wary of using LittleSnitch

[kofman13]

I am looking to use this but I am afraid of privacy. what proof is there that they aren't collecting all traffic incoming and outgoing from your computer and storing it somehow?

 

[Jessica Lares]

Here is their privacy policy:

Objective Development — Privacy Policy

Discover powerful applications such as Little Snitch Mini, Little Snitch, LaunchBar and Micro Snitch.

www.obdev.at

1.5.2. Little Snitch Research Assistant​

Little Snitch’s Research Assistant can display information about third-party programs on user request. For this purpose, the following information is transmitted at the express request of the user:

• Name of the program for which information is requested.
• The file path where the program is installed.
• The version number of the program.
• The version number of your operating system.
• If available, the Internet name of the computer the program tries to connect to.
• If available, connection specifications (protocol, port number, inbound/outbound, etc.).
• The language in which the information is requested.

This data is never stored on a personal basis, but is immediately combined into anonymous statistics. The statistics are intended to improve and maintain the database.

Access is via our web server, which stores log files with connection data for three months as described under “Visiting our website”.

They are a well known developer in the Apple community.

 

[KaliYoni]

In addition to the above, Objective Development does not rely on advertisers for revenue. Little Snitch and Micro Snitch, the two products I use, are both sold to users for an upfront fee.

Further, your ISP and cell phone carrier are already collecting, storing, and selling your usage data. If you want to shield your habits and patterns, you might want to look into encrypted DNS, VPNs, and perhaps Tor. And don't use services such as "Login with Facebook" and "Login with Google".

 

[Apple_Robert]

I highly recommend using Little Snitch. It will help you take better control over what is coming into and leaving your Mac.

 

[rpmurray]

I am looking to use this but I am afraid of privacy. what proof is there that they aren't collecting all traffic incoming and outgoing from your computer and storing it somehow?

What proof did you get that Apple isn't doing this?

 

[kofman13]

Does it work with M1 macs?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Does it work with M1 macs?

Yes, it does. I have been running it without any problems.

 

[HDFan]

What proof did you get that Apple isn't doing this?

No way to really know. Given the Apples' marketing push on privacy it would be suicidal if it were found to be true. There are of course some instances of privacy issues, but Apple fixes them fairly quickly,

So do you trust Google, Facebook or Apple? If you don't trust any of them then best just not to use the internet as KaliYoni has stated.

 

[weckart]

There is also a freeware Open Source application that does more or less the same thing as Little Snitch. You can check the source code for spyware if you are that worried. It also has native support for M1 Macs.

Objective-See: LuLu

objective-see.com

 

[KaliYoni]

Objective-See is another well-known and respected Apple developer in addition to Objective Development. I use three Objective-See products: Ransomwhere?, KnockKnock, and What's Your Sign.