diff --git a/cmake/modules/cares.cmake b/cmake/modules/cares.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 36a3f0d6b1f..00000000000
--- a/cmake/modules/cares.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-#
-# Copyright (C) 2023 The Falco Authors.
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
-# in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License
-# is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express
-# or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
-# the License.
-#
-
-option(USE_BUNDLED_CARES "Enable building of the bundled c-ares" ${USE_BUNDLED_DEPS})
-
-if(CARES_INCLUDE)
-	# we already have c-ares
-elseif(NOT USE_BUNDLED_CARES)
-	find_path(CARES_INCLUDE NAMES cares/ares.h ares.h)
-	find_library(CARES_LIB NAMES cares)
-	if(CARES_INCLUDE AND CARES_LIB)
-		message(STATUS "Found c-ares: include: ${CARES_INCLUDE}, lib: ${CARES_LIB}")
-	else()
-		message(FATAL_ERROR "Couldn't find system c-ares")
-	endif()
-else()
-	if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-		set(CARES_LIB_SUFFIX ${CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-		set(CARES_STATIC_OPTION "Off")
-	else()
-		set(CARES_LIB_SUFFIX ${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-		set(CARES_STATIC_OPTION "On")
-	endif()
-	set(CARES_SRC "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/c-ares-prefix/src/c-ares")
-	set(CARES_INCLUDE "${CARES_SRC}/include/")
-	set(CARES_LIB "${CARES_SRC}/lib/libcares${CARES_LIB_SUFFIX}")
-
-	if(NOT TARGET c-ares)
-		message(STATUS "Using bundled c-ares in '${CARES_SRC}'")
-		ExternalProject_Add(
-			c-ares
-			PREFIX "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/c-ares-prefix"
-			URL "https://github.com/c-ares/c-ares/releases/download/v1.33.1/c-ares-1.33.1.tar.gz"
-			URL_HASH "SHA256=06869824094745872fa26efd4c48e622b9bd82a89ef0ce693dc682a23604f415"
-			BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
-			CMAKE_ARGS -DCMAKE_POLICY_DEFAULT_CMP0091:STRING=NEW
-					   -DCMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY=${CMAKE_MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY}
-					   -DCARES_SHARED=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS}
-					   -DCARES_STATIC=${CARES_STATIC_OPTION}
-					   -DCARES_STATIC_PIC=${ENABLE_PIC}
-					   -DCARES_BUILD_TOOLS=Off
-					   -DCARES_INSTALL=Off
-			BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${CARES_INCLUDE} ${CARES_LIB}
-			INSTALL_COMMAND ""
-		)
-		install(
-			FILES "${CARES_LIB}"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-		install(
-			DIRECTORY "${CARES_INCLUDE}"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-	endif()
-
-endif()
-
-if(NOT TARGET c-ares)
-	add_custom_target(c-ares)
-endif()
-
-include_directories("${CARES_INCLUDE}")
diff --git a/cmake/modules/grpc.cmake b/cmake/modules/grpc.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 288cf27f676..00000000000
--- a/cmake/modules/grpc.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,274 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-#
-# Copyright (C) 2023 The Falco Authors.
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
-# in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License
-# is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express
-# or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
-# the License.
