Mac computers with OS X have built-in firewalls that provide security against potentially malicious incoming connections. The main purpose of a firewall is to prevent or restrict access to your computer by other computers and the network. In some cases, your Mac's firewall will conflict with third-party firewalls you will use, and you will need to disable it or change their settings. Read on to learn how to disable your Mac's built-in firewall.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Mac OS X Version 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Step 1. Click on the Apple menu on your toolbar
Step 2. Select "System Preferences"
Step 3. Select View, then Security from the System Preferences window
Step 4. Click the Firewall tab
Step 5. Click Stop to disable your firewall
Above the button you will see "Firewall Off".
Step 6. Configure the advanced firewall options if you want to customize it without completely disabling it
- Click the Advanced button on the Firewall tab.
- Put a check mark next to "Block all incoming connections" to block all connections except those necessary for your computer to function properly.
- Accepted connections are critical to network configuration services.
- This setting will block and prevent all sharing features, such as screen and file sharing, features built into the "Sharing System Preferences" pane of your Mac.
- Check the box next to "Automatically allow digitally signed software to receive incoming connections" if you want to give applications with valid certificates full and continuous access to your network. You will suppress all authorization request notifications from these applications.
- Put the check mark next to "Enable stealth mode" to make your computer ignore requests from unauthorized programs that try to probe or discover your computer.
- Press the "plus" or "minus" buttons to add or remove specific applications from the firewall.
Step 7. Click "OK" to save and apply the settings
Method 2 of 3: Mac OS X Version 10.5 (Leopard)
Step 1. Click on the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen
Step 2. Click on System Preferences
Step 3. Click on View and then on Security in the System Preferences window
Step 4. Click the Firewall tab
Step 5. Select the radio button next to "Allow all incoming connections" to completely disable the firewall
- Select the radio button next to "Set access for specific services and applications" to block all incoming connections with the exception of trusted services and applications.
- Select the radio button next to "Allow essential services only" to block all connections except those necessary for the computer to function properly.
Step 6. Click OK to apply and save the changes
Method 3 of 3: Mac OS X Version 10.4 (Tiger)
Step 1. Open the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen by clicking on the Apple icon
Step 2. Select "System Preferences"
Step 3. Click View, then click Security in the System Preferences window
Step 4. Select the Firewall tab
Step 5. Click Stop to disable your firewall
Above the button you will see "Firewall Off".
- Add or remove specific applications from the firewall by clicking on the Services and Firewall tabs.
- Check, or click to remove, next to the applications or services you want to enable or disable on the firewall.
- If a service or port is not available in the list, click the "New" button, then click the "More" button to manually type the exact port number.
