macOS Sequoia
What the default settings do
macOS Sequoia ships with several privacy features enabled by default, including Gatekeeper (which restricts unsigned apps), XProtect malware scanning, and app-level permission prompts for camera, microphone, and files. Safari blocks cross-site trackers by default.
However, several defaults still share data with Apple. Analytics and diagnostics are sent unless you opt out, Siri suggestions index data from your apps, personalized ads are on in Apple apps, and Location Services are enabled broadly. FileVault disk encryption is typically enabled during setup on newer Macs, but it is worth confirming. The built-in Firewall is off by default.
A reasonable privacy baseline
These settings are found in System Settings on your Mac.
Analytics & Improvements
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Share Mac Analytics → Off
Stops sending daily diagnostics and usage data to Apple, including hardware configuration, OS performance, and app usage patterns.
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Improve Siri & Dictation → Off
Prevents audio recordings and transcripts of Siri interactions from being stored by Apple for quality review.
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Share with App Developers → Off
Stops sending crash data and usage statistics from third-party apps to their developers through Apple.
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Improve Apple Intelligence → Off
Prevents data from Apple Intelligence features from being used to improve Apple's models. Most Apple Intelligence processing happens on-device, but this setting controls whether results are shared back.
Siri
System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → Siri & Dictation History → Delete Siri & Dictation History
Removes any Siri interaction data currently stored on Apple's servers. This is a one-time action.
System Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → per-app "Learn from this App" toggles → Review and disable for apps you consider sensitive
Siri indexes content from apps to power suggestions and Spotlight search. You may want to disable this for apps that contain sensitive information, such as password managers, banking apps, or personal journals.
Location Services
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → On (but review per-app access)
Keeping Location Services on is practical for maps and weather. The important step is reviewing which apps have access.
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Details → Turn off Significant Locations
Stops your Mac from logging places you visit frequently. This data is encrypted and stored on-device, but you may prefer not to collect it.
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → System Services → Details → Turn off Mac Analytics
Prevents location data from being included in analytics reports sent to Apple.
Per-app location access → Review and set to "Ask Next Time" or disable for apps that do not need it
Scroll through the list of apps under Location Services and remove access for any app that does not have a clear reason to know your location.
Apple Advertising
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Apple Advertising → Personalized Ads → Off
Apple shows ads in the App Store, Apple News, and Stocks. Turning this off means those ads are not based on your interests, search behavior, or app downloads.
FileVault
System Settings → Privacy & Security → FileVault → On (usually enabled by default on newer Macs)
FileVault encrypts your entire startup disk. If your Mac is lost or stolen, the data on the drive cannot be read without your password. Verify this is turned on. If it is not, enabling it will encrypt the disk in the background without noticeable performance impact on modern hardware.
Firewall
System Settings → Network → Firewall → On
The macOS firewall is off by default. Turning it on blocks unsolicited incoming connections. This is a straightforward security improvement, particularly if you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. It does not affect outgoing connections or normal browsing.
Safari
Safari → Settings → Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking → On (on by default)
Blocks third-party cookies and cross-site tracking using Intelligent Tracking Prevention.
Safari → Settings → Privacy → Hide IP address → From Trackers
Hides your IP address from known tracking domains. With an iCloud+ subscription, this uses Private Relay. Otherwise it relies on local processing.
Safari → Settings → Privacy → Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement → Off
This feature lets websites measure ad effectiveness without identifying you personally. Turning it off prevents any ad attribution data from being shared.
Safari → Settings → Advanced → Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection → in all browsing
Extends tracking protection and fingerprinting mitigations from private browsing to all Safari browsing.
App permissions
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Review Camera, Microphone, Files and Folders, Full Disk Access, and Screen Recording
macOS requires apps to request permission for sensitive resources. Review each category periodically and revoke access for apps you no longer use or that do not need it. Screen Recording and Full Disk Access are particularly broad permissions.
Trade-offs
- Turning off Significant Locations means Siri suggestions based on location patterns and some Maps features (like predicted commute times) will not work.
- Disabling personalized ads does not reduce the number of ads in Apple apps - only their relevance.
- Enabling the firewall may occasionally require you to grant access to specific apps that need incoming connections (such as file sharing or remote access tools).
- Disabling analytics means Apple receives less data to diagnose bugs that may affect your Mac model or configuration.
- Turning off “Learn from this App” for apps means Siri and Spotlight will not surface content from those apps in search results.
- Disabling Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement removes a privacy-friendly alternative to more invasive tracking methods.
Who should not change these settings
- If you run server software or use your Mac to host services on your local network, the firewall may need specific exceptions or may not be appropriate.
- If you find Siri suggestions based on your location patterns valuable, keeping Significant Locations on is reasonable. The data stays encrypted on your device.
- If you prefer seeing relevant ads in Apple apps, keeping personalized ads on is a valid choice.
- If you want to help Apple improve its products, leaving analytics on is reasonable.
- If you want to support privacy-respecting ad measurement over traditional tracking, keeping Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement on is a reasonable position.