Firewall keeps asking for permission.

Hi,

I've enabled Firewall in OX 10.8 but everytime I open an application that can access the Internet, it keeps asking me that whether I want to allow permission the program to do or not. I checked Firewall in system preferences and it does have list of programs that I allowed to connect to Internet, so why it keeps asking everytime I open those programs?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 12, 2013 5:53 AM

Jul 7, 2016 9:37 AM in response to Aidinz

The firewall popup shows because the executable you are executing has not been signed with a trusted certificate. There are a few ways to get around this:

Sign the binary yourself, with your own (self-signed, but trusted) certificate. If you don't know how this works, don't bother ;-). It's a rather complex subject.
Ask the vendor to produce a version that is properly signed and distributed via the App Store.
Disable the built-in firewall and preferably install another one, which does not generate the same popups.
- Note: the Mac OSX firewall will NOT prevent any applications you run from making outbound requests. Is is there for shielding your from INCOMING traffic only.
- Another note: You should ALWAYS enable a firewall that prevents incoming access (certainly to the SMB and AFP protocols, and preferably a bunch of others) on your Mac if you are in an untrusted network, like a public Hotspot, or when you are directly connected to the internet through a PPPoE or mobile/4G connection. Especially if you are a developer using databases and/or creating web apps - as otherwise you are likely exposing confidential information to systems on the same network.