In both cases, the apps that are installed are not those that users think they are installing. Much of the malware that finds its way onto Macs comes in the form of fake downloads or bundled applications. The point is to make you think twice before installing anything that may damage your Mac.Īpple doesn’t explain exactly how Gatekeeper works, and for a good reason - if it did, it would be easier to circumvent. If you want to install an app from a developer who is not ‘recognized,’ you can, but you’ll have to override Gatekeeper. Recognized developers are those who have signed their code and whose signature Apple recognizes. By default, it allows only apps downloaded from Apple’s own App Store to be installed, though you can change that to allow apps from recognized developers as well. Gatekeeper is the name Apple gives to technology that works behind the scenes in macOS to limit what can be installed on your Mac. Here’s how to use Gatekeeper on your Mac. And Gatekeeper is another example of that. It has implemented a number of features in recent versions of macOS, such as code signing and sandboxing, that are designed to provide greater protection for users’ data.

But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.įeatures described in this article refer to the MacPaw site version of CleanMyMac X.Īpple has carved itself a niche amongst tech companies in recent years as the vendor most concerned about its users’ security and privacy. So here’s a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article.

Mac gatekeeper settings