On modern versions of macOS, you simply can’t power on your computer, launch a text editor or eBook reader, and write or read, without a log of your activity being transmitted and stored.

It turns out that in the current version of the macOS, the OS sends to Apple a hash (unique identifier) of each and every program you run, when you run it. (Source: Jeffrey Paul)

Little Snitch monitors outgoing network connections. When a program tries to access the network, displays a dialog permitting the user to allow or deny the connection and asks whether to set up a permanent or temporary access rule for future connections of that type. You can also setup specific rules for particular applications via your Mac’s System Preferences panel. Source: Guhlin, Mac Software Worth Buying, 11/01/2008)

As you can see from that blog entry above from 2008, I once was a tad more passionate about preventing others from seeing what I was doing on my computer. I pointed out that “No one should depend on a proprietary system’s operating system (e.g. Mac or Windows) to monitor and let one know of outgoing and incoming network connections. You SHOULD know what your computer is doing, how it’s connecting to the outside world, not just blithely trust it.” 

Since most application installers require you to grant administrator access during installation without being transparent about what is happening, you could be setting yourself up.

On the hyper-connected devices we have today, it’s hard to imagine something not dialing home and reporting what you’re doing. When I use my Windows 10 computer, I don’t imagine that it will keep what I do secret. I simply do my best to safeguard my data with encryption when at rest.

Aside from that, what are we to do? Oh, yeah.

Booting to GNU/Linux….