“It’s been suggested that Apple is planning to ban all unsigned programs in macOS 10.15 and onwards, and a Register reader within the industry has insisted to us he’s heard this on good authority,” Thomas Claburn writes for The Register. “It’s equally plausible the scenario has been fabricated or overblown to encourage Apple to tip its hand. We’ve asked around about this, and have been unable to confirm it.”
“The Mojave update introduced the concept of app notarization, a pre-distribution code-scanning service performed by Apple that looks for malicious content and signing problems in developer-signed apps,” Claburn writes. “Successfully vetted apps get appended with a ticket that provides extra information to Gatekeeper, for more streamlined installation prompt and signing key audits. Basically, a green light to macOS to smoothly install the software seeing as it’s been screened by Apple and determined to be safe.”
“Apple has said app notarization is optional under Mojave but will be mandatory in the future,” Claburn writes. “We suspect that those whispering the supposed looming changes have mistaken the foretold notarization requirement with a slightly broader restriction affecting not just developer-signed apps but all apps. When we asked Cabel Sasser, co-founder of macOS and iOS app biz Panic, about this, he suggested as much. Steve Troughton-Smith, who develops apps for High Caffeine Content, expressed skepticism that Apple would go so far as to ban unsigned code entirely.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote on Wednesday, “Rumors are one thing. Facts are another. We’ll wait until we hear it from the horse’s mouth.”
SEE ALSO:
Apple locking down the Mac? macOS 10.15 said to require a developer ID certificate – March 20, 2019
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Ralph” for the heads up.]
This should not even be within the realm of possibility.
It’s a PERSONAL computer.
This is The Computer For The Rest Of Us. It’s entirely within the realm of possibility and will happen.
Timmy and Co. have never delivered a computer for the rest of us. Only walled garden consume sealed disposable fashion. iOS enables Timmy to be the big brother that Jobs reminded you to avoid.
Applecynic is absolutely correct. There can be no PERSONAL computing if some corporate overlord chooses what media can be played and what software can be run. I do not trust Timmy.
Moreover I don’t trust anyone designing Macs in Cupertino anymore. The A team obviously left long ago. Mac Snow Leopard remains the high point of Apple software value. Newer OSes have been loaded with bloat and flattened to ugliness.
Hardware even more disappointing. Everything in this decade has been bean counter specials designed to extract maximum cash — not to inform, delight, or empower the user. Dongles cost extra. Must buy 3rd party displays, peripherals, adapters, routers, etc to assemble a proper ergonomic system.
Cookie has 6 months to deliver a real Mac Pro with an unadulterated macOS that just works. Otherwise, Bye Apple.
Uh oh. A deadline and ultimatum issued by an anonymous troll. Take note, history. This is the comment that made Apple get self-reflective and decide to make a change.
You should be able to install a program that locks down your computer. Leave mine alone.
It’s not a matter of what I wan’t. The environment of the future is locked down.
Of course there will be those that ‘want’ to be able to tinker but the majority just wants to do email and have movies that don’t buffer.
They wouldn’t know locked down if it prevented them from clicking on that link.
Here’s the thing…
In the real world, Constitutions protect minorities from majorities.
In the same vein “Personal” means not needing to abide or justify regardless of what “most people” do. It’s a level of sovereignty.
3/5 of a person and women can’t vote. Wanna talk about protecting minorities from majorities.
But then again, you don’t think majorities need protecting from minorities.
Got it.
And what does that have to do with a product?
Shame on you! It applies to all!
3/5 ths was an abomination don’t you dare put that on me. Same for women.
My second sentence has to do with a product.
Can we agree on this… if Apple does this the Mac is no longer a PC.
I see that went over your head and you brought up the Constitution.
Beyond that, the Mac wasn’t a PC in 84. This is nothing new. It’s Apple, Inc not Apple Computer.
So if I understand this correctly, you could still download software from anywhere, not just the Mac App Store, as you can now, but the OS would check that it was from a legitimately registered developer? What happens if the developer doesn’t renew their status some year? What if you are running a system with no internet connection and the OS can’t check the validity of the certification?
What if someone wants to create their own compiler and development environment?
I’ve long been calling Apple the IT Department over iOS devices. It’s wrong there too.
Hopefully not true, won’t be upgrading if so and when needed I’ll be getting rid of my Macs and won’t have any computers then.
I’m thinking more along the lines of disconnecting my home network from the internet. Home automation stuff works fine with out it, and can still control it from iPhone without the home network. Not using apple home automation. Starting to sound better all the time.
By 2021 you won’t be able to buy or build a Mac. Just lease them from Apple.
Correct! At least if Apple own them, then they can say what you can and cannot do with them. Until then… back off!
Ha, Apple just removed an app that gave science arguments that challenge climate change. Fucking information control nazi leftists afraid that their socialist global utopia might be challenged with some inconvenient facts.