Gatekeeper’s Dialog

Gatekeeper is a new default feature in OS X Mountain Lion that requires apps be signed with an Apple developer certificate before they can be installed or opened (it can be disabled in System Preferences).

Here is the dialog users see when they attempt to mount a disk image that is not signed with an Apple certificate:

“Adium” has not been signed by a recognized distributor and may damage your computer. You should move it to the Trash.

“Adium” is on the disk image “Adium_1.4.4.dmg”. Safari downloaded this disk image today at 11:06 AM from adium.im.“

This is a fear mongering dialog. The vast majority of apps people download will not damage their computer, and mere mortals have no idea what "signed by a recognized distributor” means. The word “signed” in relation to security certificates is a very technical term and no one ever calls developers “distributors.” Also, saying “You should move it to the Trash” is weirdly strong wording.

Maybe it could say: “The app Adium hasn’t been checked by Apple. It can’t be trusted. Use the App Store to find trusted apps.”

I agree with the goals of Gatekeeper, and it’s going to be a great feature for users, but this dialog just feels wrong. It’s very un-Apple-like. Thankfully, it’s in a developer preview. There’s plenty of time for it to improve.

You should follow me on Twitter here.

Source: image from MacRumors.

 
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