Should the firewall on my Mac be turned on or off?

[zooby]

.

 

[S.B.G]

Your Time Capsule is a firewall. Any router out there is a firewall. You can turn on the software firewall in OS X if you want, but it isn't necessary - but it won't harm anything either.

If you use a computer directly connected to a modem or on public wifi, I would certainly turn on the software firewall.

 

[maflynn]

By definition the NAT that is part of the router is a firewall, but it can't hurt to turn on OSX' version.

I keep mine off mostly when my MBP is connected to my home network, and on when I'm out and about,

 

[Shrink]

By definition the NAT that is part of the router is a firewall, but it can't hurt to turn on OSX' version.

I keep mine off mostly when my MBP is connected to my home network, and on when I'm out and about,

Is there any disadvantage to keeping the firewall turned ON when using my home network?

 

[Renzatic]

Is there any disadvantage to keeping the firewall turned ON when using my home network?

Other than possibly having to deal with the occasional blocked port, there aren't any disadvantages whatsoever.

 

[Shrink]

Other than possibly having to deal with the occasional blocked port, there aren't any disadvantages whatsoever.

Thanks, Mate.😀

 

[Renzatic]

Thanks, Mate.😀

No problem. 😉

In case you're wondering, my opinion about mirrors Sandbox's. If you're just at home, having a software firewall behind your router might be a little redundant, but it doesn't hurt anything at all. You'll most likely never need it, but it is an extra layer of security.

 

[Shrink]

No problem. 😉

In case you're wondering, my opinion about mirrors Sandbox's. If you're just at home, having a software firewall behind your router might be a little redundant, but it doesn't hurt anything at all. You'll most likely never need it, but it is an extra layer of security.

...or, as my grandmother would say...it couldn't hoit!😛

 

[zooby]

.

 

[S.B.G]

Hmm.. are you sure that my Time Capsule already has a form of Firewall then? I only use my laptop at home but I searched for this topic (here on MR) and most said that the TC does *not* have a built in firewall.

Is the OSX firewall mostly needed for public wifi then?

It's not that it has or has not a firewall, it's that it is a firewall. A router, which the TC is, is what a firewall is. They're one and the same, inseparable.

The OS X firewall is there as a software firewall to be used when you're not behind a hardware firewall, such as your TC. For times when on untrusted networks like public wifi or being directly plugged into the Internet from a modem which has not a builtin firewall.