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Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

obdev.at

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Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#101

Post by tmikaeld »

aunty_helen wrote: post #80
danpalmer wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It’s essential for every macOS user Is it? I'm interested in hearing why. I've been using macOS for ~15 years, so very familiar with Little Snitch. I think I owned a version many years ago but haven't for a long time. I don't really see what I'd use it for. I don't run dodgy software, I don't want to partially break the software I do run by nit picking what connections it can make as that wouldn't improve my experi…

I caught a python ml library phoning home to a chinese server on a project that my company was building. My developer had no idea it was happening but I caught it first run thanks to lil snitch. If deployed this would've been a security escape that would need to be disclosed at a govt level. Also, Apple. Their junk phones home just about everything you do. 50+ services constantly pinging Cupertino.

The exact reason that I use Deno is the sandbox, it will not run if something is calling an unknown endpoint.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#103

Post by cgriswald »

jen729w wrote: post #70
randmeerkat wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Technically that's what we call "buying software". What a novel idea. You mean once upon a time you didn’t have to pay a monthly racket for a piece of software you wanted..?

That's right. Rather than paying your $10/month 'racket', you simply paid $300 one time. Then every 3 years or so you spent $300 again to get the updated version. It was a much better system! /s

Apples and ladybugs are both red but (I imagine) they taste quite differently. Which one you should use probably depends on whether you’re baking a pie or dealing with pests in your garden.

Declaring them equal based on a single metric like color would be as silly as suggesting subscriptions and purchases are the same because their costs over an arbitrary period of time are roughly similar.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#105

Post by filchermcurr »

jen729w wrote: post #70
randmeerkat wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Technically that's what we call "buying software". What a novel idea. You mean once upon a time you didn’t have to pay a monthly racket for a piece of software you wanted..?

That's right. Rather than paying your $10/month 'racket', you simply paid $300 one time. Then every 3 years or so you spent $300 again to get the updated version. It was a much better system! /s

Even if the price is the same, "old" distribution models have benefits. If you're satisfied with your current version and it still works, no need to continue paying. If you maintain older systems, your software still works without continuing to pay in perpetuity.

I much prefer buying software licenses outright than renting them forever.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#106

Post by haswell »

Aurornis wrote: post #35
jen729w wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Technically that's what we call "buying software".

You’re not wrong, with a lot of Mac apps (this one included) you need the latest version to use it with the latest macOS release. When there’s a new mandatory paid upgrade every couple years then it’s not far from a subscription service. The situation seems worse on Mac where software has much shorter lifespans without new releases. On Windows I’m still using some engineering software I bought over a decade ago and i…

There have been roughly 18 major macOS releases since Little Snitch was released.

In that time, there have been 6 major versions of Little Snitch.

macOS has undergone pretty major architectural changes during that time, necessitating mandatory upgrades under some circumstances, but an OS update does not always force a LS upgrade.

> When there’s a new mandatory paid upgrade every couple years then it’s not far from a subscription service.

I disagree and don’t think people should mentally model subscriptions this way.

Subscriptions almost universally cost more on average than standalone purchases did, and there are still situations where it’s possible to remain on old versions in perpetuity, e.g. and old Mac that is kept around for a specific purpose but no longer receives major OS updates.

I think both models fall under a larger overarching umbrella of “software maintenance costs”, but those costs have always existed and standalone purchases vs. subscriptions are two fairly different ways of covering those costs.

Agree that this all feels worse on macOS due to the regular updates, but unlike Windows, I actually feel better over time about privacy/security and this naturally forces more app updates across the board. Microsoft’s commitment to backward compatibility is both convenient and increasingly a liability.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#107

Post by SebFender »

nox101 wrote: post #64
para_parolu wrote: post #6

Little Snitch is one of the best pieces of software out there. It’s essential for every macOS user, works very well, and is a one-time payment. I truly hope it stays that way and doesn’t go down the same path as 1Password. I’m very grateful to the developers for creating such an excellent product. I wish more software were like this.

I own many more devices than just a Mac. I have an iPhone, Apple TV, Linux box, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, Quest 2, Kindle. I'd prefer one piece of software that covers all of them over different software for each of them.

DNS filter is then your friend.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#109

Post by m463 »

whycome wrote: post #49
redrix wrote: post #21

Firewalls and endpoint security are important, and Little Snitch is pretty good, but this feels like an ad being posted. It’s just a link to the main page of their website: nothing specific to warrant discussion.

It’s an HN “read the room” submission. It’s contextually related to earlier discussion about Apple Photos phoning home without a direct reference to it.

If little snitch worked on ios...

I'm pretty sure the only reason it works on macos at all was that it got in early. I believe Apple periodically tries to hobble it but there is pushback.

Re: Little Snitch: Network Monitor and Application Firewall for macOS

#110

Post by amyames »

cgriswald wrote: post #103
jen729w wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's right. Rather than paying your $10/month 'racket', you simply paid $300 one time. Then every 3 years or so you spent $300 again to get the updated version. It was a much better system! /s

Apples and ladybugs are both red but (I imagine) they taste quite differently. Which one you should use probably depends on whether you’re baking a pie or dealing with pests in your garden. Declaring them equal based on a single metric like color would be as silly as suggesting subscriptions and purchases are the same because their costs over an arbitrary period of time are roughly similar.

it’s owning versus rent-seeking and this is a ridiculous hair to split

my owned software doesn’t abruptly stop working when I don’t pay my “rent”

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