Comments on: iTunes keeps asking to allow or deny incoming connections http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/ Apple Mac Tips & Tricks, Tutorials, Bug Fixes, and Reviews Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:10:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cid http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-2147 Cid Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:16:44 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-2147 Great, Ant! Issue solved, nice work! thx - Brasil Great, Ant! Issue solved, nice work!
thx
-
Brasil

]]> By: Holly http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-2105 Holly Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:42:15 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-2105 The method above didn't seem to work for me, this problem has plagued me for months and I've been meaning to work on it. But after I turned home sharing off it doesn't do this anymore :) The method above didn’t seem to work for me, this problem has plagued me for months and I’ve been meaning to work on it. But after I turned home sharing off it doesn’t do this anymore :)

]]> By: Miranda http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-2058 Miranda Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:11:58 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-2058 BTW: if you remove the firewall-prefs as mentioned before, do first this: DIS-CONNECT from the Internet, restart, open up Systempreferences=>Security=Firewall and ENABLE the firewall !!! Note: the Firewall asks only for "Allow/Deny Incoming Connections when an application tries to reach out into a network, for example, a software update function or "Private Sharing" or anything that goes outside. That triggers the firewall. They are no incoming connections at this point, it's just triggered by the application who tries to connect to "something". If you disable "Private Sharing" and other similar stuff, iTunes does not connect to anything and thats why the Firewall has no reason to ask you for permission-rules. BTW: if you remove the firewall-prefs as mentioned before, do first this: DIS-CONNECT from the Internet, restart, open up Systempreferences=>Security=Firewall and ENABLE the firewall !!! Note: the Firewall asks only for “Allow/Deny Incoming Connections when an application tries to reach out into a network, for example, a software update function or “Private Sharing” or anything that goes outside. That triggers the firewall. They are no incoming connections at this point, it’s just triggered by the application who tries to connect to “something”. If you disable “Private Sharing” and other similar stuff, iTunes does not connect to anything and thats why the Firewall has no reason to ask you for permission-rules.

]]> By: Miranda http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-2057 Miranda Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:58:15 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-2057 Thanks!!! I deleted the iTunes.app, re-startet and installed iTunes freshly. It solved the problem!! The main point is to remove the iTunes.app completely which, I think, forces the system to clean also something related and that solved the issue. Thanks!!! I deleted the iTunes.app, re-startet and installed iTunes freshly. It solved the problem!! The main point is to remove the iTunes.app completely which, I think, forces the system to clean also something related and that solved the issue.

]]> By: Jon http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-2018 Jon Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:43:00 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-2018 It's worth repeating that when you remove com.apple.alf.plist *your* *firewall* *is* *disabled*. Whilst this may be a solution to the allow/deny problem (!) it certainly isn't safe. If you do follow these instructions, make sure you go back into Security settings and re-enable the firewall before doing anything else. For what it's worth, this did fix the problem with iTunes asking me each and every time it started if I wanted to allow or deny access. So this solution wasn't completely malicious or wrong. It’s worth repeating that when you remove com.apple.alf.plist *your* *firewall* *is* *disabled*. Whilst this may be a solution to the allow/deny problem (!) it certainly isn’t safe. If you do follow these instructions, make sure you go back into Security settings and re-enable the firewall before doing anything else.

For what it’s worth, this did fix the problem with iTunes asking me each and every time it started if I wanted to allow or deny access.

So this solution wasn’t completely malicious or wrong.

]]> By: David M http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1950 David M Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:01:47 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1950 Never saw this problem in iTunes, but on many other apps such as Numbers. I removed the com.apple.alf.plist file and rebooted (new one was rebuilt by startup) and it seems to have fixed the problem. The file definitely had some strange stuff in it - two elements in the section with hex data in them. The file was well-formed, however. Never saw this problem in iTunes, but on many other apps such as Numbers. I removed the com.apple.alf.plist file and rebooted (new one was rebuilt by startup) and it seems to have fixed the problem. The file definitely had some strange stuff in it – two elements in the section with hex data in them. The file was well-formed, however.

]]> By: Scoop http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1943 Scoop Sat, 29 Jan 2011 22:11:47 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1943 Thanks for this! That window has been an annoyance, but the re-install (without reboot) fixed it quick. Thanks for this! That window has been an annoyance, but the re-install (without reboot) fixed it quick.

]]> By: J Irlbeck http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1918 J Irlbeck Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:36:31 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1918 Shane Cook solution was right on the money. Being new to Mac, I probably would have given up on finding file if it was not for "tdled" further clarifying file location. Thank you to both. Shane Cook solution was right on the money. Being new to Mac, I probably would have given up on finding file if it was not for “tdled” further clarifying file location. Thank you to both.

