Hi,
I'm a PC person and I'm looking to be transitioning to Mac and I'm trying to understand a few things about the Mac firewall. I've done reading but I could still use some pointers.
I do not install software I don't know and one of my known programs asked me to "allow incoming connections" which I did allow.
1) I looked in the advanced settings for my firewall on my Mac and I did not see that program listed anywhere in the firewall applications. Does this mean that this was a one-time thing for that program and that because it's not on the list that there is no rule set for that program and that it won't accept incoming connections now in the future without my permission once again?
2) Along those lines, does a program on OS X ever ask about "allowing outgoing connections"? I don't recall that the above program asked that and I don't think I've ever seen that question asked by any software on the Mac.
3) I know that one of the best things about the Mac is the lack of malware/spyware,etc for the Mac and not having to deal with these issues (generally) is a very tempting prospect. But how can the Mac be as secure as everyone says without having any kind of outgoing firewall protection built-in? And if it is built-in, is it possible to see a list somewhere of what programs the OS is allowing to go out of the machine?
I know there are programs like little snitch, but I would guess that the majority of your average Mac users don't use programs like ClamXAV and little snitch, and nor are they as careful as those of us on this forum.
Yet the Mac plaftorm is wildly successful and thus I'm confused as to how so many people really have so few problems without knowing what's going out i of their machines per se. I feel like if I have to start with software like little snitch, then I may as well be back on a PC platform watching everything as I do now.
Thanks for your patience and your advice!
R
I'm a PC person and I'm looking to be transitioning to Mac and I'm trying to understand a few things about the Mac firewall. I've done reading but I could still use some pointers.
I do not install software I don't know and one of my known programs asked me to "allow incoming connections" which I did allow.
1) I looked in the advanced settings for my firewall on my Mac and I did not see that program listed anywhere in the firewall applications. Does this mean that this was a one-time thing for that program and that because it's not on the list that there is no rule set for that program and that it won't accept incoming connections now in the future without my permission once again?
2) Along those lines, does a program on OS X ever ask about "allowing outgoing connections"? I don't recall that the above program asked that and I don't think I've ever seen that question asked by any software on the Mac.
3) I know that one of the best things about the Mac is the lack of malware/spyware,etc for the Mac and not having to deal with these issues (generally) is a very tempting prospect. But how can the Mac be as secure as everyone says without having any kind of outgoing firewall protection built-in? And if it is built-in, is it possible to see a list somewhere of what programs the OS is allowing to go out of the machine?
I know there are programs like little snitch, but I would guess that the majority of your average Mac users don't use programs like ClamXAV and little snitch, and nor are they as careful as those of us on this forum.
Yet the Mac plaftorm is wildly successful and thus I'm confused as to how so many people really have so few problems without knowing what's going out i of their machines per se. I feel like if I have to start with software like little snitch, then I may as well be back on a PC platform watching everything as I do now.
Thanks for your patience and your advice!
R