Apple takes another step towards strengthening the security of its devices, especially MacBooks. As announced, the tech giant restricts Gatekeeper control with the latest macOS Sequoia update to prevent unauthorized software.
MacOS Sequoia Limits Gatekeeper Control for Enhanced Security
As announced in a recent post, Apple introduces updates to runtime protection in macOS Sequoia. These updates typically focus on restricting Gatekeeper controls for the users.
Gatekeeper is Apple’s security feature for macOS devices, ensuring that only trusted software runs on MacBooks. Upon downloading software or an app from outside the official App Store, Gatekeeper verifies the app developer’s identity and app notarization. It ensures that the original, unaltered software has been downloaded. It also alerts the users when opening the software for the first time to ensure that it does not execute without the user’s knowledge and approval.
While this feature enhances security, it doesn’t restrict users from downloading other software. Instead, users could override this control with a click to install the desired software.
However, with the recent update, Apple restricts users from overriding Gatekeeper control starting macOS Sequoia. Hence now, users need to visit the “Privacy & Security” settings to review the software information before executing it. With this move, Apple aims to provide its users with better security and prevent unauthorized access to users’ devices from sneaky apps.
Apple also asks all app developers who distribute apps outside the App Store to ensure Apple’s app notarization. Since Gatekeeper swiftly allows notarized software to execute, users may run such apps without hassle.
MacOS Sequoia is Apple’s upcoming major macOS release, formally announced at the WWDC 2024. This operating system is currently available as a public beta release, and it will empower future Apple MacBooks after its possible stable release in late 2024.
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