📺 Video Tutorial

🛡️ Why Little Snitch Is Critical

Little Snitch monitors and controls all network connections, showing exactly what apps are doing online and letting you block suspicious activity.

• 🔒 Monitor all connections – See every app’s network activity
• 📱 Block outgoing traffic – Stop data exfiltration
• 🛡️ Create custom rules – Granular control per app
• ⚡ Network map visualization – See where data goes

Download from: obdev.at/products/littlesnitch ($45, free trial)

💡 Setup Steps

Quick guide:

• 1️⃣ Download Little Snitch from obdev.at
• 2️⃣ Install and grant system extension permissions
• 3️⃣ Set to “Alert Mode” initially to learn your apps
• 4️⃣ Create rules for each app (allow/deny)
• 5️⃣ Review Network Monitor regularly

💡 Little Snitch Security Tips

🎉 You’re now protected! Little Snitch is monitoring all network activity.

Essential Little Snitch Practices:

• 🔍 Start in Alert Mode to learn your apps
  When first installed, Little Snitch shows alerts for every connection. This is overwhelming but necessary. Spend a week creating rules for your regular apps. After that, switch to Silent Mode where only new/unexpected connections trigger alerts. This learning period is critical for effective monitoring.
• 🚫 Default deny for unknown apps
  When an unfamiliar app requests network access, deny it first. Research the app, understand why it needs network access, then create a specific rule if legitimate. Many apps phone home unnecessarily. Deny by default, allow only when proven necessary.
• 📱 Monitor system processes carefully
  macOS system processes make many connections. Some are legitimate (software updates, iCloud sync), others are telemetry. Research each system process before allowing. Block analytics and diagnostic processes – they’re pure surveillance. Only allow essential system services.
• ⚠️ Use Network Monitor to spot anomalies
  Little Snitch’s Network Monitor shows all active connections in real-time. Check it daily. Look for: Apps connecting when you’re not using them, connections to unusual countries, excessive data transfer, or apps connecting to IPs instead of domains. These are red flags for malware or data exfiltration.
• 🔒 Create time-based rules for sensitive apps
  Banking apps, password managers, and work apps should only connect during business hours. Create rules that automatically block these apps outside your normal usage times. This prevents exploitation during off-hours when you’re not monitoring.
• 📊 Export and backup your rules
  Little Snitch → Preferences → Export Rules. Save this file securely. If you reinstall macOS or get a new Mac, you can import your carefully crafted rules instead of starting over. This saves hours of configuration and maintains your security posture.
• 🌐 Block advertising and tracking domains
  Little Snitch can block entire domains. Create rules blocking known advertising networks, trackers, and analytics services. This provides network-level ad blocking that works in all apps, not just browsers. Research common tracking domains and block them systematically.
• 🛡️ Use Research Assistant for threat intelligence
  When Little Snitch shows an unfamiliar connection, use its Research Assistant. It looks up the domain/IP and shows what it is. This helps you make informed decisions about allowing or blocking. If Research Assistant shows the connection is suspicious, block it immediately.
• ⚡ Review connection history for patterns
  Network Monitor → History shows all past connections. Review weekly to spot patterns: Apps that connect too frequently, connections to new domains, or unusual data volumes. Patterns reveal behavior that individual alerts might miss. This is your long-term threat detection.
• 🔍 Combine Little Snitch with built-in firewall
  Little Snitch monitors outgoing connections, Mac firewall blocks incoming. Together they provide complete network control. Enable both for comprehensive protection. They complement each other – neither alone is sufficient for complete network security.

Remember: Little Snitch shows you what your Mac is really doing online. Monitor actively and block liberally.