Whenever a background program crashes on Ubuntu Linux, a highly annoying pop-up window appears saying “System program problem detected.” It asks if you want to report the problem to the developers. This system is controlled by a background service called “Apport.”
While helping developers fix bugs is noble, if you click “Yes,” Apport silently packages up a “core dump.” A core dump is a raw copy of your computer’s RAM at the exact moment of the crash. If you were typing a password or viewing a confidential document when the crash occurred, that sensitive data might be accidentally uploaded to public bug trackers. You must safely disable Apport to protect your data.
How to Safely Disable Ubuntu Apport Crash Reporting
You must use the terminal to permanently disable the Apport daemon in its core configuration file.
- Open your Terminal application (Ctrl + Alt + T).
- Because Apport is a core system service, you must use the `sudo` command and a text editor (like `nano`) to modify its configuration. Type this command and press Enter:
sudo nano /etc/default/apport - Type your administrator password when prompted.
- The nano text editor will open directly in the terminal. The file is very short. Look for the line that says:
enabled=1 - Use your arrow keys to move the cursor, delete the
1, and replace it with a0. The line must now read exactly:enabled=0 - Press Ctrl + O (the letter O) and then Enter to save the file.
- Press Ctrl + X to exit the nano editor.
- To apply the change immediately without restarting your computer, type:
sudo systemctl stop apport.service
Ubuntu will never again package up your computer’s memory to send across the internet, and you will never again be bothered by those annoying “System program problem detected” pop-up windows.