Unique hardware identifier to update apps

[russell_314]

The App Store recently notified me that I had several Apple apps that needed updated. In order to update them I had to agree to send a "unique hardware identifier" to Apple. Is this some new anti piracy measure or has it been around for a while? I'm recently back on Mac OS so if this is old news I apologize.

See the screenshot I uploaded.

 

[haralds]

Pretty sure they have been around for a long time.
The App Store identifies you as a legitimate user by your logged Apple ID. But since downloaded apps have to be usable by other users on your Mac, the locking mechanism uses a unique ID from your hardware.

 

[Tech198]

Never had this happen.

 

[russell_314]

Pretty sure they have been around for a long time.
The App Store identifies you as a legitimate user by your logged Apple ID. But since downloaded apps have to be usable by other users on your Mac, the locking mechanism uses a unique ID from your hardware.

Perhaps this is to annoy people pirating Mac OS by making it difficult to do updates. It kind of reminded me of the old Windows activation where it checks your hardware.

 

[Tech198]

Perhaps this is to annoy people pirating Mac OS by making it difficult to do updates. It kind of reminded me of the old Windows activation where it checks your hardware.

I think updates would be the last thing pirate even think of, because they know when you update, most likely it breaks workarounds.
And since pirates know what they do anyway.. its really no concern

At least better then constantly re-applying something for finding other ways over a simple update you could have avoided if you thought beforehand.

 

[Ritsuka]

Were those apps preinstalled on the Mac? If so, they need to be added to your apple account to receive updates.