Firewall : Only Allow Essential Services...?

[fab5freddy]

In the MAC OS X Firewall Prefs, you can choose :
Only Allow Essential Services.

What does this exactly mean ?
What are the essential services ?

 

[ppc750fx]

"Essential services" will block most forms of inbound connection. (It's functionally equivalent to disabling all the checkboxes in the Tiger dialog.)

Lord knows why they renamed it...

 

[drlunanerd]

"Essential services" will block most forms of inbound connection. (It's functionally equivalent to disabling all the checkboxes in the Tiger dialog.)

Lord knows why they renamed it...

Because they changed its behaviour in 10.5.1 after a lot of criticism and some apps breaking.

 

[fab5freddy]

Should you check this box when surfing on public wifi networks ?

 

[kolax]

Should you check this box when surfing on public wifi networks ?

Just tick "Set Specific Applications".

Then tick both options in the advanced window.

 

[fab5freddy]

But When i tick "Set Specific Applications",
do i have to choose the specific apps ?

 

[ppc750fx]

But When i tick "Set Specific Applications",
do i have to choose the specific apps ?

Only choose apps that you want to allow inbound connections to. (i.e. nothing, unless you have a specific reason to do otherwise.)

And you don't need to enable logging (in the advanced pane) -- but I would recommend "Stealth Mode".

 

[fab5freddy]

ok, so i think i get it now....

you can surf the web fine without setting any apps
to recieve inbound connections..?

I guess if you are using an FTP app, would you
have to allow the FTP app to access inbound connections ?

 

[ChrisA]

ok, so i think i get it now....

you can surf the web fine without setting any apps
to recieve inbound connections..?

I guess if you are using an FTP app, would you
have to allow the FTP app to access inbound connections ?

No, if you were running an FTP server you'd need to open up the associated ports.

Firewalls are a little bit over rated. They actually do nothing. You can have the FTP port open or closed and it makes zero difference if there is no software running that is listening on the open port. It's kind of like the barn door. If you have no animals in the barn the door open or shut does not matter, But many or even most people don't know what animals they have so shutting the door is recommended.

 

[fab5freddy]

i was more thinking about runnning Transmit FTP
just to upload and download from a server.....

not to use the computer as an FTP server...

Does that make a difference ?