Software:Little Snitch
 The logo for Little Snitch 4 | |
| Developer(s) | Objective Development Software GmbH |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 5.4.1 (May 2, 2022[1]) [±] |
| Repository | github |
| Written in | Objective-C |
| Operating system | macOS, Linux |
| Available in | German, English |
| Type | Firewall |
| License | Proprietary (macOS); mixed GPLv2 and proprietary components (for Linux) |
| Website | obdev |
Little Snitch and Little Snitch for Linux are a multi-platform pair of host-based application firewalls supported by Objective Development Software GmbH for macOS and Linux-based desktop computer systems, respectively. Each can be used to monitor applications, preventing or permitting them to connect to attached networks through advanced rules.
Unlike a stateful firewall, which is designed primarily to protect a system from external attacks by restricting inbound traffic, Little Snitch is designed to protect privacy by limiting outbound traffic.[2] Until Little Snitch 4, it controlled network traffic by registering kernel extensions through the standard application programming interface (API) provided by Apple, but at version 5 it switched to using Apple's Network Extensions due to the deprecation[3] of kernel extensions on macOS Catalina.[4]
When an application or process attempts to establish a network connection, Little Snitch presents a dialog that allows the user to deny or permit the connection once, for a limited time, or permanently. The dialog also allows the user to restrict the parameters of the connection, for example allowing a given application to only connect to a certain domain or using a specific protocol or port. Little Snitch's integral network monitor shows ongoing traffic in real time with domain names and traffic direction.
The application (version 4) received a positive 4.5/5 review from Macworld.[5]
In 2026 a Linux version was released. While the macOS version is written in Objective-C, the Linux version is written in Rust.
References
- ↑ "Release Notes – Little Snitch". https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/releasenotes.html.
- ↑ "Little Snitch 4". https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html.
- ↑ "Release Notes - Little Snitch" (in English). archive.ph. https://archive.today/20230222095150/https://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/releasenotes.html.
- ↑ Little Snitch 3 - Documentation. Objective Development Software GmbH. 2013. https://books.apple.com/us/book/little-snitch-3-documentation/id592132177.
- ↑ Fleishman, Glenn (September 8, 2017). "Little Snitch 4 review: Mac app excels at monitoring and controlling network activity". https://www.macworld.com/article/3221479/little-snitch-4-review-mac-app-excels-at-monitoring-and-controlling-network-activity.html.
External links
- No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
- Linux version
 |  |
