Onyx Cannot Be Opened

What is this nonsense about Preferences Security allowing only App Store and Approved Developers applications to open and how does one get around this block?

Okay to answer my own question to open these apps not seemingly approved by Big brother (App Store) Control click and away it goes. Is this only a ML feature?

New feature of Mountain Lion Harry. Don't you love it? Big Brother is looking out for you! George Orwell must be rolling over in his grave.

You can change the GateKeeper settings in System Preferences. More here.

Welcome to Mountain Lion .

Have you actually encountered any unsigned apps, or are you asking in the hypothetical?

I would expect that most apps that are still supported would be signed by now.

[EDIT:
Huh, someone needs $99!

I imagine that applications that aren't developed with Xcode will lag behind simply because Apple seems to provide much more information about signing through Xcode. I know, for instance, that the applications that I develop will need to be signed and, not using Xcode, I'll have to find some time to learn how to sign it properly.

It should be possible...there's a command line tool!

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(The non-lovely part is the aforementioned $99)

A simple way around this, aside from disabling GateKeeper, is to remove the quarantine extended attribute. A simple "xattr -l <app bundle>" will tell you if it's "quarantined": And a simple removal of that attribute should get you around it: I haven't tested this but apparently this is sufficient.

Now, as for signing your own apps, you'd have to either show people how to do this or tell them to allow unsigned apps (is GK an all or nothing deal or are there, for lack of a better word, exceptions?).

Yes technologist.

Downloaded the ML compatible Onyx and that is where I encountered Gatekeeper for the first time. Guess the best way is the Control-Click option.

vansmith said:

Now, as for signing your own apps, you'd have to either show people how to do this or tell them to allow unsigned apps (is GK an all or nothing deal or are there, for lack of a better word, exceptions?).

Click to expand...

If Gatekeeper catches an app, right click on said app and select Open. Then Gatekeeper will ask if you want to allow the app through.

Hmmm, well, I was pretty sure I was going to disable it anyway but now I know for sure that'll be the case.

Another way to get around it is to <control>-click open the app. If will then verify that you want to open it. This will then remove the restrictions for good. I don't remember where I found this, but it does work. I did it for Onyx.

I think it's easy and fine to just change the gatekeeper prefs (under "Security and Privacy") to "anywhere" for a month or so. But after that you should change it back to "Mac App Store and identified developers."

All LEGIT Mac developers are registered with Apple and have been for years. Some need a little time to update their apps for Gatekeeper. It's not a big deal.

It's no more "big brother" than Apple requiring an admin password before allowing apps to alter your system. Unless you're actively looking for more malware in your life, Gatekeeper is a great feature that should make Macs much more safe they've ever been before.

chas_m said:

I think it's easy and fine to just change the gatekeeper prefs (under "Security and Privacy") to "anywhere" for a month or so. But after that you should change it back to "Mac App Store and identified developers."

Click to expand...

What's the point in that? For a month or so, your Mac is "fair game" so to speak. Once you re-enable GK, you put yourself back in the same spot you were trying to avoid by disabling it. You've gained nothing but a month of keeping yourself open to the world.

chas_m said:

All LEGIT Mac developers are registered with Apple and have been for years. Some need a little time to update their apps for Gatekeeper. It's not a big deal.

Click to expand...

That couldn't be further from the truth. All of the development tools for OS X are free and don't require registration. On top of that, you've got the large number of developers who use "non-standard" tools to develop applications that don't require any Apple tools other than access to a Mac. For instance, me. I develop applications using Python and Vim, neither of which require me to have any contact with Apple in any form. And, last I checked, I'm a pretty "legit" guy. I'm not even sure I'd say that most are.

chas_m said:

It's no more "big brother" than Apple requiring an admin password before allowing apps to alter your system.

Click to expand...

That's a false analogy. That's like saying that a car maufacturer that tells me where I can and can't go (GateKeeper) is like them saying I need a seatbelt (admin password). An admin password doesn't hamper my experience or, by default (since /Applications is system read/writeable), prevent me from installing applications. GateKeeper on the other hand does.

Stretch said:

If Gatekeeper catches an app, right click on said app and select Open. Then Gatekeeper will ask if you want to allow the app through.

Click to expand...

Good catch Stretch of just turn off Gatekeeper!

When I first saw that name the movie The Net with Sandra Bullock came to mind. The security Software she was working with was called The Gatekeeper!

I liked Sandra in that movie plus all her computers were Macs!