August 9th, 2024

New macOS Sequoia permission prompts: a subscription you can't cancel

macOS Sequoia faces criticism for excessive permission prompts, particularly for screen recording, complicating user experience. Critics suggest a more balanced approach to privacy settings could improve usability.

Read original articleLink Icon
New macOS Sequoia permission prompts: a subscription you can't cancel

macOS Sequoia has been criticized for its excessive permission prompts, drawing comparisons to the notorious issues faced by Windows Vista. Users are experiencing a barrage of requests for permissions, particularly for screen recording, which must be confirmed weekly and after every restart. This change is seen as a significant shift from previous macOS versions, where users could easily grant permissions through a control-click option. Apple has removed this feature, requiring users to navigate through System Settings to manage permissions for non-notarized apps. Critics argue that while Apple aims to enhance security, the implementation has made the user experience cumbersome, with some likening it to a "subscription you didn’t buy and can’t cancel." The frequent prompts are viewed as excessive, especially for long-time users of certain applications. Although there are valid concerns regarding privacy and security, many believe that a more balanced approach, such as a toggle for heightened privacy settings, would be more effective than the current model, which may frustrate users without addressing the underlying issues.

- macOS Sequoia introduces frequent permission prompts, reminiscent of Windows Vista's issues.

- The removal of the control-click option for granting permissions complicates the user experience.

- Users must confirm screen recording permissions weekly and after each restart.

- Critics argue that the new system is overly burdensome and detracts from usability.

- A more user-friendly approach to privacy settings is suggested as a potential solution.

Link Icon 3 comments
By @kotaKat - 6 months
Apple suggestion: After two to three weeks, offer a checkbox to 'always allow'. This gives time to either accept that it's running and going to be monitoring, or remove it if it's malware.

This would be similar to another case: how Apple handles registering devices manually into an Apple Business Manager account for their MDM Device Enrollment Program. "If the device is given to a user, they have a 30-day provisional period to release the device from Apple Business Manager, supervision, and MDM."

https://support.apple.com/guide/apple-business-manager/add-d...