Sometimes you just really want BigSur to just shut the fu*k up.

F*ckYouBigSur.md

Prerequisite

• Disable auto update check from System Preferences -> Software Update
• Dismiss update notification

Disable Apple Software Update Domain

• Add entries below to /etc/hosts

  127.0.0.1 swscan.apple.com
  127.0.0.1 swcdn.apple.com
  127.0.0.1 swdist.apple.com

Remove System Preferences Badge

defaults write \
  com.apple.systempreferences \
  AttentionPrefBundleIDs \
  '{ "com.apple.preferences.softwareupdate" = 0; }'

killall Dock

Update Next Update Date

SCHED_DATE="Fri Jan 01 07:00:00 KST 2100"
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy \
  -c "Set :AbsoluteSchedule:com.apple.SoftwareUpdate:SUCheckSchedulerTag:Timer:date $SCHED_DATE" \
  /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.apple.scheduler.plist

Increase Update Interval

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy \
  -c "Set :AbsoluteSchedule:com.apple.SoftwareUpdate:SUCheckSchedulerTag:Timer:repeatInterval 449280000" \
  /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.apple.scheduler.plist

(Optional) Nuke Option

You might have to disable SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager from being executed in the first place depending on the security update you've installed

• Boot into recovery mode by pressing ⌘ + r after bootup sound and before apple logo show up
• Open Terminal and remove e[x]ecute flag from SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager binary:

  cd /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SoftwareUpdate.framework/Versions/A/Resources/SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager.app/Contents/MacOS/
  chmod 644 SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager

• Reboot normally

Reboot

• Now.

Check

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy \
  -c "Print :AbsoluteSchedule:com.apple.SoftwareUpdate:SUCheckSchedulerTag:Timer" \
  /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.apple.scheduler.plist

Whenever You Want to Feel Safe

• Re-enable SW update domain
• Check and update security updates manually

  softwareupdate -l
  sudo softwareupdate --install [SW_UPDATE_LABEL]

• Redo previous steps

References

• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210060
• https://cdmana.com/2021/04/20210429192342471b.html

Food for Thought

/System/Library/LaunchAgents
- com.apple.MobileAccessoryUpdater.fudHelperAgent.plist
- com.apple.SoftwareUpdateNotificationManager.plist

to

/System/Library/LaunchAgentsIgnored