.

[tidy]

.

 

[nurturedhate]

Close steam...

 

[DeadFred]

uninstall

 

[Lorne]

Unplug

 

[coffeejunkee]

Go to Windows firewall with advanced security under administrative tools and make inbound and outbound rules. Pretty sure that should fix it.

 

[shortylickens]

Go to Windows firewall with advanced security under administrative tools and make inbound and outbound rules. Pretty sure that should fix it.

This is the first helpful response and also the best so far.

 

[Lorne]

"keeps giving it'self new allow exceptions every time I set the existing one to block."
Countered, Assuming because he already said he tried that.

 

[DeadFred]

This is the first helpful response and also the best so far.

false - its steam - uninstall is the best option

 

[SunnyD]

Since steam doesn't understand the concept of "offline", and persists in accessing the internet and updating when set to offline mode, I want to firewall it in. However, it's got some kind of VIP status with Windows firewall, and keeps giving it'self new allow exceptions every time I set the existing one to block. Short of installing a real firewall, which I'd rather not do, how do I prevent steam from trying to access the internet?

Assuming you're running something newer than Windows XP, you'll be able to create explicit inbound and outbound security rules per application. The problem is that the Steam Service might rightfully get better permissions than you think it does which circumvents this behavior. The only way to truly find out is to check what user the Steam Service (or any of its components) runs as. I'm talking about the background service itself, NOT the client. If it runs as anything other than your user account, then you're likely screwed regardless of what firewall you put on your system.

Your alternatives are firewalling at your router or...

Unplug

This is the first helpful response and also the best so far.

Actually, Lorne's response was indeed the first and most helpful response. All of the responses were far more helpful than yours.

 

[Stuka87]

If it adds new rules in the firewall, go to the security policy and set up rules there. The Security Policy runs at a lower level than the firewall.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to do this? I am not sure I understand the issue.

 

[coffeejunkee]

"keeps giving it'self new allow exceptions every time I set the existing one to block."
Countered, Assuming because he already said he tried that.

That's a bit too vague for me. I'm thinking op is using the standard win firewall frontend that only lets you control inbound traffic.

false - its steam - uninstall is the best option

I somewhat agree but maybe it's best to accept the fact steam is an online service, and as such it requires internet access (even in offline mode).

If it adds new rules in the firewall, go to the security policy and set up rules there. The Security Policy runs at a lower level than the firewall.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to do this? I am not sure I understand the issue.

That might well be it. Although I have Steam installed and there are no additional rules for it in local security policy. Maybe they get created as needed (which doesn't seem to secure to me).

 

[DeadFred]

All jokes aside, I have steam installed but have it set not to start with windows. I only open it when I want to use it, which is very rare.

 

[Elixer]

You can also just switch to a better firewall... like Comodo or something like that.
Then, you can 'allow' or 'block' it anytime you want.

 

[ImpulsE69]

This doesn't really answer your question directly, but depending on what you are actually trying to accomplish, I use netlimiter to limit Steams throughput because it was freaking annoying how often it updated and how much bandwidth it used.

Also you can go into each game and turn off auto updates.

Or..the easiest answer, is simply shut Steam down when you don't want it running.

I don't bother with Windows Firewall, so my only other suggestion would be an external firewall rule.