Firewall Enabled / Stealth Mode Selected but MBP Responding to Pings! Advice/Help?

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karin1968 Author

Level 1

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Firewall Enabled / Stealth Mode Selected but MBP Responding to Pings! Advice/Help?

Mid June 2012 MBP running 10.8.2 have firewall enabled in System Preferences, selected option to block all incoming connections and checked the 'stealth mode' option.

1. my computer, however is responding to pings. my understanding is that this should not be the case. any ideas as to how i can ensure my machine is invisible on the internet?

2. preferrence pane shows "Firewall On" - color of little "on/off" light/icon next to it is orange - want to confirm this is normal [ie. orange as opposed to green].

thanks all!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), Mid 2012 15" 2.3Mhz 4gb ram

Posted on Oct 23, 2012 6:33 PM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,705 points

Oct 23, 2012 7:03 PM in response to karin1968

So I guess you ran a web site port scanner right?

Do you have a router or just hooked the Mac directly to the Ethernet modem cable?

because if it's a router, then that was scanned, not your Mac.

If you want to be more invisible, you need a non-Apple router (they all allow Ping), like a Netgear (never linksys or cisco, they spy) and you can set it to not to respond to PING's.

With your Mac behind the router, your safer, I know I've been very happy since I've got my Netgear and turned off Ping, before bot nets where trying to crack my airport Express, now it's quiet and peaceful.

WiFi security issues, at home and WiFi hotspots

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Answer 2

karin1968 Author

Level 1

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Oct 29, 2012 6:39 PM in response to ds store

thanks for the tip. yes, an online scanner and i'm using airport express.

in terms of new router you think netgear rather than western digital?

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Answer 3

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Oct 30, 2012 4:36 AM in response to karin1968

yes, an online scanner and i'm using airport express.

The online scanner is interacting with your AirPort Express only. In fact, you really don't need a firewall at all when you're behind a router like that, unless you don't trust the other people on the local network (ie, other people also connected to the network managed by that AirPort Express base station). Turning on the firewall in cases where it is unnecessary just causes you headaches.

See Do I need a firewall?

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