MacBook Pro - Best Mac Firewall?

nclester · nclester #1 (**permalink**)

04-04-2008, 08:28 PM

I've been wondering what the best Mac-based firewall is? Maybe this is an ignorant questions, but I'll never learn if I don't ask.

What are you guru's using? I'd like something that doesn't hog my resources, just an FYI.

Any tips?

Sorry mods if this thread should have been placed in the OS forum. My bad. I'm running 10.5

shadowmancer · shadowmancer #2 (**permalink**)

04-04-2008, 08:43 PM

Click on the Apple Menu. Select System Preferences. Click on Security. Select the Firewall tab.

bobtomay · bobtomay #3 (**permalink**)

04-04-2008, 08:44 PM

Try using a hardware based firewall (SPI & NAT) from a good router.
Have never found a need to run any sort of software based firewall on any of my machines, whether Windows or now OS X.

nclester · nclester #4 (**permalink**)

04-04-2008, 08:49 PM

Shadow, thanks for the tip. I'll look into it.

bobtomay, I've never considered a hardware based firewall, but I love the sound of it. I'm using a new Airport Extreme router. I'm going to check this out. Thanks!

bobtomay · bobtomay #5 (**permalink**)

04-04-2008, 08:59 PM

The Airport Extreme has a built-in firewall that is functioning from the time you turn it on.

Here is another thread you will be interested in.

dalison · dalison #6 (**permalink**)

04-05-2008, 12:20 AM

You may not need a firewall while you are at home or in a secure office, especially if you are using NAT, but beware when you travel. I was in the airport the other day and they offered free wireless. When I fired up iStumbler and clicked on the Bonjour section I saw 8 different machines, most likely fellow travelers that may or may not have exposed shared resources.

nclester, the firewall built into OS X works great and should do everything you need.

bobtomay · bobtomay #7 (**permalink**)

04-05-2008, 06:05 AM

Good point David. Didn't think of that due to not traveling with a computer.

nclester · nclester #8 (**permalink**)

04-05-2008, 03:03 PM

Alright, so the built-in Airport Extreme Firewall, and the Macbook Pro Firewall should be more then enough to block incoming trash. Cool. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the thread bobtomay, and thanks to David for pointing out that I don't need anything else.

I enabled my Firewall to be in "Stealth" mode, still waiting to see the difference

nclester #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 23	04-04-2008, 08:28 PM I've been wondering what the best Mac-based firewall is? Maybe this is an ignorant questions, but I'll never learn if I don't ask. What are you guru's using? I'd like something that doesn't hog my resources, just an FYI. Any tips? Sorry mods if this thread should have been placed in the OS forum. My bad. I'm running 10.5 I simply prefer the darkness StickiNews
	QUOTE Thanks

nclester #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 23	04-04-2008, 08:49 PM Shadow, thanks for the tip. I'll look into it. bobtomay, I've never considered a hardware based firewall, but I love the sound of it. I'm using a new Airport Extreme router. I'm going to check this out. Thanks! I simply prefer the darkness StickiNews
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,803 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	04-04-2008, 08:59 PM The Airport Extreme has a built-in firewall that is functioning from the time you turn it on. Here is another thread you will be interested in. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month Last edited by bobtomay; 04-04-2008 at 09:11 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

dalison #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 16, 2008 Posts: 207 Mac Specs: Mac Pro 8 core 2.8Ghz, 12GB RAM, 2.3TB HD; MacBook Pro 2.4Ghz, 4GB RAM, 200GB HD	04-05-2008, 12:20 AM You may not need a firewall while you are at home or in a secure office, especially if you are using NAT, but beware when you travel. I was in the airport the other day and they offered free wireless. When I fired up iStumbler and clicked on the Bonjour section I saw 8 different machines, most likely fellow travelers that may or may not have exposed shared resources. nclester, the firewall built into OS X works great and should do everything you need. --David My blog about my move from Windows to Mac: www.davidalison.com
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,803 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	04-05-2008, 06:05 AM Good point David. Didn't think of that due to not traveling with a computer. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

MacBook Pro - Best Mac Firewall?

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

shadowmancer #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 20, 2007 Posts: 40	04-04-2008, 08:43 PM Click on the Apple Menu. Select System Preferences. Click on Security. Select the Firewall tab.
	QUOTE Thanks

nclester #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 23	04-05-2008, 03:03 PM Alright, so the built-in Airport Extreme Firewall, and the Macbook Pro Firewall should be more then enough to block incoming trash. Cool. Thanks for the help! Thanks for the thread bobtomay, and thanks to David for pointing out that I don't need anything else. I enabled my Firewall to be in "Stealth" mode, still waiting to see the difference I simply prefer the darkness StickiNews
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mac Firewall	sandaddiction	Switcher Hangout	7	03-10-2008 12:47 PM
The fundamental question every Mac user should know the answer in order to fight back	Jacobson17	OS X - Operating System	2	03-07-2008 11:39 AM
Disillusioned Mac desigener switches to Windows	mogwai	Schweb's Lounge	21	05-11-2006 02:05 PM
From PC to Mac: transferring files, Mac Mini hard drive	djmitch	Other Hardware and Peripherals	4	03-23-2005 12:56 PM
It's called a Mac	iSheep	Schweb's Lounge	22	10-13-2004 05:35 PM