-#
-
-option(USE_BUNDLED_GRPC "Enable building of the bundled grpc" ${USE_BUNDLED_DEPS})
-
-if(GRPC_INCLUDE)
-	# we already have grpc
-elseif(NOT USE_BUNDLED_GRPC)
-	# gRPC
-	find_package(gRPC CONFIG)
-	if(gRPC_FOUND)
-		message(STATUS "Using gRPC ${gRPC_VERSION}")
-		set(GPR_LIB gRPC::gpr)
-		set(GRPC_LIB gRPC::grpc)
-		set(GRPCPP_LIB gRPC::grpc++)
-
-		# gRPC C++ plugin
-		get_target_property(GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN gRPC::grpc_cpp_plugin LOCATION)
-		if(NOT GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN)
-			message(FATAL_ERROR "System grpc_cpp_plugin not found")
-		endif()
-
-		# gRPC include dir + properly handle grpc{++,pp}
-		get_target_property(GRPC_INCLUDE gRPC::grpc++ INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES)
-		find_path(
-			GRPCXX_INCLUDE
-			NAMES grpc++/grpc++.h
-			PATHS ${GRPC_INCLUDE}
-		)
-		if(NOT GRPCXX_INCLUDE)
-			find_path(
-				GRPCPP_INCLUDE
-				NAMES grpcpp/grpcpp.h
-				PATHS ${GRPC_INCLUDE}
-			)
-			add_definitions(-DGRPC_INCLUDE_IS_GRPCPP=1)
-		endif()
-	else()
-		# Fallback to manually find libraries; Some distro, namely Ubuntu focal, do not install gRPC
-		# config cmake module
-		find_library(GPR_LIB NAMES gpr)
-		if(GPR_LIB)
-			message(STATUS "Found gpr lib: ${GPR_LIB}")
-		else()
-			message(FATAL_ERROR "Couldn't find system gpr")
-		endif()
-		find_path(GRPCXX_INCLUDE NAMES grpc++/grpc++.h)
-		if(GRPCXX_INCLUDE)
-			set(GRPC_INCLUDE ${GRPCXX_INCLUDE})
-		else()
-			find_path(GRPCPP_INCLUDE NAMES grpcpp/grpcpp.h)
-			set(GRPC_INCLUDE ${GRPCPP_INCLUDE})
-			add_definitions(-DGRPC_INCLUDE_IS_GRPCPP=1)
-		endif()
-		find_library(GRPC_LIB NAMES grpc)
-		find_library(GRPCPP_LIB NAMES grpc++)
-		if(GRPC_INCLUDE
-		   AND GRPC_LIB
-		   AND GRPCPP_LIB
-		)
-			message(
-				STATUS
-					"Found grpc: include: ${GRPC_INCLUDE}, C lib: ${GRPC_LIB}, C++ lib: ${GRPCPP_LIB}"
-			)
-		else()
-			message(FATAL_ERROR "Couldn't find system grpc")
-		endif()
-		find_program(GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN grpc_cpp_plugin)
-		if(NOT GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN)
-			message(FATAL_ERROR "System grpc_cpp_plugin not found")
-		endif()
-	endif()
-else()
-	include(cares)
-	include(protobuf)
-	include(zlib)
-	include(openssl)
-	if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-		set(GRPC_OPENSSL_STATIC_LIBS_OPTION FALSE)
-	else()
-		set(GRPC_OPENSSL_STATIC_LIBS_OPTION TRUE)
-	endif()
-	include(re2)
-	set(GRPC_SRC "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/grpc-prefix/src/grpc")
-	set(GRPC_INSTALL_DIR "${GRPC_SRC}/target")
-	set(GRPC_INCLUDE "${GRPC_INSTALL_DIR}/include" "${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp")
-	set(GPR_LIB "${GRPC_SRC}/libgpr.a")
-	set(GRPC_LIB "${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc.a")
-	set(GRPCPP_LIB "${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc++.a")
-	set(GRPC_CPP_PLUGIN "${GRPC_SRC}/grpc_cpp_plugin")
-	set(GRPC_MAIN_LIBS "")
-	list(
-		APPEND
-		GRPC_MAIN_LIBS
-		"${GPR_LIB}"
-		"${GRPC_LIB}"
-		"${GRPCPP_LIB}"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc++_alts.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc++_error_details.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc++_reflection.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc++_unsecure.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc_plugin_support.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpc_unsecure.a"
-		"${GRPC_SRC}/libgrpcpp_channelz.a"
-	)
-
-	get_filename_component(PROTOC_DIR ${PROTOC} PATH)
-
-	if(NOT TARGET grpc)
-		message(STATUS "Using bundled grpc in '${GRPC_SRC}'")
-
-		# fixme(leogr): this workaround is required to inject the missing deps (built by gRCP
-		# cmakefiles) into target_link_libraries later note: the list below is manually generated
-		# starting from the output of pkg-config --libs grpc++
-		set(GRPC_LIBRARIES "")
-		list(
-			APPEND
-			GRPC_LIBRARIES
