Downloads
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- PeerBlock Download
- PeerBlock Windows Installer
- Antivirus
- 0 / 15
- Version
- 1.2 r693
- Size
- 2.3 MB
- File
- Signature
Description
PeerBlock is an open source personal firewall for Windows that blocks connections to and from selected IP ranges. It is described as a fork of PeerGuardian 2 and is built around block lists, allowing users to avoid known or suspected addresses associated with advertising, spyware, monitoring groups, organizations, or other categories they choose.
The version listed on FossHub is 1.2, mirrored through the project distribution path. Some sites mark PeerBlock as discontinued because no new release has appeared since 2014, but the page remains available because the software received many positive reviews and because open source IP-blocking firewalls in this style are uncommon.
PeerBlock Features
PeerBlock starts with a setup wizard that helps users choose which third-party connections to block. The wizard can configure common categories, while advanced users can add, remove, and update lists to match their own risk model. This list-driven approach is useful for people who want explicit control over which network ranges their computer should avoid.
The program also includes scheduled list updates, logging, and a simple interface for seeing what has been blocked. It is often discussed around BitTorrent and peer-to-peer use, but the underlying idea is broader: PeerBlock gives users a local rule layer for refusing traffic from IP ranges they do not trust.
- Blocks inbound and outbound traffic based on IP block lists.
- Uses a wizard to select common list categories during setup.
- Supports updates for configured lists.
- Provides logs so users can see blocked connection attempts.
- Can be customized with additional ranges and lists.
- Open source and based on the PeerGuardian 2 lineage.
PeerBlock Review
PeerBlock is useful for users who understand what IP block lists can and cannot do. It can reduce connections to selected ranges and give visibility into blocked attempts, but it is not a privacy guarantee, a VPN replacement, or a malware protection suite. A list-based firewall is only as good as the lists, update sources, and assumptions behind them.
The software is easy to set up for its category. The wizard explains the choices, the scheduler helps keep selected lists current, and the main window is simple enough to understand without reading a networking textbook. That accessibility is one reason PeerBlock earned a following among users who wanted more control over peer-to-peer traffic.
The age of the last release is the main concern. Windows networking, privacy expectations, and threat models have changed since 2014, so PeerBlock should be evaluated carefully on current systems. Users who rely on it should test behavior, keep realistic expectations, and avoid treating it as a complete security solution.
For its intended role, PeerBlock remains an interesting and still-requested utility. It gives technically curious Windows users a direct way to work with block lists, see blocked traffic, and experiment with IP-range filtering without buying a commercial firewall product.
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