]]> By: Niels http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1842 Niels Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:02:19 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1842 Re-installing works! Re-installing works!

]]> By: Andrew herring http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1790 Andrew herring Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:46:21 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1790 Shane Cook got it spot on trash the com.apple.alf.plist - thanks SO much. Shane Cook got it spot on trash the com.apple.alf.plist – thanks SO much.

]]> By: Tom http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 Tom Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:20:34 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1784 @Shane Cook is snooping. That plist is indeed the plist for the OS X Firewall. If you delete it, it disables the OS X Firewall (hence why it no longer asks you upon launch). He's then asking you to email him so he can get your IP address and see what services you have open which he can exploit. Please disregard his post. For anyone who is having this problem, your copy of iTunes has been modified somehow and the app no longer matches the checksum. Perhaps you have changed the icon. Perhaps you have stripped the non-native code out of the Universal Binary. Regardless, you just need to reinstall iTunes from www.apple.com/itunes. While it shouldn't hurt anything, there should be no need to trash iTunes or it's preferences unless the iTunes.app package or one of its components has become locked. @Shane Cook is snooping. That plist is indeed the plist for the OS X Firewall. If you delete it, it disables the OS X Firewall (hence why it no longer asks you upon launch). He’s then asking you to email him so he can get your IP address and see what services you have open which he can exploit. Please disregard his post.

For anyone who is having this problem, your copy of iTunes has been modified somehow and the app no longer matches the checksum. Perhaps you have changed the icon. Perhaps you have stripped the non-native code out of the Universal Binary. Regardless, you just need to reinstall iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes. While it shouldn’t hurt anything, there should be no need to trash iTunes or it’s preferences unless the iTunes.app package or one of its components has become locked.

]]> By: John http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1775 John Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:44:52 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1775 PList fix works in 10.6, too THANKS! PList fix works in 10.6, too THANKS!

]]> By: Xian http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1772 Xian Sat, 13 Nov 2010 21:31:51 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1772 please help. we have the same problem but as of me. everytime i open an application which connected to an internet the firewall pop up. i don't what to do. like it's freaking me out. i did the itunes uninstall and the reinstall it work but after a minute the window pops up again. :( please help. -xian please help.

we have the same problem but as of me.
everytime i open an application which connected to an internet the firewall pop up.
i don’t what to do. like it’s freaking me out.
i did the itunes uninstall and the reinstall it work but after a minute the window pops up again. :( please help.

-xian

]]> By: Dennis http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1768 Dennis Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:35:38 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1768 Shane, your solution didn't work for me. Deleting the file disabled the Firewall. After activiting it again there were no rules anymore. Shane, your solution didn’t work for me. Deleting the file disabled the Firewall. After activiting it again there were no rules anymore.

]]> By: tdled http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1737 tdled Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:06:34 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1737 Just to clarify that the file "com.apple.alf.plist" should be in Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/ After deleted it and reboot stops the annoying dialog window to pop up! Fantastic work around by Shane Cook! You are a genius. Just tried it and it works! Thanks for the painless trick! Just to clarify that the file “com.apple.alf.plist” should be in Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/
After deleted it and reboot stops the annoying dialog window to pop up!

Fantastic work around by Shane Cook! You are a genius. Just tried it and it works! Thanks for the painless trick!

]]> By: Serge http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1721 Serge Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:23:02 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1721 Just tried the method described by Shane, it works! Thanks! Just tried the method described by Shane, it works! Thanks!

]]> By: Shane Cook http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Shane Cook Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:25:46 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1708 I have an even better solution for you. No uninstalling or re-downloading. In security (located in system preferences) Click the firewall tab followed by the advanced button down the bottom. Check all the applications you want are set to allow incoming connections. Close security preferences. Then open a finder window Navigate to -> Macintosh HD -> Library -> there will be a file called, com.apple.alf.plist delete it, reboot and your done. Deleting this small file re-builds the Firewall preferences and you will no longer be asked to accept incoming network connection every time you open an app. As long as the app your opening is on the list in the firewall tab your good to go :D [Rest of comment removed by moderator due to security concerns] I have an even better solution for you. No uninstalling or re-downloading.

