Firewall status notification app?

[RecentlyConverted]

Hi, I was alerted to a problem with my firewall by the Sonos app. On checking, my firewall was off. I didn't turn it off.

Is there an app, that will alert you if your firewall is turned off?

Also is there any audit trail, so I can see when the firewall was turned off and how?

Thanks

 

[chabig]

The Mac firewall is and always has been off by default. You probably never turned it on. It would not turn off by itself.

 

[Pooneil]

The Mac firewall monitors only incoming traffic. It is off by default frankly because unlike windows the OS doesn't have a lot of processes phoning out and app access to Mac OS is restricted to prevent malware from gaining control of the entire computer. There are third party firewalls e.g.mLittle Snitch, that monitor both incoming and outgoing traffic but the user must know what he or she is doing or problems will occur. I leave my Mac firewall off.

 

[bogdanw]

unlike windows the OS doesn't have a lot of processes phoning out

Get the demo version of Little Snitch, uncheck the rules approved by default (iCloud services, macOS services, Protected rules) and prepare to be amazed.
https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/download.html

 

[Apple_Robert]

Get the demo version of Little Snitch, uncheck the rules approved by default (iCloud services, macOS services, Protected rules) and prepare to be amazed.
https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/download.html

Little Snitch is the best $45 I have spent on such a program over the years.