How to Block Windows & Google Telemetry on Mac
Even on macOS, apps like Microsoft Office, Google Chrome, and VS Code constantly "phone home." They send usage data, crash reports, and identifiers back to their servers. While some is harmless, much of it is invasive.
To create a true "Privacy Shield," you need to block these requests before they leave your Mac.
Option 1: The Hard Way (Terminal)
Free
You can identify telemetry domains and route them to 0.0.0.0 in your hosts file.
sudo nano /etc/hosts
Common culprits include:
0.0.0.0 telemetry.microsoft.com 0.0.0.0 nexus.officeapps.live.com 0.0.0.0 google-analytics.com
Pros
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Invisible once set up
Cons
- ✗ Hard to know *what* to block
- ✗ New domains appear constantly
- ✗ Can break app features (like updates)
Option 2: The Firewall Way
$45+ (Little Snitch)
Tools like Little Snitch or LuLu let you see every connection an app tries to make and block it.
Pros
- ✓ Visualizes traffic in real-time
- ✓ Very granular control
Cons
- ✗ Notification fatigue (popups)
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ High learning curve
Option 3: The Sane Way
$5 One-Time
SaneHosts simplifies this by using the "Privacy Shield" preset. This includes curated blocklists from experts (like CrazyMax's WindowsSpyBlocker) tailored for hosts files.
Why it wins
- ✓ Privacy Shield Profile: One-click setup for telemetry blocking
- ✓ Curated: Uses lists from security researchers
- ✓ Safe: Easily toggle off if an app breaks
- ✓ Silent: No annoying popups
Compatible with macOS 14 (Sonoma) and later.