How to Stop Certain Safari WebProcesses?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How to Stop Certain Safari WebProcesses?

How do I remove or disable specific Safari WebProcesses?

For example, it seems that WebProcess is sending information out to doubleclick.net and parsely.com, which are adtracking/marketing services. I want to remove or block these while allowing others, such a calls to apple.com, to remain active.

I've deleted the Safari cookies, emptied my history, and cleared my Safari cache, but they're still running as shown in the Little Snitch Network Monitor.

Is there a file somewhere in my Mac that I need to edit to stop these network submissions from happening?

Thanks!

Posted on May 30, 2013 11:48 AM

Reply

Answer 1

May 30, 2013 11:51 AM in response to JSFapple

Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy

Select: Ask websites not to track me

Quit and relaunch Safari to test.

Reply

Answer 2

JSFapple Author

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2013 11:57 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

That will stop all calls, right? I just want to stop certain calls.

Reply

Answer 3

JSFapple Author

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2013 2:17 PM in response to JSFapple

Update: I'm hoping a developer-savvy person will come along and offer some suggestions.

Basically, I'm trying to get better control over what's running on my system, clearing out unnecessary processes, etc.

Also, I don't want any 'software' solutions. I'm happy working at the command line.

Anyone? Bueller?

Reply

Answer 4

May 30, 2013 2:51 PM in response to JSFapple

For what you want to do, you may have better luck using Firefox. If you don't have a backup browser installed, it's a good thing to do anyway > Mozilla Firefox Web Browser — Free Download — mozilla.org

Reply

Answer 5

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

May 30, 2013 2:57 PM in response to JSFapple

Download and install Ghostery to stop tracking:

http://www.ghostery.com/

Reply

Answer 6

JSFapple Author

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2013 3:43 PM in response to Klaus1

Ha! More suggestions to install processes. No, thank you.

Is there someone who can recommend a command-line solution?

Reply

Answer 7

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

May 30, 2013 3:55 PM in response to JSFapple

JSFapple wrote:

Ha! More suggestions to install processes. No, thank you.

Is there someone who can recommend a command-line solution?

No. Apple OS X is GUI based. I would suggest you buy an old Windows machine if you want to play with DOS.

Ghostery will do precisely what you ask for.

Reply

Answer 8

JSFapple Author

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2013 4:19 PM in response to Klaus1

OS X is Unix-based. I've found that downloading software to solve one problem just creates more problems. I'd like to find a minimalist solution without downloading any new software.

Reply

Answer 9

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 30, 2013 4:36 PM in response to JSFapple

so edit the hosts file & be done with the sites you don't want safari talking to.

Given that you're monitoring with Little Snitch (software you downloaded) & not say, tcpdump - Klaus's suggestion seems right-on... but block them manually instead.

Reply