Little Snitch
Little Snitch is a host-based application firewall for macOS. It can be used to monitor applications, preventing or permitting them to connect to attached networks through advanced rules. It is produced and maintained by the Austrian firm Objective Development Software GmbH.
 The logo for Little Snitch 4 | |
| Developer(s) | Objective Development Software GmbH |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 5.2.2 (June 29, 2021[1]) [±] |
| Written in | Objective-C |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Available in | German, English |
| Type | Firewall |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | https://obdev.at/products/littlesnitch  |
Unlike a stateful firewall, which is designed primarily to protect a system from external attacks by restricting inbound traffic, Little Snitch is designed to protect privacy by limiting outbound traffic.[2] Little Snitch controls network traffic by registering kernel extensions through the standard application programming interface (API) provided by Apple.[3]
If an application or process attempts to establish a network connection, Little Snitch prevents the connection, if a rule for that connection has been set by the user. For that, a dialog is presented to the user, which allows one to deny or permit the connection on a one-time, time limited, or permanent basis. The dialog also allows the user to restrict the parameters of the connection, restricting it to a specific port, protocol, or domain. Little Snitch's integral network monitor shows ongoing traffic in real time with domain names and traffic direction displayed.
The application (version 4) received a positive 4.5/5 review from Macworld.[4]
References
- "Release Notes – Little Snitch". Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- "Little Snitch 4". Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- Little Snitch 3 - Documentation. Objective Development Software GmbH. 2013.
- Fleishman, Glenn (September 8, 2017). "Little Snitch 4 review: Mac app excels at monitoring and controlling network activity". Macworld. Retrieved July 20, 2019.