Is there a rough consensus on this? I've never used Firewall, but I'm trying to up my digital privacy and security game and would like to start using it. My eero router has a firewall at home, but I should have one running on my laptop when I take it out.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is firewall working well in 15.3.2?
- Thread starter Kieran2
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I use Little Snitch, seems to work pretty good, as I've locked out too many necessary items and had to reset and start over.
What threats are you trying to mitigate? It helps to consider threats first and then find solutions.
I suggest the major network based threat on a laptop is snooping on your web traffic when away from home on WiFi. For that a VPN helps - so that is where I would start.
I suggest the major network based threat on a laptop is snooping on your web traffic when away from home on WiFi. For that a VPN helps - so that is where I would start.
I upgraded my macOS with firewall enabled from 13 → 14 → 15 and now there are some firewall entries that are unremovable and they break some of my git (webdevelopment) work.
But in your case i would definitely enable the firewall and see if everything still works.
It's good for security even if you don't "consider threats to mitigate".
But in your case i would definitely enable the firewall and see if everything still works.
It's good for security even if you don't "consider threats to mitigate".
Thanks for the replies.
I'm trying to mitigate all possible threats that can be realistically mitigated without getting a degree in cybersecurity or mangling my online life too much (like Tor did). I like to learn and beef things up, but I can't spend time getting too geeky on raspberry pi etc.
I use eero Secure+ to help protect my home network, and I think there's a firewall built into eero even without the Secure+ subscription for all my home tech? (I'm going to look at whether I really need Secure+ anymore, since I ditched their annoying VPN and switched to Proton VPN. I would need a Malwarebytes substitute on MacOS and just pay OOP for 1PW like I used to.)
Anyway, I had read that I should have use the MacOS firewall on my laptop for when I leave the home network. I already use a VPN on my computer and iPhones both at home and when I'm away (except for those few pesky sites that won't let me in while using it, and then I forget to turn it back on grrrr).
I'm trying to mitigate all possible threats that can be realistically mitigated without getting a degree in cybersecurity or mangling my online life too much (like Tor did). I like to learn and beef things up, but I can't spend time getting too geeky on raspberry pi etc.
I use eero Secure+ to help protect my home network, and I think there's a firewall built into eero even without the Secure+ subscription for all my home tech? (I'm going to look at whether I really need Secure+ anymore, since I ditched their annoying VPN and switched to Proton VPN. I would need a Malwarebytes substitute on MacOS and just pay OOP for 1PW like I used to.)
Anyway, I had read that I should have use the MacOS firewall on my laptop for when I leave the home network. I already use a VPN on my computer and iPhones both at home and when I'm away (except for those few pesky sites that won't let me in while using it, and then I forget to turn it back on grrrr).
Thanks! What does it mean when there are firewall entries that are unremovable? I've never used a firewall, so I'm guessing the entries are items the firewall is trying to block, so this means the list wouldn't interfere with the average user's activity, but does for you because what you do is more specialized at the "geek" level.
Yeah if you enable macOS's firewall and you use some programs like Chrome or Firefox then macOS will ask you if those programs are allowed to accept incoming network connections.
Then an entry (with yes/no) is added to its list of programs.
Then an entry (with yes/no) is added to its list of programs.
Last edited:
macOS User Guide
Change Firewall settings on Mac https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-settings-on-mac-mh11783/mac
Block connections to your Mac with a firewall https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/block-connections-to-your-mac-with-a-firewall-mh34041/mac
"LuLu is the free, open-source firewall" https://objective-see.org/products/lulu.html
Change Firewall settings on Mac https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-firewall-settings-on-mac-mh11783/mac
Block connections to your Mac with a firewall https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/block-connections-to-your-mac-with-a-firewall-mh34041/mac
"LuLu is the free, open-source firewall" https://objective-see.org/products/lulu.html
Nothing is un-removable, except that which flows-down the AAPL-Mountain like honey.
Any user can be mindful of their own Settings, and adjust each, at-will.
I rely on adjunct software, Kieran2, that allows me to make more-informed decisions about such things.
That being said, we don't really know--until it's too-late--whether out diligence is entirely adequate...
...no software-based solution is ultimately inviolable.