Desktop operating systems
macOS privacy rating
Apple's proprietary desktop operating system for Mac computers, built on the open source Darwin core.
Summary
macOS scores 35 out of 100 (grade F) on the desktop operating systems criteria. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and independent audit. It does not meet open source. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 35 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
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No
Open source Weight 3 of 3
Is all the source code needed to run the product public?
Closed source. Apple publishes the source of Darwin and some components, but most of macOS is proprietary.
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Partial
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
No third-party trackers in the app, and sharing device analytics with Apple is opt-in. Apple web pages load Apple's own analytics (ac-analytics, sent to metrics.apple.com) by default.
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Partial
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Funded by hardware sales. Apple's ad platform shows ads in the App Store, News and Stocks apps; personalized ads can be turned off and Apple does not sell personal data.
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Partial
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
Common Criteria evaluations by independent labs are published as certification and validation reports, but no full security audit report is public.