggerating when I say this guy is up there with Mark Russinovich in their level of understanding and ability.

[simptri69]

I had noticed the FirewallAPI.dll but I don't know what to do with it. I will download the software and see what it holds.

In addition, I saw that it's not recommended to make changes to the firewall registry because they won't function correctly.

Came across netsh advfirewall cmd command. It works better.

[JLBorges]

http://www.wikihow.com/Add-Exceptions-to-Windows-8-Firewall

You might want to have a look at TinyWall http://tinywall.pados.hu/

[simptri69]

I already know all the GUI how to add exceptions, the reason I posted this in C++ forum is because I wanna do it all programmatically.

[JLBorges]

Something along these lines, perhaps (std::system() is not evil):

const std::string win_home = "C:\\Windows" ; // %SystemRoot%
const std::string netsh = win_home + "\\system32\\netsh.exe" ;
std::string netsh_cmd =  netsh + R"( advfirewall firewall add rule name="Allow my program" )" ;
netsh_cmd += R"(dir=in action=allow program="C:\what_ever\etc\my_program.exe")" ;
// elevate privileges 
std::system( netsh_cmd.c_str() ) ;
// drop privileges 

[simptri69]

i'll try that. It looks like exactly what i've been looking for