SterJo NetStalker 1.4

Overview

SterJo NetStalker is a type of firewall that looks specifically at connections being made to and from the internet which are being used by programs/processes. The idea behind this software is that today many packages perform updates, transfer personal data and share it often without the user's knowledge or consent.

Therefore, NetStalker aims to track these little communications that go on behind the scenes, alert the user to new attempts at sending a communication burst so that the user can make an educated judgment about whether to let the communication continue or not. Filtering includes the ability to stop all traffic getting through, to filter selectively or not at all.

Rule-based security policies can be setup which manage regular communications by established apps that are on the approved list. This can reduce the daily interruptions once the application has its rules setup for the basic set of applications that the user doesn't mind communicating actively over the internet.

This free network monitoring software is portable so that it can go on the road on a USB flash drive and be used on any PC that the user wishes to plug it into.

Installation

The software installed without any issues. There was no malicious additions to the setup package.

SterJo NetStalker requires Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 (32-bit or 64-bit).

Interface

The interface for NetStalker is quite typical of any network monitoring or firewall software.

It has a menu system with options for File, Filter, Options and Help. There are a series of small toolbar buttons below the menu which grants quick access to certain commands.

Below this is the main application window with a tabbed interface. There are four tabs which switch what is displayed in the application window. The tabs are Activity, Policy, Log, and History.

When a new process (or processes) are detected as trying to contact the internet, a warning pop-up window will overlay the main application window to warn the user. The information includes the process name and file location, remote address, process ID and whether a digital signature was used (suggesting encrypted, secure communications).

Pros

• Network management tool that aims to catch applications that are surreptitiously communicating over the net
• Will alert the user each time a new communication is detected and provide certain information
• Set security policies to approve or block future internet communications by different processes (which may link to applications)
• Connection scanning
• System tray access
• Logs and activity history maintained
• Portable application
• Freeware

Cons

• It may not be immediately obvious what process relates to what application.

Conclusion

SterJo NetStalker is a useful networking tool that can catch all communications by processes (and applications) over the internet and offer a way to block communications if needed. Rules can also be set to automate the process once certain applications have been pre-approved.