A Mac computer has a built-in firewall to block incoming connections on the device. But this tool is turned off by default. Should I turn on firewall on Mac? How to turn it on if you want to do this? In this post, MiniTool Software will show you the information you want to know.

Is It Necessary to Enable Mac Firewall?

Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in tool on Windows computers to protect the devices from unauthorized access. This tool is enabled by default on Windows. You can manually turn it off when necessary.

If you are a Mac user, you may be curious: is there any built-in firewall for Mac. The answer is yes. But Mac firewall is off by default. You can enable it by going to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

Is it necessary to turn on firewall for Mac? Now, let’s talk about what a firewall does for you.

What Can a Firewall Do for You?

Like the firewall on Windows, the Mac firewall can block some dangerous incoming connections. Some third-party firewalls can also block outgoing connections. But Windows and Mac firewalls don’t do that.

Why do the snap-in firewalls only block incoming connections? Because worms can listen for these incoming connections, harming your interests. And this is the exact reason why Windows needs the firewall: Windows XP has many services listening for network connections. But these services can be exploited by worms.

Does Mac Need a Firewall?

Unlike Windows, Mac OS X does have such services that can be easily attacked by malware and viruses. It doesn’t need a firewall to block incoming connections. Its work mechanism is similar to Ubuntu.

The Disadvantages of Firewalls

Windows firewall can protect your computer. But it may cause issues.

For example, when you open a program, you suddenly get a warning from the firewall saying Windows Defender Firewall has blocked some features of this app on all public and private networks. This warning may confuse you. But the program you want to open is safe.

Windows Firewall blocks Chrome

Besides, when you open a game, you can also receive a warning from the Windows firewall. But the window is behind the game interface. You need to press Alt+Tab to continue the game.

The firewall means to blocks incoming connections. But you can unblock some ports or programs if you think they are safe. This can punch a hole in your firewall because it allows some apps to get incoming connections to work without additional configuration. If your computer is affected, you can’t use it to scan for viruses.

Does this mean you never need to use Mac Firewall? Of course, NO! If you want to run a potentially vulnerable program you don’t want to be accessed over the Internet, you can enable the firewall on your computer.

So, should I turn on firewall on Mac? It depends on your situation. Even you enable it on your Mac, it won’t bring your obvious impacts.

How to Turn on/off Firewall on Mac?

If you want to turn on Mac firewall, you can follow this guide:

  1. Click the Apple menu.
  2. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
  3. Switch to the Firewall tab.
  4. Click the lock icon (in the lower-left corner).
  5. Enter your username and password to unlock the pane.
  6. Click the Turn On Firewall button.

After these steps, the Mac firewall is enabled on your device. If necessary, you can click the Advanced button to customize the configuration for the firewall.

turn on Mac firewall

If you want to turn it off, you will see the Turn Off Firewall button on the interface. You can click it to do the job.

Reading here, you should know whether you need to enable the firewall on your Mac computer. If you are bothered by some other related issues, you can let us know in the comments.

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