

These apps may also sniff or broadcast over your network, copy the configuration details of your Mac, and monitor how you use a particular app. Premium apps routinely "phone home" to check your license data, but some developers may collect sensitive personal information without your consent.These activities are fine, but if you download a malicious app that secretly logs your keystroke and sends sensitive data to a malicious actor, that's a problem. Apps partake in activities all the time: your email app downloads new messages, apps periodically check for updates, and Dropbox syncs newly changed files.

How can you be sure that all those connections are genuine?

But many processes running in the background also send and receive data. Most apps that you use on your Mac have a visible interface and continuously exchange data between your machine and servers located elsewhere.How can an average user utilize outgoing traffic data? Let's illustrate with some examples. Scrobble, find and rediscover music with a Last.fm account. However, you can monitor outgoing connections as well. The built-in firewall gives you the ability to monitor and block incoming connections. Should the Outbound Firewall Be On or Off?
