Block internet connection of a Windows' App

Question

Block internet connection of a Windows' App

Ahsan Taqveem 5

Hi,

I am running Windows 11 Home (22H2 | 22621.2070)

I have this app named as "Dolby Access" whenever I launch this app (with internet connected), it just keeps loading and does not show the interactable interface, below image: User's image

The above screen just stays and nothing happens.

--

I desperately close the window and i turn off the internet connection and then i launch the app:

it opens up super lightening fast, following interactable interface appears:

User's image

--

QUESTION PLEASE:

i need to shut off (BLOCK) the internet of this particular app.

Now please note that:

IT IS A WINDOWS APP
Installation path is: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\DolbyLaboratories.DolbyAccess_3.17.3025.0_x64__rz1tebttyb220\DolbyAccess.exe

We can easily block the internet connection of a regular program which sits inside the Program Files (x86 and x64) easily with inside the firewall.

HOW CAN I BLOCK THE INTERNET CONNECTION OF THIS APP?
Firewall method is not working here.

MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2023-08-14T23:02:08.1333333+00:00

Have you tried reaching out to the vendor for support to fix the root cause of the problem?

https://kb.dolby.com/access

Or reviewing the application logs?

https://kb.dolby.com/access?kid=ka64u000000bo3HAAQ&articletype=FAQ&articlecategory=Dolby_Access__c
Ahsan Taqveem 5 Reputation points

2023-08-19T13:41:57.0566667+00:00

Hi @MotoX80

Thanks for the response, Bro the problem is the same.
i am running the app on a standard account (Non-Admin account)

For some reason it needs to download an update and it needs to download the update via an ADMIN ACCOUNT ONLY🤦‍♂️

Now I will somehow manage to get it run properly after the update,
BUT THE QUESTION remains: how can i turn off the internet access for it for now?
Not just it, for any other WINDOWS APP ?

1 answer

Your answer

MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2023-08-14T23:02:08.1333333+00:00

Have you tried reaching out to the vendor for support to fix the root cause of the problem?

https://kb.dolby.com/access

Or reviewing the application logs?

https://kb.dolby.com/access?kid=ka64u000000bo3HAAQ&articletype=FAQ&articlecategory=Dolby_Access__c
Ahsan Taqveem 5 Reputation points

2023-08-19T13:41:57.0566667+00:00

Hi @MotoX80

Thanks for the response, Bro the problem is the same.
i am running the app on a standard account (Non-Admin account)

For some reason it needs to download an update and it needs to download the update via an ADMIN ACCOUNT ONLY🤦‍♂️

Now I will somehow manage to get it run properly after the update,
BUT THE QUESTION remains: how can i turn off the internet access for it for now?
Not just it, for any other WINDOWS APP ?

Answer 1

MotoX80 36,401

You should be able to create a rule that blocks the access. I ran a test where I tried to block curl.exe. Just specifying "curl.exe" did not work. I had to include the full path to the program.

User's image

On my pc I have an old version of curl in the Utils folder, and the one that comes with Windows in the system32 folder. By just running "curl", windows loads the one from system32 since it finds that one first via the path.

After I ran the first curl (and got the redirect response), I applied the firewall rule to block access. The second test failed to connect (blocked by the firewall).

But explicitly using the version in the utils folder still worked.

User's image

If that doesn't work, try looking for DolbyAccess in Application Packages.

User's image

MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2023-08-19T15:20:13.4733333+00:00

And if that doesn't work, you can fool the program by overriding DNS and specifying a bad IP address for the web site name.

Use notepad to edit C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts and add in a line like this.

192.168.255.255 dolby.com
Ahsan Taqveem 5 Reputation points

2023-08-19T18:57:47.4266667+00:00

Dear @MotoX80

If i may share you my AnyDesk ID, can you connect via AnyDesk please?
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2023-08-19T19:01:37.49+00:00

No, that's not a good idea.

Are you unable to create the firewall rule?
Ahsan Taqveem 5 Reputation points

2023-08-19T19:12:10.8333333+00:00

i just created a firewall rule, I mentioned the absolute path (FULL PATH),

i created the rule in outbound and i even mentioned the package to apply the rule to.

yet the app connects to internet (its takes hours to load - and when the internet is OFF, it loads instantly)

Below are the steps i performed while making the rule:
Ahsan Taqveem 5 Reputation points

2023-08-19T19:31:55.14+00:00

I have also just now tried the HOST FILE entry method.

added a fake IP as you guided against the dolby.com (restarted the windows after the changes)

It did not work either.

The app is still taking lots of time to load (with the laptop connected to the internet).
MotoX80 36,401 Reputation points

2023-08-19T19:49:03.9833333+00:00

Do like I did and write a rule to block C:\Windows\System32\curl.exe. Don't do Steps 2 and 4. Just specify the program. Verify that your rule blocks internet access for curl. Let's make sure that works.

Next change the "This Program" to the full path to the Dolby program. Again, don't do Steps 2 and 4. Test that.

If that fails, then set Step 1 to "All programs...". And for Step 2, select DolbyAccess. Don't do Step 4. Note that there are 2 instances of Dolby Access in your image. One for a user whose id begins with "Ah", and another that just has a SID. Is "Ah" your admin account? If so, select the second entry and try that.

I still think that you need to contact the vendor. The program should not hang for hours. There must be something else going on.

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Block internet connection of a Windows' App

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