A method and apparatus for optimizing a startup sequence to improve system boot time is described. In one embodiment, a method for configuring a startup sequence stored in memory, using one or more processors, to improve system boot time including accessing necessity indicia associated with a plurality of startup programs, wherein the necessity indicia comprising at least one of global reputation data or local interaction information, identifying at least one startup program to disable or postpone based on the necessity indicia and modifying at least one startup sequence to disable or delay execution of the at least one identified startup program.