VaultDog
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Free beta
Free beta · Apple silicon · macOS 15+

Know what every app on your Mac is doing.

VaultDog gives every app a clear passport — declared access, startup behaviour, network activity, storage and privacy controls in one place.

Download free beta

Local-first · Your Mac data stays on your Mac

Every app. One clear view.33-second tour · Illustrative findings

A clearer picture of every app.

VaultDog in 33 seconds. Starts muted; sound effects are optional.

Read the demo walkthrough
  1. Find Slack in the application list and open its passport. Four cards summarize declared access, startup behaviour, observed network destinations and storage in discovered app locations.
  2. Open connections to see destinations associated with the app. Countries are approximate; VaultDog observes connection metadata without reading traffic content.
  3. With Privacy enabled, choose a destination, save an explicit block rule and review a blocked attempt. Privacy needs macOS approval and applies to new outgoing connections.
  4. Open Startup Monitor to see automatic startup entries and running services. Scan data and network history stay on your Mac; no cloud account is required.

Illustrative findings; results vary by app and Mac. Declared access is not a report of permissions you have granted. macOS Privacy & Security shows current permissions.

Last usedApp dataDeclared accessBackground activityInternet + local devices

How it works

Here’s what you’ll see.

We’ve opened Telegram in VaultDog to show you around. Choose a step below.

Find the app you want to check.

Select it from your app list. Its page brings together the files it keeps, what runs in the background, and the connections VaultDog has seen.

Open full-size screenshot
VaultDog showing the Telegram application passport, summary cards, and declared camera and microphone requests.
Telegram on our Mac, in VaultDog 0.8.1. Your app list and results will be different.

Not sure about an app?

Start with the app you’re wondering about. VaultDog brings its files, background activity, and connections into one place.

I’m thinking of uninstalling it.

Look through the files and folders linked to the app, and open anything you want to check in Finder. If you decide to remove it, you choose what goes to Trash.

Why is it still running?

See which background items belong to the app and whether they open at login or are running now. A running process doesn’t always mean the app starts automatically.

Can it use my camera or microphone?

Check whether the app declares that it may request access. Then open the matching macOS setting to see what you’ve actually allowed.

What is it connecting to?

See the internet addresses an app connects to while VaultDog is watching. Up to 30 days of connection history stay on your Mac, so you can come back and check later.

Before you install

Which Macs can run the beta?

The current download is for Apple silicon Macs running macOS 15 or newer. An Intel release is not available yet, and no release date has been announced.

Which permissions does VaultDog need?

macOS may ask for Automation access to read and manage Login Items through System Events, and Local Network access for local-device views. Optional Privacy protection also needs macOS approval for the network extension and content filter. If access is unavailable, some results may be incomplete. You can review permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Does “declared access” mean I granted permission?

No. VaultDog reads signed capabilities and privacy declarations: what an app is built to do or may ask for. Use View permissions to open the matching macOS settings category. macOS remains the source of truth for current permission grants.

What stays on my Mac?

App inventories, saved scans, network destinations, and local-device history stay on your Mac. No VaultDog account is required. The app downloads a country database from DB-IP, then looks up observed IP countries locally without sending those addresses to a lookup service. If you choose tracker protection, the app downloads a public domain list from pgl.yoyo.org; your observed destinations are not sent to it.

Will VaultDog remove files or change services automatically?

No. Moving an app or selected related files to Trash requires an explicit review and confirmation. VaultDog does not silently disable background services. Connection blocking is opt-in through Privacy setup and the rules you choose. Related files are evidence to review, not a verdict that they are unnecessary.

What does free public beta mean?

The current beta is free to download and use. Features and findings may change as we learn from feedback. Post-beta pricing has not been announced.

Need a hand? Read the setup guide or get in touch.

Try it with an app you know.

Download VaultDog and choose an app you use. Look through its files, check what runs in the background, and see where it connects.

Download free beta How your data stays private
Public beta · Apple silicon · macOS 15+ · no cloud account