I’ve just finished digging into the fifth‑edition of Extreme Privacy, and I’m pulling out the most practical macOS hardening steps for a quick‑read cheat sheet. In this post you’ll learn how to start with a clean install (no Apple ID), lock down FileVault, shut off every piece of Apple telemetry, tighten the built‑in firewall, swap to a privacy‑first DNS resolver, and replace the App Store with Homebrew‑managed open‑source tools like KeePassXC, BleachBit, and TaskExplorer. I’ll also share a few handy scripts that automate routine maintenance so you can keep your Mac secure with minimal effort – all while skipping any mention of Windows, given Microsoft’s poor track record on consumer privacy.
Initial Device Sanitation
| Step | What to Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitize old Apple accounts | • Request a copy of all data from https://privacy.apple.com.• Delete all iCloud data, files, contacts, calendars, etc.• Sign out of Apple ID on every device.• Delete the Apple ID (or keep it only for a “guest” alias). | Removes any historic telemetry and personal data that Apple already stores. |
| Erase & reinstall macOS | • Boot to Recovery (⌘‑R).• Choose Erase All Content and Settings (or Disk Utility → erase).• Re‑install macOS without connecting to Wi‑Fi/Ethernet. | Guarantees a clean slate—no hidden profiles, no lingering configuration. |
Core Privacy & Security Settings (first‑run wizard)
| Setting | Recommended Choice | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Wi‑Fi / Bluetooth | Disable both during setup. | Prevents automatic association with nearby networks/devices. |
| Location Services | Turn Off. | Stops OS from sending GPS data to Apple or third‑party apps. |
| Siri | Disable (Settings → Siri & Spotlight → “Ask Siri” → Off). | Stops voice‑capture telemetry and cloud processing. |
| Analytics & Improvements | All off. | No usage data is shipped to Apple. |
| Apple Advertising | Off. | Stops personalized ad profiling. |
| Software Update – Automatic | Off (Settings → General → Software Update → uncheck “Automatically keep my Mac up to date”). | Gives you full control over when and how updates are fetched. |
| Time Server | Change to pool.ntp.org (Settings → General → Date & Time → Set time server). | Uses a neutral NTP pool instead of Apple’s servers. |
| FileVault | Enable, create a strong recovery key (not tied to iCloud). | Full‑disk encryption; protects data if the machine is seized. |
| Gatekeeper | Disable (sudo spctl --master-disable). | Prevents Apple from checking app signatures; useful when you install unsigned binaries. |
| Firewall (built‑in) | Enable → Block all incoming connections → enable Stealth mode. | Stops unsolicited inbound traffic. |
| Spotlight | Either disable entirely (sudo mdutil -i off /) or limit indexing to specific folders. | Prevents macOS from constantly sending file‑metadata to Apple’s indexing service. |
| SIP (System Integrity Protection) | Keep enabled (default). | Protects system binaries from tampering. |
| Automatic Login | Disable (Login Window → “Turn off automatic login”). | Forces password entry on wake/resume. |
| Screen Saver / Lock | Set “Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins.” | Guarantees the device locks instantly when idle. |
| Dock & UI | Remove suggested/recent apps, hide recent apps in Stage Manager, set a solid‑color wallpaper. | Reduces Apple‑centric UI cues that could leak usage patterns. |
Show hidden files (Shift‑Cmd‑.) | Keep on when needed, but be aware of hidden system files. | Allows you to audit what macOS hides by default. |
| Disable iCloud services (iCloud Drive, Photos, Keychain sync, etc.) | Turn off in System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud. | Stops any data from being mirrored to Apple’s cloud. |
Application‑Level Privacy Controls
| Category | Recommended Tools / Apps | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Package Management | Homebrew (/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"). | Central, scriptable way to install/open‑source software without the App Store. |
| System Monitoring | TaskExplorer (via brew install taskexplorer), KnockKnock (brew install knockknock). | Detect hidden processes, persistence mechanisms, and suspicious binaries. |
| System Cleanup | BleachBit (brew install --cask bleachbit). | Clears caches, logs, temp files, and frees disk space. |
| File Integrity / Metadata Scrubbing | mat2 (sudo apt install mat2 on macOS via Homebrew). | Removes EXIF, GPS, and other metadata from media files. |
