Yes, Apple Firewall is disabled by default.
Yes, Apple Firewall is disabled by default.
In recent weeks I've been installing numerous new iMacs for my professional use. A recurring observation is that the firewall stays disabled by default and needs to be activated. When adjusting settings on my laptop, I found the firewall was also off even though it had been enabled previously with a "set it and forget it" approach, understanding it would remain active unless something disabled it or I intentionally turned it off. Is this an isolated issue? Of course, if your network is safeguarded you still have some security measures in place, but it feels unnecessary to manually enable protections when the system already has them on automatically. (And it clearly alerts you when it's not.) The main point I'm asking is why Apple would include a security feature that remains inactive right out of the box.
They can easily monitor your activity when the firewall is disabled.
Like other Unix-like systems, firewalls are useful but not always essential. If no activity is detected on a port, nothing should occur. Many services typically don’t use ports by default, which is why firewalls aren’t as critical as they are on Windows, where dozens of ports often open automatically at startup.
Most routers come with a firewall, though it might seem less important than it appears.
However, you might not be connecting to your computer over a secure network, which creates an issue. Additionally, if your network uses IPv6, it's hard to know exactly what access your router is granting. Assuming one company's security for another is simply poor practice! If neither Apple nor your router maker cares, you're in trouble.