Network Functions When Sleeping

GadgetLover

GadgetLover

Senior Member & Tech Guru
So, here's a question that I never thought to ask myself (or anyone else for that matter) . . .

Does anyone know what Network functionality is blocked when you put your Mac to sleep? (I am not talking about those "wake when detect ring" preferences).

In other words, if I leave my browser and email app on but put my Mac to sleep does this act as any sort of virtual firewall to those using Network services, or do I just have to rely on my actual software firewall?

Of course, I coould always turn AirPort off every freakin' time I want to get the same benefit, but what a pain that would be ...
 
My experience has been that a sleeping machine is invisible on the network with 10.x. I seem to recall my G3 tower (beige) would actually still serve files with Appletalk when asleep, but I couldn't swear to that. I know that my iBook and Wallstreet definitely go off the net in sleep, though...
 
Originally posted by kenny
My experience has been that a sleeping machine is invisible on the network with 10.x. I seem to recall my G3 tower (beige) would actually still serve files with Appletalk when asleep, but I couldn't swear to that. I know that my iBook and Wallstreet definitely go off the net in sleep, though...
Click to expand...

So would it be fair to say that when in sleep mode, incoming traffic is blocked (e.g., no sniffers, port scans, etc.)? I'd like to think that sleeping is good enough added protection so that I don't have to shut down my Mi¢ro$oft apps (Internet Explorer and Entourage) every time -- since these are the two apps that I most concerned with.
 
Originally posted by level9
Yep, everything's blocked. Can't ssh to it, ping it, etc., it's as if it doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

If the concensus is that no one can hack in when in Sleep mode, then I'll leave my apps running. I use a SW firewall but since IE and Entourage leave some ports open, I get nervous since my system's running 24/7.
 
One of the options in the Energy Saver prefs is "wake for network administrative access." Does anyone know what this means? What qualifies as "network administrative access"?

Also, if you are using PPPOE, the connection is terminated when the machine goes into deep sleep (if you put it to sleep manually you can briefly see a message on the screen that it is closing the connection), so you're completely safe in that situation.
 
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