I'm trying to block some websites via /etc/hosts I can't seem to figure out how to run the LaunchAgent with the correct permissions. $ ls -la ~/Library/LaunchAgents/hosts_Blocksites_AM.plist -rw-r--r--@ 1 root staff 1854 Aug 25 11:55 /Users/bryanwheelock/Library/LaunchAgents/hosts_Blocksites_AM.plist I set a UserName key: <key>UserName</key> <string>root</string> Here is the hosts_Blocksites_AM.plist: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>Label</key> <string>local.job</string> <key>ProgramArguments</key> <array> <string>cp</string> <string>/etc/hosts_BLOCKED_sites.txt</string> <string>/etc/hosts</string> </array> <key>RunAtLoad</key> <true/> <key>UserName</key> <string>root</string> <key>StartCalendarInterval</key> <array> <dict> <key>Hour</key> <integer>8</integer> <key>Minute</key> <integer>15</integer> <key>Weekday</key> <integer>1</integer> </dict> <dict> <key>Hour</key> <integer>8</integer> <key>Minute</key> <integer>15</integer> <key>Weekday</key> <integer>2</integer> </dict> <dict> <key>Hour</key> <integer>8</integer> <key>Minute</key> <integer>15</integer> <key>Weekday</key> <integer>3</integer> </dict> <dict> <key>Hour</key> <integer>8</integer> <key>Minute</key> <integer>15</integer> <key>Weekday</key> <integer>4</integer> </dict> <dict> <key>Hour</key> <integer>8</integer> <key>Minute</key> <integer>15</integer> <key>Weekday</key> <integer>5</integer> </dict> </array> <key>StandardErrorPath</key> <string>/tmp/mycommand.err</string> <key>StandardOutPath</key> <string>/tmp/mycommand.out</string> </dict> </plist> Here are the errors: $ cat /tmp/mycommand.err sudo: no tty present and no askpass program specified cp: /etc/hosts: Permission denied I had tried to add the sudo command to the program arguments, but I don't think that was correct. EDITED: Changed Label key: <key>Label</key> <string>local.hosts.blockingAM</string> Removed UserName key. Moved the plist and changed name: $ ls -la /Library/LaunchDaemons/ -rw-r--r--@ 1 root wheel 1474 Aug 29 13:19 local.hosts.blockingAM.plist I was still getting permission errors until I ran launchctl with sudo: sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/local.hosts.blocking.plist