In security (located in system preferences) Click the firewall tab followed by the advanced button down the bottom. Check all the applications you want are set to allow incoming connections. Close security preferences. Then open a finder window Navigate to -> Macintosh HD -> Library -> there will be a file called, com.apple.alf.plist delete it, reboot and your done. Deleting this small file re-builds the Firewall preferences and you will no longer be asked to accept incoming network connection every time you open an app. As long as the app your opening is on the list in the firewall tab your good to go :D [Rest of comment removed by moderator due to security concerns]

]]> By: RedGreenInBlue http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1661 RedGreenInBlue Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:55:23 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1661 I have this problem - on three Macs, running either 10.5 or 10.6. I have tried reinstalling, clearing caches, rebuilding my library from the XML file, and deleting iTunes from the list of applications allowed to make connections in OS X's Firewall, all without success. It's not Home Sharing either because that wasn't turned on until a couple of weeks ago and I've had this problem for months. It's not because I've customised iTunes, because the only one I've ever made is to move the media library to Users/Shared/Music on one Mac and edit the ACL so that my wife and I can access the same library (and I did that years ago). Aaand... it even happened with iTunes 9.2 downloaded and reinstalled from scratch on a clean install of 10.6 on a reformatted HD. Unlike Jake, though, I'm not having this problem with any other application. I'd say it's definitely either iTunes or OS X at fault, but I'm not holding my breath for a fix any more... I have this problem – on three Macs, running either 10.5 or 10.6. I have tried reinstalling, clearing caches, rebuilding my library from the XML file, and deleting iTunes from the list of applications allowed to make connections in OS X’s Firewall, all without success. It’s not Home Sharing either because that wasn’t turned on until a couple of weeks ago and I’ve had this problem for months. It’s not because I’ve customised iTunes, because the only one I’ve ever made is to move the media library to Users/Shared/Music on one Mac and edit the ACL so that my wife and I can access the same library (and I did that years ago). Aaand… it even happened with iTunes 9.2 downloaded and reinstalled from scratch on a clean install of 10.6 on a reformatted HD.

Unlike Jake, though, I’m not having this problem with any other application. I’d say it’s definitely either iTunes or OS X at fault, but I’m not holding my breath for a fix any more…

]]> By: Robert Reichel http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1535 Robert Reichel Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:39:05 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1535 GREAT! THANK YOU! I have had this problem only after the update to 9.2... Now it's gone ;-) GREAT! THANK YOU! I have had this problem only after the update to 9.2… Now it’s gone ;-)

]]> By: Jake http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1457 Jake Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:33:00 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1457 I'm having the same problem, and not only for iTunes: Coda, MusicBrainz Picard, and other programs continue to bug me with this. No matter what I do (removing, reinstalling, etc), nothing seems to help, so I turned the firewall off completely. Definitely a bug. OS X 10.6.4 I’m having the same problem, and not only for iTunes: Coda, MusicBrainz Picard, and other programs continue to bug me with this. No matter what I do (removing, reinstalling, etc), nothing seems to help, so I turned the firewall off completely. Definitely a bug. OS X 10.6.4

]]> By: Vincent http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1421 Vincent Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:47:07 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1421 Disabling library sharing fixed it for me. kind of makes sense when you think about it... Disabling library sharing fixed it for me. kind of makes sense when you think about it…

]]> By: Ashley http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1354 Ashley Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:13:00 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1354 This has been going on for a few months and it's not that hard to click allow but I knew something was wrong which worried me. This was exactly what I needed to do to fix it, thanks! :D This has been going on for a few months and it’s not that hard to click allow but I knew something was wrong which worried me. This was exactly what I needed to do to fix it, thanks! :D

]]> By: cuculu http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1120 cuculu Thu, 06 May 2010 12:50:17 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1120 this worked for me flawless (without reboot) this worked for me flawless (without reboot)

]]> By: Stephen http://www.macyourself.com/2009/08/19/itunes-keeps-asking-to-allow-or-deny-incoming-connections/comment-page-1/#comment-1112 Stephen Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:52:28 +0000 http://www.macyourself.com/?p=1312#comment-1112 Duncan was apparently molested by apple as a child and still harbors bad feelings about it. ITunes settings and Mac settings have the options to "always allow" incoming network connections but changing itunes' stock program files apparently compromises security. If you've done this then iTunes will always prompt you before allowing network connections. I had this inconvenient alert for about a month, probably caused by a program i used to customize my icons. Reinstalling iTunes fixed the problem right away, it takes a few minutes. Duncan was apparently molested by apple as a child and still harbors bad feelings about it. ITunes settings and Mac settings have the options to “always allow” incoming network connections but changing itunes’ stock program files apparently compromises security. If you’ve done this then iTunes will always prompt you before allowing network connections.

I had this inconvenient alert for about a month, probably caused by a program i used to customize my icons. Reinstalling iTunes fixed the problem right away, it takes a few minutes.

]]>