Hands Off! is discontinued. Metakine's firewall hasn't been updated since version 4.4.2 in 2020 and isn't sold any more, so it won't keep up with current macOS versions. For its firewall role, move to Little Snitch (paid, full-featured) or LuLu (free, open source). For seeing what apps connect to, LightAtom is a monitor built for current macOS.
Who this is for
- You still have Hands Off! installed, or remember it, and need something that works on today's macOS.
- You want to know which app talks to which server, with a map and data per app.
Comparison
| LightAtom | Hands Off! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not announced yet | No longer sold |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS |
| Blocks connections | No | Yes |
| Per-app bytes / live rate | Yes | Not listed |
| Map view | Yes | Not listed |
| Open ports view | Yes | Not listed |
| DNS / domain names | Yes | Not listed |
| Open source | Not listed | Not listed |
| macOS support | macOS 14 or later | Discontinued (last version 4.4.2, 2020) |
| Last checked | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
When to stay with Hands Off!
Don't: unmaintained network software that hooks into the system is a reliability and security risk on current macOS. Replace it.
How to switch
- Uninstall Hands Off! using its own uninstaller if it's still on your Mac, then restart.
- For blocking, install LuLu or Little Snitch and recreate the rules you still need.
- Install LightAtom to see your traffic, and use that to decide which rules are worth keeping.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hands Off! still available?
No. It's no longer sold, and the last version, 4.4.2, dates from 2020.
Does Hands Off! work on Apple silicon Macs?
It predates current macOS versions and isn't maintained, so it shouldn't be relied on. Use a maintained firewall instead.
What replaced Hands Off!?
Most users moved to Little Snitch or LuLu for blocking. For monitoring traffic, a dedicated network monitor like LightAtom.
Is there a free alternative to Hands Off!?
LuLu from Objective-See is free and open source, and blocks outgoing connections per app.