📺 Video Tutorial

🛡️ Why Mac Privacy Settings Matter

macOS collects telemetry, analytics, and location data by default. Proper privacy configuration stops Apple and apps from tracking you.

• 🔒 Limit data collection – Stop telemetry and analytics
• 📱 Control app permissions – Camera, microphone, location
• 🛡️ Disable tracking – Stop Apple and advertisers
• ⚡ Protect location privacy – Control who knows where you are

Built into macOS – Configure in System Settings → Privacy & Security

💡 Configuration Steps

Quick guide:

• 1️⃣ System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Disable all
• 2️⃣ Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Disable personalized ads
• 3️⃣ Privacy & Security → Location Services → Review all apps
• 4️⃣ Review Camera, Microphone, and other permissions
• 5️⃣ Disable Siri if not needed

💡 Privacy Configuration Tips

🎉 You’re now protected! Your Mac is sharing minimal data.

Essential Privacy Practices:

• 🔍 Disable all analytics and diagnostics
  System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Disable: Share Mac Analytics, Improve Siri & Dictation, Share iCloud Analytics, Share with App Developers. This is pure telemetry. Apple doesn’t need this data. Disable everything.
• 🚫 Turn off personalized advertising
  Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Disable “Personalized Ads”. This stops Apple from building an advertising profile on you. Also limits ad tracking across Apple services. Essential for privacy.
• 📱 Review and limit location services
  Privacy & Security → Location Services. Disable for apps that don’t need it. Set others to “While Using” not “Always”. System Services → Details → Disable: Location-Based Apple Ads, Location-Based Suggestions, Significant Locations. These track everywhere you go.
• ⚠️ Audit camera and microphone permissions
  Privacy & Security → Camera/Microphone. Remove access from apps you don’t recognize or trust. Only video conferencing and media apps should have these permissions. Everything else is surveillance.
• 🔒 Disable Siri if you don’t use it
  Siri & Spotlight → Disable “Ask Siri”. Siri sends voice recordings to Apple for processing. If you don’t use it, disable it completely. This eliminates a major privacy risk and potential attack vector.
• 📊 Limit Spotlight suggestions
  Siri & Spotlight → Disable “Siri Suggestions”. This sends your searches to Apple. For maximum privacy, disable all Spotlight internet features. Search locally only.
• 🌐 Review app permissions regularly
  Privacy & Security shows all permission categories. Review monthly: Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos, Files and Folders, Accessibility. Revoke access from apps you don’t use or trust.
• 🛡️ Disable Handoff and Continuity features
  General → AirDrop & Handoff → Disable if you don’t use them. These features share data across devices and can leak information. Only enable when actively needed.
• ⚡ Turn off crash reports to Apple
  When apps crash, don’t send reports to Apple. These reports contain system information and potentially sensitive data. Click “Don’t Send” on crash dialogs. Disable automatic reporting in Analytics settings.
• 🔍 Use DuckDuckGo as default search engine
  Safari → Search Engine → DuckDuckGo. Google tracks all searches. DuckDuckGo doesn’t. Simple privacy win with no usability loss.

Remember: Privacy is about limiting data collection. Review settings regularly and disable everything you don’t actively use.