Private Eye
Private Eye is a system utility that monitors and logs network activity on your Mac, showing you which applications are connecting to the internet and what data they are sending. It helps users understand bandwidth usage, detect unexpected outbound connections, and verify privacy — particularly useful for identifying data leaks, tracking behaviour of background apps, and ensuring malware is not phoning home. The app sits in the menu bar and provides real-time visibility into network traffic.
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1 suggestionPrivate Eye has been discontinued by its developer and no longer receives updates or support. While the Roaring Apps database indicates a universal binary was mentioned at some point, the app is flagged as end-of-life with no active development. Most importantly, the Intel-only version you have will stop launching entirely when Apple removes Rosetta 2 in macOS 28 (September 2028). You should plan to migrate to an active alternative soon. Recommended replacements include Loom (lightweight, free tier available), Wireshark (powerful open-source packet analyser, steeper learning curve), or Little Snitch (more comprehensive, paid but actively maintained and runs natively on Apple Silicon). Little Snitch is the closest paid equivalent if you want feature parity with what Private Eye offered — it monitors outbound connections, blocks unwanted traffic, and integrates cleanly with macOS. Wireshark is ideal if you need deep packet-level analysis. Both run natively on Apple Silicon.
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