Windows Firewall: Private: Outbound connections
This `DWORD` value specifies the default action taken by Windows Firewall for outbound connections while the private firewall profile applies.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Show registry keys (1)
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\PrivateProfile\DefaultOutboundAction
This DWORD value specifies the default action taken by Windows Firewall for outbound connections while the private firewall profile applies.
A value of 0 means Allow: outbound network traffic that does not match an outbound firewall rule is permitted. A matching block rule remains effective and can still prevent the applicable connection.
Notes
Security
This setting generally permits applications and services to initiate outbound connections unless an effective rule blocks the particular traffic. The default action therefore does not, by itself, prevent unwanted external communication or data transfers performed by malware that is already running.
Setting the value to 0 does not override targeted outbound block rules.
Notes
The setting applies only to the private firewall profile and is therefore relevant to network connections that Windows classifies as private. The domain and public profiles have separate values.
The default action is evaluated only when Windows Firewall enforcement is enabled for the private profile. If the firewall is disabled for that profile, it does not block network traffic regardless of this value.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Learn: Reference – Azure Policy guest configuration baseline for Windows
Microsoft Learn: Windows Firewall overview