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/libaddress_sorting.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/libupb.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/hash/libabsl_hash.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/hash/libabsl_city.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/hash/libabsl_low_level_hash.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/container/libabsl_raw_hash_set.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/container/libabsl_hashtablez_sampler.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/status/libabsl_statusor.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/status/libabsl_status.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_cord.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_cordz_functions.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/profiling/libabsl_exponential_biased.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/types/libabsl_bad_optional_access.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/types/libabsl_bad_variant_access.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_str_format_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/synchronization/libabsl_synchronization.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/synchronization/libabsl_graphcycles_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/debugging/libabsl_stacktrace.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/debugging/libabsl_symbolize.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/debugging/libabsl_debugging_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/debugging/libabsl_demangle_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_malloc_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/time/libabsl_time.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/time/libabsl_civil_time.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_strings.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_strings_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_base.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_spinlock_wait.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/numeric/libabsl_int128.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_throw_delegate.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_raw_logging_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/base/libabsl_log_severity.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/time/libabsl_time_zone.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_cord_internal.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_cordz_info.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/libabsl_cordz_handle.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_pool_urbg.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_randen.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_randen_hwaes.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_randen_hwaes_impl.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_randen_slow.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_seed_material.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_internal_platform.a"
-			"${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/random/libabsl_random_seed_gen_exception.a"
-		)
-
-		# Make abseil-cpp build compatible with gcc-13 See
-		# https://patchwork.yoctoproject.org/project/oe/patch/20230518093301.2938164-1-Martin.Jansa@gmail.com/
-		# TO BE DROPPED once we finally upgrade grpc...
-		set(GRPC_PATCH_CMD
-			sh
-			-c
-			"sed -i '20s/^/#include <cstdint>/' ${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/strings/internal/str_format/extension.h"
-		)
-
-		# Zig workaround: Add a PATCH_COMMAND to grpc cmake to fixup emitted -march by abseil-cpp
-		# cmake module, making it use a name understood by zig for arm64. See
-		# https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/master/absl/copts/GENERATED_AbseilCopts.cmake#L226.
-		if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER MATCHES "zig")
-			message(STATUS "Enabling zig workaround for abseil-cpp")
-			set(GRPC_PATCH_CMD
-				${GRPC_PATCH_CMD}
-				&&
-				sh
-				-c
-				"sed -i 's/armv8-a/cortex_a57/g' ${GRPC_SRC}/third_party/abseil-cpp/absl/copts/GENERATED_AbseilCopts.cmake"
-			)
-		endif()
-
-		ExternalProject_Add(
-			grpc
-			PREFIX "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/grpc-prefix"
-			DEPENDS openssl protobuf c-ares zlib re2
-			GIT_REPOSITORY https://github.com/grpc/grpc.git
