After the release of macOS Big Sur in 2020, Apple faced significant server outages that affected various services like iMessage, Apple Pay, and the notarization service. This outage exposed a flaw in how Apple verifies apps on the Mac, causing major issues for users trying to open apps.
Background
When you launch an app on your Mac, it goes through verification checks to ensure it’s not malware and that the developer certificate is valid. These checks, known as app notarization, are designed to keep users safe. Normally, if you’re offline, the checks fail but the app still launches. However, during the server outage, macOS continued to try to check servers, causing apps to launch slowly.
Apple’s Promised Changes
In response to the issues, Apple promised changes to address the situation, including an option for users to opt out of online notarization checks. These changes were expected to start rolling out in 2021. Initially, concerns were raised about Apple potentially using notarization to collect user data, but the company assured that wasn’t the case.
Apple made some changes as promised, like stopping the collection of IP addresses and introducing a new encrypted protocol for certificate checks. However, there’s been no update on when the opt-out feature will be released, and references to it have disappeared from support documents.
Developer Jeff Johnson also raised concerns about Apple abandoning its plans for allowing users to launch apps without online security checks. Allowing users to opt out of notarization checks would enhance privacy and challenge the idea that your Mac isn’t truly yours.
Apple likely made other macOS changes to prevent future server outages from affecting app launches. Still, clarity is needed on when the notarization opt-out will be available. It’s essential for Apple to follow through on its promises and keep users informed about their plans.
In conclusion, while Apple has made some improvements to address the issues with app notarization, there’s still work to be done. Providing users with the option to opt out of online security checks would be a significant step towards enhancing privacy on macOS. Apple should prioritize transparency and communication with users to ensure their concerns are addressed effectively.
