I would like to disable some processes from launching and stop some processes by using Little Snitch/HandsOff! in Yosemite. I try to find process list which tells what all these running processes do so i know what to disable. I don't need any features in this list if it contacts to net: Sharing, Location services, Spotlight, Notification, Maps, Bluetooth, Wifi, Dictation, Calendar, Calculator... If i don't use these then why should these run and potentially phone home? I only need basic Safari and Mail app features but i don't want to brake anything if i disable things.
I wouldn't touch this. But, you could firewall yourself in by blocking all the outgoing ports, and only allow what you need, like 80, 443, 23, 25.
I wouldn't mess with running processes unless they are giving you problems. But if you want to know what a particular process does, here is a good reference site: http://triviaware.com/macprocess/all
Launch Control USD$10 (free if you want to scam the developer/honour system) If you read Snow Leopard Security Manual (pdf) you will get the general idea how things work even in Yosemite. Launch Control will do what you want if you know what you are doing (doubtfull). There is a less powerfull app in the App Store for $6. You can chain yourself to the computer and get carpotunnel using terminal for listing, finding plist disable etc. I tried to pay but not sure if processed yet because of Tor.
Almost forgot! All "of the shelf devices" are firmware hackable! Sad but true! All "of the shelf devices" are firmware hackable as a requirement of the wiretapping laws (in the US). You can test it with Little Snitch: 1. Clean install of OSX with network option "this computer does not connect to the Internet". 2. Install Little Snitch and disable ALL Apple system com. 3 Try to configure network Internet connection manually. Ethernet will connect fine but no Internet. You will not be able to access the Internet until you allow a very short invisible Apple Connection Registration (one time per connection location).