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Sophos Mobile Control is being renamed Sophos Mobile Device Management, and Sophos Intercept X for Mobile is being renamed Sophos Mobile Threat Defense. The iOS apps are already available with the new names. The Android apps will be available in early 2027. In this help, Sophos Mobile Device Management and Sophos Mobile Threat Defense refer to both the Android and iOS apps. Select this banner for more information.

Firewall configuration (macOS device policy)

With the Firewall configuration you configure the application firewall included in macOS.

Setting Description
Turn on application firewall The application firewall is turned on.
Block all incoming connections

Sharing services, such as File Sharing or Screen Sharing, are not allowed to receive incoming connections.

This does not affect the following system services:

  • configd (DHCP and other network configuration services)
  • mDNSResponder (Bonjour)

  • racoon (IPSec)
Use stealth mode The computer ignores unexpected requests, such as ping requests.
Automatically allow built-in apps

Built-in apps, such as iTunes, are added to the list of apps allowed to receive connections.

You can’t turn this setting off.

Automatically allow signed downloaded apps

Apps signed by a valid certificate authority are added to the list of apps allowed to receive connections.

You can’t turn this setting off.

Allowed connections

An app group containing apps allowed to receive connections.

For other apps, users can choose to allow or deny a connection.

Denied connections

An app group containing apps not allowed to receive connections.

For other apps, users can choose to allow or deny a connection.