Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Apple recently launched macOS Big Sur and a cybersecurity researcher's post vent viral highlighting a steady stream of communications that "phone home" detailing what apps you're using on your system. What's going on here?
Is privacy promoting Apple actually spying on every app running on every macOS system around the world? Or is something much less sinister going on...something that might even help us?
In this episode, we dive in to see what's really going on.
Index:
- Intro [00:00]
- Big Sur launches [00:11]
- Is Apple spying on you? [01:32]
- macOS Gatekeeper [02:19]
- Apple's control [04:22]
- Privacy impacts [04:53]
- iCloud risks [06:49]
- Blocking Gatekeep [07:46]
- The impact [08:32]
References:
- macOS Big Sur is compatible with these computers from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-us/HT211238
- macOS Big Sur launch appears to cause temporary slowdown in even non-Big Sur Macs by Ars Technica, arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/11/macos-big-sur-launch-appears-to-cause-temporary-slowdown-in-even-non-big-sur-macs
- "Your Computer Isn't Yours", a security research post by Jeffrey Paul, https://sneak.berlin/20201112/your-computer-isnt-yours/
- OCSP or Online Certificate Status Protocol via Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Certificate_Status_Protocol
- Apple service endpoints, support.apple.com/en-us/HT210060
- "Safely open apps on your Mac", more on Gatekeeper from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202491
- Gatekeeper and it's history via Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatekeeper_(macOS)
- Apple Developer Program, developer.apple.com/programs
- "Notarization" via the Apple Developer Documentation, developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/notarizing_macos_software_before_distribution
- iCloud Security Overview from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202303
Apple recently launched macOS Big Sur and a cybersecurity researcher's post vent viral highlighting a steady stream of communications that "phone home" detailing what apps you're using on your system. What's going on here?
Is privacy promoting Apple actually spying on every app running on every macOS system around the world? Or is something much less sinister going on...something that might even help us?
In this episode, we dive in to see what's really going on.
Index:
- Intro [00:00]
- Big Sur launches [00:11]
- Is Apple spying on you? [01:32]
- macOS Gatekeeper [02:19]
- Apple's control [04:22]
- Privacy impacts [04:53]
- iCloud risks [06:49]
- Blocking Gatekeep [07:46]
- The impact [08:32]
References:
- macOS Big Sur is compatible with these computers from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-us/HT211238
- macOS Big Sur launch appears to cause temporary slowdown in even non-Big Sur Macs by Ars Technica, arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/11/macos-big-sur-launch-appears-to-cause-temporary-slowdown-in-even-non-big-sur-macs
- "Your Computer Isn't Yours", a security research post by Jeffrey Paul, https://sneak.berlin/20201112/your-computer-isnt-yours/
- OCSP or Online Certificate Status Protocol via Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Certificate_Status_Protocol
- Apple service endpoints, support.apple.com/en-us/HT210060
- "Safely open apps on your Mac", more on Gatekeeper from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202491
- Gatekeeper and it's history via Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatekeeper_(macOS)
- Apple Developer Program, developer.apple.com/programs
- "Notarization" via the Apple Developer Documentation, developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/notarizing_macos_software_before_distribution
- iCloud Security Overview from Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202303
