Firewalla app version 1.63 is now available to all users.
- We are doing a 7-day phased release, all users will be updated to 1.63 by Dec 10.
Firewalla app version 1.63.1 is now available to all Early Access and Beta users.
- To join beta app release, please follow the links below to sign up for the Firewalla iOS or Android app beta program:
- For more details, see: Beta Guide.
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New Features
1. Global Search on the Main Screen
We've added a search bar to the main screen of the box, making it easier to find features, devices, groups, networks, users, or rules across the app.
2. Rule Status Indicator
In app version 1.63, an indicator bar will appear on the left side of the rules list. If a rule is within its scheduled time, the bar will be blue, and if not, it will be gray. For time-limited rules, it will also display how much time is left or if the limit for the day has already been reached. When tapping on a rule, a banner at the top of the rule's detail page will indicate whether the rule is about to become active or inactive in the near future.
3. Real-Time User Activity
Now, you can monitor in real-time if a user is using a specific app without having to dig into the timeline. From the User list, a blinking green dot will appear next to the app icon if someone is watching YouTube or playing Fortnite. Tapping on the user’s detail page will tell you when the activity started, and you can tap on it to learn more.
Additionally, if a user is pinned to the main screen, the icon will appear on the user's shortcut widget.
More apps are now supported in user activity detection, including
- TikTok
- Disney Plus
We are continuously adding more video, gaming, and social apps, if there is any app you'd like us to support, please let us know!
4. Apply Features to Devices in Group/User
Groups and Users help you manage multiple devices with the same set of rules and features for easier management. With app version 1.63, you can apply features to individual devices, even if they belong to a group or user.
These features include:
- Family Protect
- Safe Search
- Ad Block
- VPN Client
- Unbound
- DNS over HTTPS
- Device Port Scan
- Vulnerability Scan
- Routes
- Smart Queue Rules
These features can now be applied to specific devices within Groups rather than only to the Group itself. If the feature is applied at the Group level, it applies to all devices in the Group and none can be deselected or opted out. Any device added to the Group at a later time inherits the Group's settings.
For example, if a media group has ad blocking and other restrictions, and you want to prioritize one device with Smart Queue for lower latency or connect it to a VPN for a trending show, you can now apply Smart Queue or connect VPN to that device without removing it from the group.
Note: This update is unavailable for access control rules like Block, Allow, or Time Limit, as conflicts can be confusing.
5. New Social Hour
Social Hour has always been a popular choice for families looking to spend quality time together by removing digital distractions from social networks.
Previously, Social Hour blocked all social sites on all devices. With improved device identification, we've updated the feature to block internet connections on all personal, media, and entertainment devices for one hour.
6. Target List: Newly Registered Domains
By popular demand from our community, we’ve added support for a new target list: Newly Registered Domains.
To block all NRD sites, click Rules -> Add Rule, and select Target List -> Newly Registered Domains.
This list is updated frequently to help protect you from potential malicious sites that lack an established reputation. This will remain in beta mode until it is stable.
(Blocking NRD domains is still experimental, as they may create issues if a false positive happens)
7. New Parental Control Categories
Two new categories are supported with this app release:
- Violence
- Drugs & Alcohol
You can now use them to create blocking rules on certain users or devices, or turn the blocking on from the Family Protect - Native Mode settings. This will remain in beta mode until it is stable.
Enhancements
1. Block/Mute Apps from Alarms
To complement the enhancement to identify video/gaming apps in alarms from the last app update, this release, we've supported blocking traffic or muting alarms matching Apps from alarms.
2. MSP Active Protect (App Version 1.63.1)
To support the new MSP Active Protect feature in MSP release 2.7.0. The MSP Active Protect can help you with the following:
- Improving accuracy by archiving alarms identified as normal behavior, reducing false positives
- Performing deeper behavioral analytics to identify anomalies, further protecting your network
This app release includes the ability to display related settings if the feature is enabled on your box. Additionally, if an alarm is generated or archived by MSP Active Protect, a label will indicate this.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed the bug where the MAC address could not be changed for the wireless WAN interface.
- Fixed the bug where bridge mode didn't support quality tests on bridges separately (iOS only).
- Fixed the warning message when shutting down Gold boxes via the app.
Comments
6 comments
nice testing the new family stuff now :)
It would be nice to have the ability to schedule Social Hours. I would like to be able to schedule it to turn on automatically on a certain time every day or to even happen on certain hours during the day every day, etc.
Mina, this is a good idea. Have you tried the new social hour? any feedback?
I love it, however, it would be better if we can choose to block internet completely or just social/games/videos. If we work from home, and turn that Social Hour On, it disconnects VPN, same goes to school devices as well, if they are working on a project, it disconnects them etc. I wish if there were choices on what to block and what not to block as well as scheduling as well or Maybe exclude devices/users for (School/Work devices, maybe) I do not know I think more control is better.
What you have is a good idea, but I think can be better :)
I would like to see time limit set to categories;
(Internet at large)
Gaming
Streaming, not just app like youtube
Entertainment.
This expected?
If I block one device in group from Internet it turns on the block for all devices in that group.
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