Download swiftGuard (Mac) – Download & Review Free

If you use your MacBook in public, or if someone has access to your office for various reasons, there’s always a risk that data will be extracted via USB drives or that malicious software will be deployed without your knowledge.

swiftGuard is an open-source app that aims to provide a simple but effective layer of protection against unauthorized USB device connections. When an unknown device is plugged in, it will either shut down or hibernate your Mac.

Runs silently in the menu bar

Once launched, you can find the app in the menu bar, where you’ll need to whitelist every device you wish to use. When you connect a whitelisted device, nothing happens.

It’s a good idea to either disable the protection or add a delay before connecting any device you want to whitelist. Otherwise, you may end up inadvertently shutting down your Mac when it isn’t recognized.

Shuts down your Mac when unauthorized devices are connected

If your computer is running, even in sleep mode, and someone plugs in an unrecognized USB device, swiftGuard will turn off your Mac or put it in hibernation mode. This can happen instantly or following a delay, depending on your settings.

The idea is that if you’ve left your device unattended and someone attempts to steal data or insert some kind of malware, your Mac will simply shut down, at which point the attacker will need to go through an authentication process to access it again.

There’s also the possibility that someone will break into your house and attempt to access your data, whether it’s intruders or law enforcement. Depending on your country’s laws, acquiring your personal information may be more difficult once credentials are required.

Simple and potentially useful in a number of scenarios

swiftGuard will likely get additional features and quality-of-life improvements in the future, as this is a very early version of the app. However, it’s already very useful if you’re concerned about physical attacks that may put your data at risk.