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October 6, 2008
When to Pay for a Mac Firewall App?
MacWorld makes the case for third-party firewall apps on the Mac:
“So why would you want to buy and install a third-party firewall when OS X’s seem to cover the bases pretty well? The primary reasons are more flexibility and better protection.
“For example, Intego’s $50 NetBarrier X5 () lets you set rules based on where connections are coming from. You can get similar firewall control from free tools such as WaterRoof, but they don’t offer those extra privacy features.
“Another limitation of Leopard’s built-in socket filter is that it can’t change rules when you change locations. For example, you might want to leave your laptop’s iTunes sharing turned on at home but shut it off when you use your laptop on the road. Open Door Networks’ $80 DoorStop X Security Suite () lets you define locations and quickly set the firewall to preset rules for where you are. NetBarrier also allows you to create different rules for local network addresses and for addresses on the Internet—a remarkably simple and useful distinction.
(Link)
Posted by mhall at 9:50 PM | Add Comment
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