How can I log which sites an iPhone app uses?

Question

Is there a Proxy server app for mac that allows me to setup a local proxy server so I can log/track which sites an iPhone app visits?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Configure your Mac as an access point and sniff the traffic with TCPDump. Here are the steps:

• In the Wi-Fi icon of your toolbar, click Create Network. Give it a random name, select security, and set a password.
• In System Preferences > Sharing set To computers using: Wi-Fi. In Wi-Fi Options... choose the network you created before. In Share your connection from:, choose the interface you are getting Internet from.
• Enable Internet Sharing, and connect to this new Wi-Fi network from your iPhone.
• Disconnect 3G on your iPhone from Settings > General > Network and check your Internet with Safari. Sometimes it takes a few seconds.

• In your Mac type sudo tcpdump -s 0 -A -i en1 port 443 > log.txt. Use ifconfig if you have a network interface other than en1. The log generated can be imported by WireShark (which is basically a GUI version of tcpdump), and looks like this:

  

• Now all Internet traffic from your iPhone will be recorded.

TCPDump is included with all versions of OS X. For other options, see Technical Q&A QA1176 Getting a Packet Trace.