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OS X Mountain Lion Limits Apps to Mac App Store, Signed Apps by Default

Seems similar to newer versions of Windows which need administrator approval to run unsigned applications.

That being said... I believe this will reduce the amount of support calls I get from my Mom so I am all for it.
 
I tell you, OS X is becoming more and more like Windows. It's like Apple run out of good ideas, and just started to add lots of nonsense and crap that's either useless, or hampers the user experience and productivity.
One of the reasons I like OS X is the lack of hassle with pop-up screens, restrictions and "user-friendly" limitations etc..etc.. Now we're starting to get the kind of "features" that the Windows user struggles with when trying to rearrange or edit folders and files, or manipulating programs and so on..
 
Shrink said:
Break out the tinfoil hat.;)

The system sounds reasonable - it allows the user to determine the level of risk with which they are comfortable.
Click to expand...

This is reasonable. No I don't like the idea of having a Mac locked down to just the App Store but the fact that Apple is implementing a system leads me to think they will keep it for sometime.

and I like the notion of devs having to sign their apps - TBH any legitimate dev already has to use XCode anyways.
 
Mac32 said:
I tell you, OS X is becoming more and more like Windows. It's like Apple run out of good ideas, and just started to add lots of nonsense and crap that's either useless, or hampers the user experience and productivity.
One of the reasons I like OS X is the lack of hassle with pop-up screens, restrictions and "user-friendly" limitations etc..etc.. Now we're starting to get the kind of "features" that the Windows user struggles with when trying to rearrange or edit folders and files, or manipulating programs and so on..
Click to expand...

you dont have to update.
 
Was easy to see this coming when they introduced the app store for Mac. Step by step increasing their control and limiting our freedom. For now they gives us an option, next time that option will be gone.

Microsoft will of course copy this. We'll end up with totally locked down OS's in the future.
 
This is very good security against polymorphic, unknown malware. No more games of cat 'n mouse with the cybercriminals - if an app isn't digitally signed, it won't run, period. And power-users can disable it easily and use apps just like they do now. I've actually been wanting this for many years, as most end-users get sick of constant security warnings and just tend to click Yes/Allow/Continue without even thinking about it. Now when you have to go through a complex process to run an unsigned app, it's going to make some folks think twice about it, or at least call their IT help desk for assistance.

Naturally there is concern that this is the first step in inching towards locking OS X down like iOS and allowing nothing but Apple-approved apps to run, but until Apple proposes such a thing, quit all of your ballyhooing. This is a good thing for everyone who uses Macs.
 
q64ceo said:
RIP desktop computing
Click to expand...

*Maybe*, on Apple platforms at least.. but we will see in future OSX versions.

Closed computing should be a thing of the past.. it still is.. for now.. hopefully for a whole lot longer.

iOS could do with something like this, a gate keeper option. If you choose to run unapproved applications then thats fine.. but don't cry when things go wrong.

I'm just concerned that this is a slope to a closed Mac platform... gradually the openness of OSX will disappear... slowly slowly does it.

Of course, Gate Keeper could be a sign of a continued open OSX.. everything has multiple views..
 
baleensavage said:
And there it is. The writing's been on the wall since Snow Leopard.

Step 1: Put in an Apple vetted Mac app store - Lion
Step 2: Make the user jump through hoops to install apps outside of the Mac app store - Mountain Lion
Step 3: Make it so you can only install apps from the Mac app store - Whatever cat is next
Click to expand...

step 2 is more like: make OS X way more secure for almost every user. The ones that dont want the extra layer of security have to click a few buttons once. What will you ever do :rolleyes:

step 3 is probably non-existent unless you have a magic crystal ball telling you the future. Why even bother complaining about it until it actually happens
 
Mackan said:
Was easy to see this coming when they introduced the app store for Mac. Step by step increasing their control and limiting our freedom. For now they gives us an option, next time that option will be gone.

Microsoft will of course copy this. We'll end up with totally locked down OS's in the future.
Click to expand...
You will still be free to be foolish but you will have to make that choice upfront in the settings and then take full responsibility for that choice.

I don't see a problem as long as they have support for self signing of apps that we create ourselves and enterprise app signing.

I speak as someone who works for a large organization as a software developer.
 
Yawn, doomsayers have been predicting that the Mac would be closed ever since iPhone OS 2 and the app store. Nothing changed.

Then with the Mac App store doomsayers woke up from hibernation and starting shouting from the rooftops again: now it's coming. It didn't.

Now Apple makes another tiny change, and again they go "this is it folks, the end is near". Yet you can still freely install apps, very easily actually - come on, right click...

It just gets boring after nearly 4 years of reading all this moaning.
 
dethmaShine said:
********.

You may wanna go and check the Gatekeeper developer meaning again.

As much as a geek I am, I am probably gonna run the OS in Mac App Store only Gatekeeper mode and revert to Anywhere when I need to install some stuff on the web.

