In which scenario is it convenient to turn on the firewall?

[doxavita]

- In which scenario is it convenient to turn on the firewall? (System Preferences > Security > Firewall > On)


- What are your thoughts? Should I have it on? I do have a router (Linksys E1000) which delivers wirelessly a signal to my MacBook Pro.


- If I turn it on, will it load some heavy process? Will I still have normal internet access to all my apps? (including parallels windows 7 virtual machine, programs from crossover that access internet, and of course firefox and safari)


- How does the firewall work? Is it going to be asking all the time about programs trying to access the internet? is there an apple article on firewall?


- If I turn it on, I can always turn it back off and it will all be right back to normal, right?

Thanks!

 

[S.B.G]

- In which scenario is it convenient to turn on the firewall? (System Preferences > Security > Firewall > On)


- What are your thoughts? Should I have it on? I do have a router (Linksys E1000) which delivers wirelessly a signal to my MacBook Pro.

You should always have it on.

- If I turn it on, will it load some heavy process? Will I still have normal internet access to all my apps? (including parallels windows 7 virtual machine, programs from crossover that access internet, and of course firefox and safari)

You will not notice a load difference. You will still have normal Internet access to apps, Parallels/Win7 etc...

- How does the firewall work? Is it going to be asking all the time about programs trying to access the internet? is there an apple article on firewall?

Once in a while you may get a dialog box asking if you want to allow an app permission to access the Internet. Mac OS X v10.5, 10.6: About the Application Firewall

- If I turn it on, I can always turn it back off and it will all be right back to normal, right?

Thanks!

Normal is relative, but yes you can turn it off again.

 

[doxavita]

Once I enable it, is it too technical to configure it? (in advanced to customize the firewall configuration) I'm not too knowledgeable regarding the technical configuration side of it.

 

[S.B.G]

Once I enable it, is it too technical to configure it? (in advanced to customize the firewall configuration) I'm not too knowledgeable regarding the technical configuration side of it.

It's very simple and straightforward. Just go into it and look.

 

[doxavita]

Ok, and if I give a program permission for internet access, I can always revoke such permission later, right?

 

[S.B.G]

Ok, and if I give a program permission for internet access, I can always revoke such permission later, right?

Yes.

 

[doxavita]

Ok, I enabled it, I'll leave it with the default advanced settings. I'll experiment with it, to see how it goes.

Software Update should work properly too, right?

 

[doxavita]

Sorry, it seems I edited my message after you had read my previous post. Anyways, anybody know if software update should still work? (automatically) & (after I enabled the firewall).

 

[Paden]

Yes software update will continue to work with the firewall on. It's a very simple and easy interface.