GlassWire is a personal firewall and network monitor that shows what a computer is sending and receiving over the internet. Rather than working silently in the background, it draws network activity as a live graph and keeps a history of it. A user can see which applications are connecting, where they are connecting to, and how much data each one moves. A desktop version runs on Windows and a separate GlassWire Firewall app runs on Android. Users can download and use the software at no cost. A paid Premium upgrade removes the free version’s limits and unlocks the full set of features.
The live network graph
The Traffic Monitor graph is GlassWire’s central screen. It plots network activity in real time and stores past activity. Users can scroll the display back through time, a view GlassWire calls its network time machine. This makes it possible to check what the PC did while it was unattended. Clicking the graph reveals the apps and remote hosts involved at that moment. Users can break down traffic by application, traffic type, publisher, or destination country. Server addresses appear alongside the flag of their host country.
Deciding what can connect
GlassWire includes a firewall that controls applications rather than individual ports. GlassWire lists each program with separate columns for inbound and outbound connections. A user can allow an app to receive data while blocking what it sends, or the reverse. Clicking the firewall icon next to an app blocks it immediately and clicking again restores it. A Block All control cuts every connection at once, which is useful when stepping away from the machine. An Ask to Connect mode changes this from a cleanup task to a gatekeeping one. When a program starts a new connection, GlassWire alerts the user, who chooses to allow or block it. On Android, custom firewall profiles can be set up for different situations, such as one for mobile data and another for Wi-Fi.
Tracking data usage
A usage table totals bandwidth consumption over a chosen day, week, or month. A date picker selects the period to view. Usage can be ranked by app, host, traffic type, or country to find what is responsible for heavy consumption. For metered or capped connections, users can set a data plan limit for a chosen period. GlassWire warns when usage approaches that limit. The figures can be exported to CSV for separate analysis. The count reflects only the device GlassWire is installed on, not every device sharing the connection.
Alerts and app changes
GlassWire raises an alert whenever a new application accesses the network, giving the option to block it from the notification. It also watches for network-related changes to apps and for unusual behavior that can signal malware or an unwanted program. It flags bandwidth-heavy or poorly behaved apps so users can shut off their connections. Alerts collect in a log that users can mark as read. Users can snooze desktop notifications when they do not want them.
Devices on the network
A network scanner lists the other devices currently connected to the same network or Wi-Fi. GlassWire can alert when an unknown device joins, which helps spot a neighbor or stranger using the connection without permission.
Extra tools
GlassWire can connect to the VirusTotal service using a user-supplied API key. It can then analyze selected apps on demand or check every internet-connected app automatically. An Incognito mode temporarily stops recording chosen activity in the graph history. A clear-history option removes stored data. Remote monitoring lets one copy of GlassWire watch a separate computer or server from a distance. Graph colors and themes can also be changed.
Free and Premium
The free version of GlassWire provides the graph, the network scanner, one remote connection, and usage and history for the last day. Premium adds the firewall controls and removes restrictions, including unlimited remote connections and longer history. The Android app is free, with optional paid themes.
