iMac running Sonoma.
I'd recently purchased an app, ran it and entered my license info, but apparently the app couldn't contact the activation server.
Working with the developer, I verified that my VPN software was off (it had been the whole time, and shown as off in Network>VPN & Filters), and that I wasn't running antivirus (none installed). They suggested trying a different network but I didn't have one to access (and no wifi hotspot for my phone). OS X firewall is off.
I booted in Safe mode, so I presume all third-party software wouldn't load on startup. Same problem. Developer confirmed no activation requests for my serial number on their server.
Developer still thought maybe it could be a VPN issue (even with the above steps) but by the point they got back to me I'd gotten a refund for the purchase (one of those software bundle sites) and bought an alternate, similar app.
Same problem.
So... what to do? Is there some OS X setting that would block connections that I haven't thought of? (Again, OS X firewall is off.) Should I completely uninstall the VPN software--I would have done so if Safe mode had worked, but that it hadn't made me assume an uninstall wouldn't help. Plus every other app that I have that checks a server upon launch (to verify the license or just for updates) is running just fine.
The only other thing that I can think of is that I used to have the firewall app Little Snitch installed. I uninstalled it this past year but is it possible there's some residual component running that's causing problems? I did a manual search (Easyfind) for components that have its name or its developer's (obdev) but didn't find anything that way.
Edit: Update. Installed the app on another Mac, with Sequoia--a MacBook I don't intend to use the app on but figured I'd try.
It has the same VPN software as on the iMac, not connected but installed. Activation went without any hitch. That's not 100% certainty that the VPN software isn't the issue on the iMac but I think adds weight to the assumption. The MacBook never had Little Snitch installed.
I'd recently purchased an app, ran it and entered my license info, but apparently the app couldn't contact the activation server.
Working with the developer, I verified that my VPN software was off (it had been the whole time, and shown as off in Network>VPN & Filters), and that I wasn't running antivirus (none installed). They suggested trying a different network but I didn't have one to access (and no wifi hotspot for my phone). OS X firewall is off.
I booted in Safe mode, so I presume all third-party software wouldn't load on startup. Same problem. Developer confirmed no activation requests for my serial number on their server.
Developer still thought maybe it could be a VPN issue (even with the above steps) but by the point they got back to me I'd gotten a refund for the purchase (one of those software bundle sites) and bought an alternate, similar app.
Same problem.
So... what to do? Is there some OS X setting that would block connections that I haven't thought of? (Again, OS X firewall is off.) Should I completely uninstall the VPN software--I would have done so if Safe mode had worked, but that it hadn't made me assume an uninstall wouldn't help. Plus every other app that I have that checks a server upon launch (to verify the license or just for updates) is running just fine.
The only other thing that I can think of is that I used to have the firewall app Little Snitch installed. I uninstalled it this past year but is it possible there's some residual component running that's causing problems? I did a manual search (Easyfind) for components that have its name or its developer's (obdev) but didn't find anything that way.
Edit: Update. Installed the app on another Mac, with Sequoia--a MacBook I don't intend to use the app on but figured I'd try.
It has the same VPN software as on the iMac, not connected but installed. Activation went without any hitch. That's not 100% certainty that the VPN software isn't the issue on the iMac but I think adds weight to the assumption. The MacBook never had Little Snitch installed.
