There’s no way to whitelist blocked applications on an individual basis without removing them from the list, a feature I hope will be added in a future update.
It’s handy for parental control over a shared computer I added iTunes to the list, which then blocked the ability to stream Apple Music songs that hadn’t been previously downloaded for offline playback.
This is now done from the Firewall tab, and once added, the blockade takes effect immediately. Like the original release, Radio Silence 2 selectively blocks outgoing connections by adding selected applications to a blacklist. The developer backs up this excellent utility with a 30-day, “no-questions-asked” return policy. If you need more time, just shell out the $9.
A free, fully-functional trial version is available, but be sure to clear your schedule, because the software expires 24 hours after installation. Radio Silence 2 features an activity monitor that offers a peek into which applications and processes are “phoning home” to a remote mothership, making it easy to block them from doing so with a click.ĭespite lurking in the background, Radio Silence doesn’t impact system performance in the least. Double-clicking the app opens a window where you can block or monitor apps, and Radio Silence continues running even after this window is closed. There’s no menu bar icon or other visual indication it’s working. At this point you may be thinking, “macOS ships with a built-in firewall in System Preferences, so why do I need Radio Silence?” The answer is simple: Apple’s software is designed to monitor incoming connections, while Radio Silence is designed to do just the opposite, keeping tabs on applications or other software communicating with remote servers outside the user’s control.Īfter installation, Radio Silence automatically runs in the background when the Mac is started.