macOS Privacy Hardening Checklist

Your Mac is leaking data right now. Location services, analytics sharing, Spotlight suggestions, Siri, and dozens of background services are sending information to Apple and third parties. This checklist walks you through every privacy and security setting in macOS, organized by priority. Start with the highest-impact changes and work your way down. Total time: about 45 minutes to complete the entire checklist. You will end up with a significantly more private machine without sacrificing daily usability. Category one: System Preferences essentials. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Navigate to Privacy and Security. Start with Location Services. Turn off Location Services entirely if you do not need it.