KnockKnock
Free Mac scanner that lists everything set to run automatically, to help spot persistent malware.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 3
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About KnockKnock
KnockKnock is a free, open-source Mac utility from the Objective-See Foundation, often described as Autoruns for macOS. Malware usually installs itself so it runs again after every restart, and KnockKnock enumerates those places: launch agents and daemons, login items, browser extensions, kernel and system extensions and more. Results are grouped by category, with icons showing whether each item is signed by Apple, signed by a third party or unsigned, plus optional VirusTotal lookups if you add a free API key. There is nothing to install; you unzip the app and run a scan on demand. It only lists what it finds, so legitimate software shows up too and the user decides what is suspicious. That makes it a good triage and inspection tool for technically minded Mac users and incident responders, rather than a replacement for real-time antivirus. It runs on macOS 10.15 and later and is licensed under the GPL.
Best for: Mac users and responders checking a machine for anything that persists across restarts.
Pros and cons
What works
- No installation; run it from anywhere and delete it when done
- Clear signed, third-party and unsigned markers make odd items easy to spot
- Optional VirusTotal checks with a free personal API key
Why people leave
- On-demand only, with no real-time protection
- Lists legitimate apps alongside threats, so results need interpretation
- Runs only on macOS
Top KnockKnock alternatives
See all 3- 1
BlockBlock66.5Same developer; watches persistence locations continuously and alerts as new items are added.
- 2
Malwarebytes62.6Scans for and removes known malware automatically instead of only listing startup items.
- 3
ClamXAV59.6Signature-based Mac antivirus with scheduled scans for people who want detection, not just inventory.
Why people left KnockKnock
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KnockKnock: common questions
Is KnockKnock free?
Yes. KnockKnock is free, open-source software.
Is KnockKnock open source?
No, KnockKnock is not open source.
What platforms does KnockKnock run on?
KnockKnock is available for macOS.
What are the best alternatives to KnockKnock?
The highest-ranked KnockKnock alternatives right now are BlockBlock, Malwarebytes and ClamXAV. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.