Disable automatic installation for system data files and security updates
- macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
- Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script stops automatic installations of critical updates 1, including security 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and system data file 1 8 updates.
It improves privacy by providing:
- Control Over Update Timing: Users can review updates before installation to ensure they meet privacy standards and do not introduce unwanted telemetry or changes.
- Reduced External Communications: Reduces how often it connects to update servers, potentially protection user information.
The script configures the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate!CriticalUpdateInstall
setting 1 4 5 7 8.
This action prevents automatic downloads and installations of updates 1.
It also prevents users from changing the Install system data files and security updates option manually 1.
This script is compatible with OS X Yosemite and later versions 6 8.
The revert script triggers softwareupdate --background-critical
to install any pending critical updates directly 2 9.
- Not Advised
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a Time Machine backup before doing any changes.
- Security Trade-off
This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.
Increased Privacy
Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and trackingDecreased Security
Some security features will be disabled or limitedThis script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.
Sources
- SoftwareUpdate. Apple Developer Documentation. developer.apple.com. (2024).
Original: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate
Archived: https://archive.ph/2024.03.21-180353/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/softwareupdate - Managing OS X’s automatic security updates. Der Flounder. derflounder.wordpress.com. (2024).
Original: https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/managing-os-xs-automatic-security-updates
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201417/https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/24/managing-os-xs-automatic-security-updates/ - macOS Updates — MacAdmins Community Documentation documentation. macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io. (2024).
Original: https://macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io/en/master/Profiles-and-Settings/OS-X-Updates.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165118/https://macadminsdoc.readthedocs.io/en/master/Profiles-and-Settings/OS-X-Updates.html - CCE-91129-7. CCE-macos_monterey.xls. Sheet 1 - NIST Computer Security Resource Center. csrc.nist.gov. (2024).
Original: https://csrc.nist.gov/CSRC/media/Projects/national-vulnerability-database/documents/CCE/CCE-macos_monterey.xls
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321165931/https://csrc.nist.gov/CSRC/media/Projects/national-vulnerability-database/documents/CCE/CCE-macos_monterey.xls - CIS Apple OSX 10.9 Benchmark. paper.bobylive.com. (2024).
Original: https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_OSX_10_9_Benchmark_v1_3_0.pdf
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201450/https://paper.bobylive.com/Security/CIS/CIS_Apple_OSX_10_9_Benchmark_v1_3_0.pdf - Managing automatic installation of ConfigData and security software updates on Yosemite. Der Flounder. derflounder.wordpress.com. (2024).
Original: https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/managing-automatic-installation-of-configdata-and-security-software-updates-on-yosemite
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201643/https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/12/27/managing-automatic-installation-of-configdata-and-security-software-updates-on-yosemite/ - System preference settings for macOS - macOS - SS64.com. ss64.com. (2024).
Original: https://ss64.com/mac/syntax-defaults.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201652/https://ss64.com/mac/syntax-defaults.html - 1.4 Enable system data files and security update installs - 'C.... Tenable®. www.tenable.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_OSX_10.10_v1.2.0_L1.audit:97f36c2eaa06045e85a1beff1a76a088
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201436/https://www.tenable.com/audits/items/CIS_OSX_10.10_v1.2.0_L1.audit:97f36c2eaa06045e85a1beff1a76a088 - Undocumented options – Managing OS X. managingosx.wordpress.com. (2024).
Original: https://managingosx.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/undocumented-options
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201406/https://managingosx.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/undocumented-options/ - Managing Rapid Security Response on Apple Devices. www.intuneirl.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.intuneirl.com/rapid-security-response
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201558/https://www.intuneirl.com/rapid-security-response/ - Rapid security response - Onsite. onsitegroup.co.za. (2024).
Original: https://onsitegroup.co.za/rapid-security-response
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201614/https://onsitegroup.co.za/rapid-security-response/ - About Rapid Security Responses for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS - Apple Support. support.apple.com. (2024).
Original: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102657
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240321201623/https://support.apple.com/en-us/102657
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation for system data files and security updates" using script
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
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Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation for system data files and security updates" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Disable automatic installation for system data files and security updates
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
# For OS X Yosemite and newer (>= 10.10)
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate 'CriticalUpdateInstall' -bool false
IiMgRm9yIE9TIFggWW9zZW1pdGUgYW5kIG5ld2VyICg+PSAxMC4xMClcbnN1ZG8gZGVmYXVsdHMgd3JpdGUgL0xpYnJhcnkvUHJlZmVyZW5jZXMvY29tLmFwcGxlLlNvZnR3YXJlVXBkYXRlICdDcml0aWNhbFVwZGF0ZUluc3RhbGwnIC1ib29sIHRydWVcbiMgVHJpZ2dlciBiYWNrZ3JvdW5kIGNoZWNrIHdpdGggbm9ybWFsIHNjYW4gKGNyaXRpY2FsIHVwZGF0ZXMgb25seSlcbnN1ZG8gc29mdHdhcmV1cGRhdGUgLS1iYWNrZ3JvdW5kLWNyaXRpY2FsIg==
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable automatic installation for system data files and security updates" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Terminal app
- Difficulty: undefined
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open terminal
Open Terminal app. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
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About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.