PT4 network activity

[apple_fresh]

Hello, could you please explain why the processes pokertracker4.exe and especially pokertrackerhud4.exe need permission for an incoming network connection?
As far as I understand, the postgre database as well as PT4 work through localhost and operate with local data. No network activity is really required.

Moreover, even after setting the ban manually, the program creates its own network rules and windows firewall exceptions. Not only at startup, but also during operation, which pretty much shows the program has realtime administrative access to system settings.

Any suggestions?

[Flag_Hippo]

Hello, could you please explain why the processes pokertracker4.exe and especially pokertrackerhud4.exe need permission for an incoming network connection?
As far as I understand, the postgre database as well as PT4 work through localhost and operate with local data. No network activity is really required.

PokerTracker 4, the HUD, and the PostgreSQL database communicate using local TCP/IP connections on localhost (127.0.0.1). Even though everything runs on the same machine, PostgreSQL uses network sockets rather than direct inter-process communication, which is why you see this as network activity. These are local connections, not external internet connections.

Moreover, even after setting the ban manually, the program creates its own network rules and windows firewall exceptions. Not only at startup, but also during operation, which pretty much shows the program has realtime administrative access to system settings.

If you have configured a rule blocking internet access then Windows Firewall generally does not filter loopback (localhost) traffic, so a rule blocking internet access won't stop this local activity. PokerTracker 4 does need to contact the license server periodically at startup to validate your license so if that is blocked license validation will eventually fail.

[apple_fresh]

Sounds weird to me. As far as I know running local database server requires no internet connection at all. That is how localhost works.
Regarding license verification, isn't it the local program that initiates the connection?

[Flag_Hippo]

Sounds weird to me. As far as I know running local database server requires no internet connection at all. That is how localhost works.

That's what I said in my original reply. They are local connections and not external internet connections. PostgreSQL uses network sockets rather than direct inter-process communication which is why you see this as network activity. You can verify all of this yourself using TCPView (a free tool from Microsoft Sysinternals). Run it and you'll see the connections for PokerTracker 4 and PostgreSQL as a loopback address - either 127.0.0.1 (IPv4) or ::1 (IPv6, which is what you'll typically see) - on the PostgreSQL port (5432 by default). A loopback address means the traffic never leaves your machine; PokerTracker 4 is communicating with the local PostgreSQL database only.

Regarding license verification, isn't it the local program that initiates the connection?

Yes.