Block Dropbox telemetry hosts
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: Minimum
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights 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 prevents your computer from sending personal data to Dropbox's data collection servers 1, improving your privacy.
Dropbox collects data such as:
- Account Information: Includes your name, email, phone number, payment details, and address shared during account creation or when upgrading plans 2.
- Your Files: Covers data on files you save in Dropbox, their usage, and details 2.
- Contacts: If granted access, Dropbox stores contacts 2.
- Usage Information: Tracks how you use Dropbox services, including file management and electronic signature activities 2.
- Device Information: Includes information from your devices like IP addresses, browsers, location data 2.
- User Settings: Uses cookies and pixel tags to remember your settings 2.
- DocSend and Dropbox Analytics: Collects data, including device and ID information, when you view content via these services 2.
- Marketing Information: Tracks your interactions with Dropbox or its representatives 2.
Dropbox also shares collected data with third parties, affiliates, and other users 2.
Applying this script significantly reduces the data Dropbox collects, directly enhancing your privacy protection.
Blocked Hosts
The blocked hosts are:
Sources
- Re: Why So Much Telemetry ? - Page 3 - Dropbox Community. www.dropboxforum.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/m-p/463436/highlight/true
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240123113411/https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/m-p/463436/highlight/true#M4616 - Privacy Policy - Dropbox. www.dropbox.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.dropbox.com/privacy
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240123113313/https://www.dropbox.com/privacy - Why So Much Telemetry ? - Page 2 - Dropbox Community. dropboxforum.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/td-p/455961/page/2
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240123113357/https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/td-p/455961/page/2 - Re: Why So Much Telemetry ? - Dropbox Community. www.dropboxforum.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/m-p/456421/highlight/true
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240123113411/https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Integrations/Why-So-Much-Telemetry/m-p/456421/highlight/true#M4592
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
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Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Help
How to apply or restore "Block Dropbox telemetry hosts" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 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
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 "Block Dropbox telemetry hosts" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Block Dropbox telemetry hosts
- 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
:: Add hosts entries for telemetry.dropbox.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='telemetry.dropbox.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding]::Utf8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^""; IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^""; IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output "^""Creating a new hosts file at $hostsFilePath."^""; try { New-Item -Path $hostsFilePath -ItemType File -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created the hosts file."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing addition for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = Get-Content -Path "^""$hostsFilePath"^"" -Raw -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ((-Not [String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents)) -And ($hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry already exists.'; continue; }; try { Add-Content -Path $hostsFilePath -Value $hostsEntryLine -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output 'Successfully added the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to add the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
:: Add hosts entries for telemetry.v.dropbox.com
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$domain ='telemetry.v.dropbox.com'; $hostsFilePath = "^""$env:SYSTEMROOT\System32\drivers\etc\hosts"^""; $comment = "^""managed by privacy.sexy"^""; $hostsFileEncoding = [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.FileSystemCmdletProviderEncoding]::Utf8; $blockingHostsEntries = @(; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv4"^""; IPAddress = '0.0.0.0'; }; @{ AddressType = "^""IPv6"^""; IPAddress = '::1'; }; ); try { $isHostsFilePresent = Test-Path -Path $hostsFilePath -PathType Leaf -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to check hosts file existence. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; if (-Not $isHostsFilePresent) { Write-Output "^""Creating a new hosts file at $hostsFilePath."^""; try { New-Item -Path $hostsFilePath -ItemType File -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully created the hosts file."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; exit 1; }; }; foreach ($blockingEntry in $blockingHostsEntries) { Write-Output "^""Processing addition for $($blockingEntry.AddressType) entry."^""; try { $hostsFileContents = Get-Content -Path "^""$hostsFilePath"^"" -Raw -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to read the hosts file. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; $hostsEntryLine = "^""$($blockingEntry.IPAddress)`t$domain $([char]35) $comment"^""; if ((-Not [String]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($hostsFileContents)) -And ($hostsFileContents.Contains($hostsEntryLine))) { Write-Output 'Skipping, entry already exists.'; continue; }; try { Add-Content -Path $hostsFilePath -Value $hostsEntryLine -Encoding $hostsFileEncoding -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Output 'Successfully added the entry.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to add the entry. Error: $_"^""; continue; }; }"
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Help
How to apply or restore "Block Dropbox telemetry hosts" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt 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.