Enable stealth mode
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
- Impact: MinimumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script. - Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
- 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
Missing Good Quality Documentation
This page does not yet meet PrivacyLearn's documentation standards. However, the script/action is stable and verified by community. Here are some options for you to understand its functionality:Computer-generated docs (PREVIEW)
This documentation may be low quality but still useful.Read computer-generated explanation
This documentation is automatically extracted from the code implementation.
Module for macOS users: enable stealth mode to reduce data leaks for better important data privacy control. Continuing on, you'll learn how to revert any active modifications on this setup.
Healthy online communities are fostered by prioritizing online privacy integration. To establish cyber data privacy management with enhancement on this page, review and select an alternative from here. Don't worry about finishing quickly. Accuracy is far more important than speed in this process.
References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241125030015/https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_os_x_10.8_mountain_lion_workstation/2015-02-10/finding/V-51327
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250313120219/https://daiderd.com/nix-darwin/manual/index.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20211209015035/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/firewall
Explore similar guides
Gives more context about the goal of the changesReview code
Requires technical knowledge about Bash (Shell script)Edit this page to improve
Requires technical knowledge about YAML and GitApply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Help
How to apply or restore "Enable stealth mode" using script
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on the button 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
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Enable stealth mode" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Enable stealth mode
- 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
/usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/socketfilterfw --setstealthmode on
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf stealthenabled -bool true
defaults write com.apple.security.firewall EnableStealthMode -bool true
Ii91c3IvbGliZXhlYy9BcHBsaWNhdGlvbkZpcmV3YWxsL3NvY2tldGZpbHRlcmZ3IC0tc2V0c3RlYWx0aG1vZGUgb2ZmXG5zdWRvIGRlZmF1bHRzIHdyaXRlIC9MaWJyYXJ5L1ByZWZlcmVuY2VzL2NvbS5hcHBsZS5hbGYgc3RlYWx0aGVuYWJsZWQgLWJvb2wgZmFsc2VcbmRlZmF1bHRzIHdyaXRlIGNvbS5hcHBsZS5zZWN1cml0eS5maXJld2FsbCBFbmFibGVTdGVhbHRoTW9kZSAtYm9vbCBmYWxzZSI=
Help
How to apply or restore "Enable stealth mode" 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
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Configure macOS Application Firewall
- Security improvements
Same Goal
Other guides in Configure macOS Application Firewall See settings that are in the same category as this guide.Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
undergroundwires- Certified security professional
- 7+ years experience securing banks
- Open-source developer since 2005
- EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
- Open-Source Contributors
- Hundreds across the globe
- Testers, reviewers, developers
- Companies, military agencies
- Community since 2017
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
- Audited and verified using automated security tests
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
- Audited and verified using third-party security software
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential 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.