| Secure Notes & 2FA | Standard Notes (free‑tier) – end‑to‑end encrypted notes; Standard Notes + 2FA for OTP storage. | Keeps sensitive text and OTP seeds offline, encrypted. |
| Password Management | KeePassXC (brew install --cask keepassxc). | Open‑source vault; no cloud sync unless you add it. |
| Media Playback | VLC (brew install --cask vlc) or mpv (brew install mpv). | No telemetry, fully local playback. |
| Office Suite | ONLYOFFICE (brew install --cask onlyoffice). | Fully functional office suite without Microsoft telemetry. |
| E‑book Library | Calibre (brew install --cask calibre). | Manages e‑books locally; no cloud lock‑in. |
| Secure Messaging | Signal (download from Signal.org, not the App Store). | End‑to‑end encrypted chat, no Apple‑side logging. |
| Alternative App Store | F‑Droid (Android only) – not macOS. (Included for completeness; no macOS counterpart.) | |
| Firewall Alternatives | Little Snitch (paid) – granular outbound filtering.LuLu (free, open‑source) – simple outbound blocker. | Both block unwanted network connections from apps. |
| DNS‑Over‑HTTPS | NextDNS (system‑wide profile) or Cloudflare Warp (brew install --cask cloudflare-warp). | Encrypts DNS queries, prevents ISP/Apple DNS snooping. |
Automation & Maintenance Scripts
| Script | Purpose | How to Deploy |
|---|---|---|
Terminal‑Maintenance (Terminal‑Maintenance) | Menu‑driven tasks: verify Spotlight, FileVault, SIP, Gatekeeper; clear logs, history, downloads; run BleachBit; disable Siri, AirDrop, Remote Connections, Time Machine; launch KnockKnock/TaskExplorer scans; list/remove Homebrew apps. | Download via wget https://inteltechniques.com/data/Terminal-Maintenance; make executable (chmod +x). |
Terminal‑Search (Terminal‑Search) | Quick file‑name, content, or size searches (mirrors Spotlight). | Same download procedure as above. |
Terminal‑Updates (Terminal‑Updates) | Runs brew analytics off, updates Homebrew, upgrades all formulae, cleans caches, removes orphaned files, runs brew doctor. | Same download procedure as above. |
| Custom Update + Little Snitch Profile Switch | Example script (shown in the book) that: 1. Updates Homebrew.2. Switches Little Snitch to “Apple Update” profile.3. Runs softwareupdate -i -a.4. Switches back to “Apple Disabled”.5. Reboots. | Add the snippet to Terminal‑Updates or create a new script; ensure Little Snitch CLI (sudo littlesnitch profile -a "<profile>") is enabled in its settings. |
Running these scripts weekly (or via a cron job) keeps the system lean, logs cleared, and unwanted network traffic blocked.
System‑Wide Hardening Checklist (quick reference)
| ✅ | Action |
|---|---|
| ☐ Erase & reinstall macOS (no Apple ID). | |
| ☐ Enable FileVault with a non‑iCloud recovery key. | |
| ☐ Disable all telemetry (Analytics, Siri, Spotlight, iCloud services). | |
| ☐ Turn off Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop until needed. | |
| ☐ Enable built‑in firewall → Block all incoming → Stealth mode. | |
| ☐ Disable Gatekeeper (if you only run signed/open‑source binaries). | |
| ☐ Set NTP to pool.ntp.org. | |
| ☐ Configure automatic lock (require password immediately). | |
| ☐ Install Homebrew and preferred open‑source tools (keep software off the App Store). | |
| ☐ Deploy Little Snitch or LuLu for outbound connection control. | |
| ☐ Run Terminal‑Maintenance weekly. | |
| ☐ Keep macOS and all Homebrew packages up‑to‑date (manual or scripted). | |
| ☐ Regularly audit running processes with TaskExplorer/KnockKnock. | |
| ☐ Back up encrypted snapshots (e.g., via Time Machine to an encrypted external drive or use a separate encrypted backup solution). | |
| ☐ Document all passwords in a KeePassXC vault stored on an encrypted USB stick (no cloud sync). | |
| ☐ Review System Preferences after any macOS upgrade – Apple may re‑enable services. |
Summary
- Zero‑trust on the OS: Assume every built‑in service can leak data; turn it off unless you explicitly need it.
- Prefer local, open‑source tooling: Homebrew + CLI utilities give you full visibility and auditability.
- Network‑level enforcement: Little Snitch/LuLu + a reputable DNS‑over‑HTTPS provider (NextDNS/Cloudflare) are essential to stop silent outbound telemetry.
- Automation is your ally: The provided scripts make repetitive hardening steps repeatable and auditable – integrate them into your regular maintenance cadence.
- Never rely on Apple’s cloud: All iCloud sync, Find‑My, and Apple‑ID services should be disabled or removed for a truly private workstation.
Feel free to cherry‑pick any of the above items for your own hardening baseline, or adopt the full checklist for a “maximum‑privacy” macOS deployment.
