Firewalls are a system, which can be hardware or software or both, aiming at protecting unauthorized access requests and a grant from a network. It is used regularly for the denial of unauthorized access of private networks over the Internet. It acts as a barricade between the trusted and untrusted network. A Mac Firewall is a similar software which can be used to keep the Mac Device highly secure and that’s why we have provided a list of 20 best Mac Firewall apps in this article.
What is a Mac Firewall?
Mac Firewall is like a normal firewall with a difference that for Windows Operating System it is a default setting while for Apple Mac it has to be turned on. It is not turned on by default because Mac OSX is less vulnerable hence does not require to be tracked down by the firewall. Mac Firewall blocks certain unwanted and unauthorized connections. Network Firewalls are the hardware system, modulates the traffic among the different networks. Host-Based Firewalls are the software system, installed on every individual device.
Here are the best Firewall for Mac that you should start using for top class security features.Â
1. One Periodic Hands Off
This Mac Firewall works silently and keeps the track of all the applications and programs running on the PC. It gives a notification message when any of the applications of programs tries to grant or request the network. The notification message consists of all the details so that an informed decision can be made. Until notification is responded the request is blocked and the PC remains safe. It is capable of blocking incoming and outgoing network connections, multiple subdomains. It protects the PC from Trojans, worms, network parasites, etc.
As one connects to the Internet, the chances of getting malware, viruses, Trojans, worms attack becomes very high and we remain totally clueless as everything takes place within the system, invisible to use. Little Snitch makes these things visible and controls them from harming the system. This Mac Firewall keeps sensitive information protected and safe and does not allow to be shared without the consent. As soon as a connection request is made, it gives an alert message asking for allowance or denial. It has a special feature that is Silent Mode, it puts all the notification alert on silent and allows the user to make the decision afterward.
This Mac Firewall is a freeware which unable every user to download and use it. Though it is free it is not available for a trial period. It has many features and proves to be a good start for a naïve person. It allows only the designated traffic to flow towards a network. This software has an application based layer firewall that is Vallum which allows the user to take full control of his PC at the network and application level.
This Mac Firewall is basically meant for the people who are uninterested in altering the settings of firewall on their PCs. It is a small mac firewall that gives you the ability to any application while using the internet. The app Radio Silence supports Mountain Lion, OS X Yosemite, Snow Leopard, etc. It is cent percent annoyance free which means it does not give pop-up windows and alerts. It requires zero maintenance. This app is very fast and uses very little space. It is user-friendly as it takes care of technical issues and information.
This Mac Firewall has many features and one of them is that it allows the user to script the firewall. You can fully customize the configurations of the firewall before turning it ON. You can always go to square one by just resetting the defaults. It can control a system remotely and is capable of debugging a bug. It has many exceptions.
This is an application based MacOS Firewall, which monitors the application connections. This mac firewall has the ability to hold the connections of the apps and can decide later whether to hold, pass or block the connection. More or less, it is an interface based on icons. It does not require specific knowledge about networking. To block an app, you just need to drag its icon on the main window of the Vallum. It does not require any activation.
This Mac Firewall is a fast, less storage consuming application, reliable and easy to use. It is designed for OS X 10.5 and later versions. It saves the PC from outside connections. The TCP Block operates at the kernel level. It contains all the blocking logic. Â It mainly focuses on protecting unauthorized outgoing connections over the Internet from the PC.
This Mac Firewall has a list of services to offer and one of which is that one can select the services to allow or block, create, add or delete from the list and can be done easily just in 5 steps. One can customize it as per his wish, can alter self-configuration tools and manage blacklists.
This Mac Firewall protects your PC from outside attacks. It is more or less like an interface that is easy to use and has fewer chances of mistakes. It can be standalone or integrated as a Security Suite. This software was developed in the year 1998. It supports all TCP services by default. It has a default protection setting for unspecified services and has a stealth mode as well.
This Mac Firewall controls all the network and internet activity. It is designed to save the computer from outside networks and inside software attacks. It monitors the network traffic along with incoming and outgoing internet. NetMine is capable of providing protection against unauthorized access requests and grants. It offers powerful protection against the potent unwanted threats like worms, Trojans, rootkits, etc.
There are many other free Mac firewall apps available in the market, apart from the ones already mentioned above. Even they are worthy of being tried as they have various security features. Some of these mac firewalls are:
One Periodic Hands Off
Little Snitch
Murus Lite
Radio Silence
Command Line Firewall
Vallum
TCP Block
NoobProof
Doorstop X Firewall
NetMine
Private Eye
Security Growler
LuLu
GlassWire
NetLimiter
Flying Burress
Firewall Builder
Ice Floor
Water Roof
Net Barrier X8
Conclusion
Mac Firewall protects the Apple based PC from the unauthorized access network request and grant. It keeps the PC safe against adware, malware, spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans which are the potent harm to the PC and one’s privacy which can also lead to misuse of personally sensitive information. That is why it is always recommended to use Mac Firewall in your PC. It is very easy to use and does not require any specific skills.