Manage Mac firewall settings from the Malwarebytes app

A firewall is a layer of protection that monitors and controls network connections coming to and from your device. Firewalls can block unexpected connections, such as AirDrop or screen-sharing, that bad actors may use to infect your device or steal information. Malwarebytes' Firewall Tools for Mac lets you easily manage Mac's built-in firewall settings right from the app, allowing you to customize how your device handles incoming connections for even better security.

To manage firewall settings from the Tools dashboard:

1. Open the app. 
2. Click the Tools icon in the left side bar.
3. On the Firewall page, customize your settings.

Firewall Settings

The Firewall page provides five settings to control how your Mac manages incoming connections.

• Firewall: Turn this setting on to enable Mac's built-in firewall and protect against unauthorized access to your device. 
  • Note: This setting must be turned on before you can enable the rest of the firewall settings. 
• Strict mode: This setting blocks all incoming connections, except for core features like email and browsing. Even trusted apps cannot receive incoming connections while Strict mode is on. 
  • Note: When Strict mode is on, the Stealth mode toggle is locked because Strict mode already provides more protection. 
• Stealth mode: This setting tells your Mac to ignore attempts by applications to contact your computer, making your Mac harder to find on public networks. We recommend turning this setting on when using public Wifi at hotels or cafes. 
• Trust Apple apps: This setting automatically allows Mac's built-in applications, such as Messages, to connect with your device.
• Trust verified downloaded apps: This setting allows apps verified by a valid signed certificate to automatically connect with your device.

You can change these settings any time from the Firewall page, or through Mac's System Settings.