What does Stealth Mode connection attempt mean

See Mac OS X v10.5, 10.6: About the Application Firewall .

*Stealth Mode*

It is important for your firewall to not only block requests to reach your computer, but to also make it appear as if your computer does not even exist on the Internet. When you are connected to the Internet and your computer can be not be detected via probes to your computer, you are in what is called Stealth mode. Hackers have the ability to detect if you are on the Internet by probing your machine with special data and examining the results. When you are in Stealth mode the firewall does not send this information back making it seem like you are not even connected. Due to this hackers will not continue targeting your computer as they will think you are not online.

TCP/UDP Port 53
Common Use

DNS Service is typically used to convert between URL's and IP Addresses.

This traffic is normally from your DNS service, in this case your ISP.


Tracing 64.71.255.198. please wait
64.71.255.198 IP address location & more:
IP address [?]: 64.71.255.198 [Whois] [Reverse IP]
IP country code: CA
IP address country: ip address flag Canada
IP address state: n/a
IP address city: n/a
IP address latitude: 60.0000
IP address longitude: -95.0000
ISP of this IP [?]: Rogers Cable
Organization: Rogers Cable
Host of this IP: [?]: dns.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com [Whois] [Trace]

I provided you a brief description, but if you want more info then Google for it.

In my firewall setting preference, I have stealth mode checkmarked on. I notice in system profiler, in the part about about network, it says
Network
Firewall
Firewall logging: No
Stealth Mode: No
I know I have that preference turned on.

I connect via AEBS to a cable modem.

You've got me. It may be a but in System Profiler or a bug in the firewall prefs.

Well, my firewall is turned on.
Did you check yours, does it reflect the same?

System Profiler reports Stealth as not turned ON. You may need to restart the computer. I never use a firewall so I don't know that much about controlling its behavior. I have a router that provides a hardware firewall and I do not open my computer for access from outside my local network.

In security>advanced, I have stealth turned on (checked but grayed out) and bock all incoming checked and see the same in profiler. I don't think it means anything. Firewall is on.

Sounds to me like it is a bug in System Profiler. If I remember I'll report it during the next round of beta testing for a new OS X release whenever that is. Meanwhile if you wish one of you can report it via Feedback.

I believe that option in System Profiler has not properly reported status for several releases now. 😟

Thanks, Bill. I'll try to be sure and bring it up again once a new beta seed arises. I'm guessing 10.6.6 will come along before 10.7.

meaning you are seeing what I am, right? I have my firewall set to ON and my stealth mode set to ON, but system profiler reports the opposite...

It's a bug as Bill Kucharsky has already stated.

no, I just was making sure I understood your reply in that you were seeing the same behavior.