-			GIT_TAG v1.44.0
-			GIT_SUBMODULES "third_party/abseil-cpp"
-			CMAKE_CACHE_ARGS
-				-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX:PATH=${GRPC_INSTALL_DIR}
-				-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE:STRING=${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE}
-				-DCMAKE_POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE:BOOL=${ENABLE_PIC}
-				-DgRPC_INSTALL:BOOL=OFF
-				# disable unused stuff
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_TESTS:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_CSHARP_EXT:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_CSHARP_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_NODE_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_OBJECTIVE_C_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_PHP_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_PYTHON_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				-DgRPC_BUILD_GRPC_RUBY_PLUGIN:BOOL=OFF
-				# deps provided by us
-				# https://github.com/grpc/grpc/blob/v1.32.0/cmake/modules/Findc-ares.cmake
-				-DgRPC_CARES_PROVIDER:STRING=package
-				-Dc-ares_DIR:PATH=${CARES_SRC}
-				-Dc-ares_INCLUDE_DIR:PATH=${CARES_INCLUDE}
-				-Dc-ares_LIBRARY:PATH=${CARES_LIB}
-				# https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.6/module/FindProtobuf.html
-				-DgRPC_PROTOBUF_PROVIDER:STRING=package
-				-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS:STRING=-I${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE}
-				-DProtobuf_INCLUDE_DIR:PATH=${PROTOBUF_INCLUDE}
-				-DProtobuf_LIBRARY:PATH=${PROTOBUF_LIB}
-				-DProtobuf_PROTOC_LIBRARY:PATH=${PROTOC_LIB}
-				-DProtobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE:PATH=${PROTOC}
-				# https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.6/module/FindOpenSSL.html
-				-DgRPC_SSL_PROVIDER:STRING=package
-				-DOPENSSL_ROOT_DIR:PATH=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}
-				-DOPENSSL_USE_STATIC_LIBS:BOOL=${GRPC_OPENSSL_STATIC_LIBS_OPTION}
-				# https://cmake.org/cmake/help/v3.6/module/FindZLIB.html
-				-DgRPC_ZLIB_PROVIDER:STRING=package
-				-DZLIB_ROOT:STRING=${ZLIB_SRC}
-				# RE2
-				-DgRPC_RE2_PROVIDER:STRING=package
-				-Dre2_DIR:PATH=${RE2_DIR}
-			BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
-			BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${GRPC_LIB} ${GRPCPP_LIB} ${GPR_LIB} ${GRPC_LIBRARIES}
-			# Keep installation files into the local ${GRPC_INSTALL_DIR} since here is the case when
-			# we are embedding gRPC
-			UPDATE_COMMAND ""
-			PATCH_COMMAND ${GRPC_PATCH_CMD}
-			INSTALL_COMMAND DESTDIR= ${CMAKE_MAKE_PROGRAM} install
-		)
-		install(
-			FILES ${GRPC_MAIN_LIBS}
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-		install(
-			FILES ${GRPC_LIBRARIES}
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-		install(
-			DIRECTORY "${GRPC_SRC}/target/include/"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-	endif()
-endif()
-
-if(NOT TARGET grpc)
-	add_custom_target(grpc)
-endif()
-
-include_directories("${GRPC_INCLUDE}")
diff --git a/cmake/modules/libsinsp.cmake b/cmake/modules/libsinsp.cmake
index 0edcecb1c2b..3c0a339eefc 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/libsinsp.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/libsinsp.cmake
@@ -32,13 +32,6 @@ if(NOT HAVE_LIBSINSP)
 	if(NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
 		include(tbb)
 	endif()
-	if(NOT WIN32
-	   AND NOT APPLE
-	   AND NOT MINIMAL_BUILD
-	   AND NOT EMSCRIPTEN
-	)
-		include(cares)
-	endif()
 	include(jsoncpp)
 	include(valijson)
 	include(re2)
diff --git a/cmake/modules/openssl.cmake b/cmake/modules/openssl.cmake
deleted file mode 100644
index 06def028bd9..00000000000
--- a/cmake/modules/openssl.cmake
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-#
-# Copyright (C) 2023 The Falco Authors.
-#
-# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
-# in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
-#
-# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-#
-# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License
-# is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express
-# or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
-# the License.