This is the best Apple can do for the very vast number of users. Caters to us geeks, caters to normal people and caters to those who don't know the **** they are doing.

This is unbelievably awesome.




On the contrary, this is evidence that Apple is NOT going to close the Mac. Things cannot be much more obvious for those who really wish to see without bias and hatred.

Short story for those interested:
Just a couple of days back, one of my friends referred to this concept in general and I was so blown away (shame I couldn't figure out myself). This also prevented Apple from changing the underlying UNIX system to an extent where they would revoke installation permissions from the user or admin or even the super-user. Maybe an additional private kernel model only used for app installations.

This is absolutely surreal. Best ****in feature ever. People don't realise this but this makes me believe that Apple is running for the geeks too. Long live Apple.
Click to expand...

As an Apple fan and one who supports Mac's in IT, this ROCKS!
 
Anti-Apple fanboy: Apple is evil!
Sane Person: Why?
Anti-Apple fanboy: Because they might do something bad in the future!
Sane Person: Are they doing it now?
Anti-Apple fanboy: No. But they will!
Sane Person: Ok. so, can't you just hate them if they actually do it in the future?
Anti-Apple fanboy: No. I have to always hate Apple. And I'll act like they already do now what I suspect them to do in the future. And I'll tell everyone that Apple does it now!
Sane Person: *face-palm*. Oh, man.
 
0dev said:
It's so sad everyone is seeing this as a good thing and is downvoting those who say otherwise. I guess that's why Apple can get away with locking down Macs so much.
Click to expand...

Your own signature goes to prove how little you understand what's going on.

We own companies at least courtesy until they have proven they don't deserve it. You want to know why so many companies are so selfish and abusive? It's because their customers go out of their way to abuse them. Apple is one of the few companies that goes out of its way to make things right for its customers--until that customer simply tries to defraud them one way or another. Most other companies don't even try.
 
betab said:
While that option exists... And it wont be for long (my bet is 10.9).
I'm ok with a closed/protected smartphone OS. but I still want to decide what goes and doesn't go on my computers. And, on the mac, that is definitely going... :(
Click to expand...

Till now, nothing's gone and we are past THREE major versions of OS X from OS X Leopard (2006-07).

Keep beating that horse. Never going to happen.
 
840quadra said:
Well until Apple actually does implement such practices, you are essentially guessing ?
Click to expand...
That's what people do here on MacRumors. We guess about what Apple is going to do before Apple actually does it, by extrapolating from current trends.

And the current trend is definitely in the vein of disallowing unsigned apps.
 
When Apple first announced the App Store in Lion I predicted that they would make their way to a closed system much like iOS. It appears they've taken the next step in that move. My bet is by OS X 10.9 or 10.10 (11.0?) they will make it a closed system completely, and force you install through the App Store only.
 
Mackan said:
Was easy to see this coming when they introduced the app store for Mac. Step by step increasing their control and limiting our freedom. For now they gives us an option, next time that option will be gone.

Microsoft will of course copy this. We'll end up with totally locked down OS's in the future.
Click to expand...

Till now they didn't limit our freedom a single percent. Good day for conspiracy theorists.
 
0dev said:
It's so sad everyone is seeing this as a good thing and is downvoting those who say otherwise. I guess that's why Apple can get away with locking down Macs so much.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately they won't realize it until its too late.
 
apple.com said:
Choosing “Anywhere” makes your Mac less secure.
Click to expand...
Wrong!

From the App Store:
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/0...security-flaw-gets-developer-license-revoked/
and
http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/14/2798008/ios-apps-and-the-address-book-what-you-need-to-know

Software downloads from other sites (such as MacUpdate (MU)) are pretty secure.

Apps from the Mac App Store can upload & download data ("infected" PDFs, images files and so on). Combine this with a "nice" security hole, such as a buffer overflow, and you can use your app (as a developer) to obtain root privileges on an arbitrary system. Your app can now download & install a rootkit and other nasty stuff. An example is jailbreakme.com (no it does not install a rootkit, but it is certainly possible).
 
Vulpinemac said:
Your own signature goes to prove how little you understand what's going on.

We own companies at least courtesy until they have proven they don't deserve it. You want to know why so many companies are so selfish and abusive? It's because their customers go out of their way to abuse them. Apple is one of the few companies that goes out of its way to make things right for its customers--until that customer simply tries to defraud them one way or another. Most other companies don't even try.
Click to expand...

Well if you must bring my signature up... Companies do whatever they can to get profit, simple as that. Whether or not that's a bad thing is another debate, but it doesn't mean I owe them courtesy for it.
 
As Macworld notes in its review of Gatekeeper, OS X Mountain Lion's default setting will be to only allow initial launching of apps either downloaded from the Mac App Store or which are digitally signed under Apple's identified developer program.
Click to expand...

According to the early reviews of the German c't magazine, exactly the opposite is true: They say that the default setting is to allow software from all sources.

So who has a Developer Preview installed and can confirm which version is the correct one?
 
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