In 2020, Apple promised a series of changes to address the problems users faced after major server outages following the release of macOS Big Sur. But four years on, some of these promises have still not been fulfilled.
Why did Apple break its promises for macOS?
During the massive 2020 server outage, macOS users faced serious problems. Glitches in the app verification process, which Apple calls App Notarization, caused users to experience long wait times when opening apps. Following this incident, Apple announced a series of changes that would allow users to disable online notarization checks altogether. However, many of these promised changes have yet to materialize.
To further protect user privacy, Apple announced at the time that it had stopped recording IP addresses associated with Developer ID certification checks and was developing a new encrypted protocol for these checks. However, the option to opt out of online notarization checks altogether has still not been offered, and all references to the feature have been removed from Apple’s support documentation. This raises concerns among users that Apple has canceled this plan.
Apple’s failure to deliver on these promises means that delays in app launch times during rare server outages are still possible. When faced with such problems, users are frustrated that Apple does not offer the option to disable these important security controls. Apple is expected to take steps to remedy this situation, especially given that such interruptions raise security and privacy questions for users.
Apple’s decision not to implement these changes is somewhat surprising, as it has always taken a leading role in security and privacy. The company may feel that online security controls are critical for users. However, not providing a way out for situations where these controls could negatively impact the user experience means that Apple is not fulfilling its promise to its users.
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