-#
-
-option(USE_BUNDLED_OPENSSL "Enable building of the bundled OpenSSL" ${USE_BUNDLED_DEPS})
-
-if(OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR)
-	# we already have openssl
-elseif(NOT USE_BUNDLED_OPENSSL)
-	find_package(OpenSSL REQUIRED)
-	message(STATUS "Found OpenSSL: include: ${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR}, lib: ${OPENSSL_LIBRARIES}")
-else()
-	if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
-		set(OPENSSL_LIB_SUFFIX ${CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-		set(OPENSSL_SHARED_OPTION shared)
-	else()
-		set(OPENSSL_LIB_SUFFIX ${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX})
-		set(OPENSSL_SHARED_OPTION no-shared)
-	endif()
-	set(OPENSSL_BUNDLE_DIR "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/openssl-prefix/src/openssl")
-	set(OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR "${OPENSSL_BUNDLE_DIR}/target")
-	set(OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/openssl-prefix/src/openssl/include/")
-	set(OPENSSL_LIBRARY_SSL "${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libssl${OPENSSL_LIB_SUFFIX}")
-	set(OPENSSL_LIBRARY_CRYPTO "${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR}/lib/libcrypto${OPENSSL_LIB_SUFFIX}")
-	set(OPENSSL_LIBRARIES ${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_SSL} ${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_CRYPTO})
-
-	if(NOT TARGET openssl)
-		if(NOT ENABLE_PIC)
-			set(OPENSSL_PIC_OPTION)
-		else()
-			set(OPENSSL_PIC_OPTION "-fPIC")
-		endif()
-
-		message(STATUS "Using bundled openssl in '${OPENSSL_BUNDLE_DIR}'")
-
-		ExternalProject_Add(
-			openssl
-			PREFIX "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/openssl-prefix"
-			URL "https://github.com/openssl/openssl/releases/download/openssl-3.1.4/openssl-3.1.4.tar.gz"
-			URL_HASH "SHA256=840af5366ab9b522bde525826be3ef0fb0af81c6a9ebd84caa600fea1731eee3"
-			CONFIGURE_COMMAND ./config ${OPENSSL_SHARED_OPTION} ${OPENSSL_PIC_OPTION}
-							  --prefix=${OPENSSL_INSTALL_DIR} --libdir=lib
-			BUILD_COMMAND make
-			BUILD_IN_SOURCE 1
-			BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_SSL} ${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_CRYPTO}
-			INSTALL_COMMAND make install_sw
-		)
-		install(
-			FILES "${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_SSL}"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-		install(
-			FILES "${OPENSSL_LIBRARY_CRYPTO}"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-		install(
-			DIRECTORY "${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR}"
-			DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/${LIBS_PACKAGE_NAME}"
-			COMPONENT "libs-deps"
-		)
-	endif()
-endif()
-
-if(NOT TARGET openssl)
-	add_custom_target(openssl)
-endif()
-
-include_directories("${OPENSSL_INCLUDE_DIR}")
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/CMakeLists.txt b/userspace/libsinsp/CMakeLists.txt
index db6a950c6ca..1392a967969 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,20 +34,6 @@ include(jsoncpp)
 include(zlib)
 include(tbb)
 
-if(NOT MINIMAL_BUILD)
-	if(NOT WIN32 AND NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
-		include(cares)
-	endif() # NOT WIN32
-endif()
-
-if(NOT WIN32 AND NOT APPLE)
-	if(NOT MINIMAL_BUILD AND NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
-		include(grpc)
-		include(protobuf)
-		include(openssl)
-	endif() # NOT MINIMAL_BUILD
-endif()
-
 add_library(
 	sinsp
 	filter/ast.cpp
@@ -137,11 +123,7 @@ target_link_libraries(
 )
 
 if(NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
-	target_link_libraries(
-		sinsp
-		INTERFACE "${CARES_LIB}"
-		PRIVATE "${TBB_LIB}"
-	)
+	target_link_libraries(sinsp PRIVATE "${TBB_LIB}")
 endif()
 
 if(USE_BUNDLED_VALIJSON)
@@ -165,17 +147,8 @@ if(NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
 endif()
 
 if(NOT WIN32)
-	if(NOT MINIMAL_BUILD)
-		if(NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
-			add_dependencies(sinsp openssl)
-		endif()
-	endif()
-
 	if(NOT APPLE)
 		if(NOT MINIMAL_BUILD AND NOT EMSCRIPTEN)
-			include(protobuf)
-			include(cares)
-
 			if(NOT MUSL_OPTIMIZED_BUILD)
 				find_library(LIB_ANL anl)
 				if(LIB_ANL)
diff --git a/userspace/libsinsp/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/userspace/libsinsp/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index fc14287861e..de62b8ed2b1 100644
--- a/userspace/libsinsp/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/userspace/libsinsp/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ include(jsoncpp)
 
 add_executable(sinsp-example util.cpp test.cpp)
 
-target_link_libraries(sinsp-example sinsp "${JSONCPP_LIB}")
+target_link_libraries(sinsp-example sinsp)
 
 if(EMSCRIPTEN)
 	target_compile_options(sinsp-example PRIVATE "-sDISABLE_EXCEPTION_CATCHING=0")