Apple Platform Security
- Welcome
- Intro to Apple platform security
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- System security overview
- Signed system volume security
- Secure software updates
- Operating system integrity
- Activating data connections securely
- Verifying accessories
- BlastDoor for Messages and IDS
- Lockdown Mode security
- System security for watchOS
- Random number generation
- Apple Security Research Device
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- Services security overview
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- Apple Pay security overview
- Apple Pay component security
- How Apple Pay keeps users’ purchases protected
- Payment authorization with Apple Pay
- Paying with cards using Apple Pay
- Contactless passes in Apple Pay
- Rendering cards unusable with Apple Pay
- Apple Card security
- Apple Cash security
- Tap to Pay on iPhone
- Secure Apple Messages for Business
- FaceTime security
- Glossary
- Document revision history
- Copyright
App code signing process in macOS
All apps from the App Store are signed by Apple. This signing is designed to ensure that they haven’t been tampered with or altered. Apple signs any apps provided with Apple devices.
In macOS 10.15, all apps distributed outside the App Store must be signed by the developer using an Apple-issued Developer ID certificate (combined with a private key) and notarized by Apple to run under the default Gatekeeper settings. Apps developed in-house should also be signed with an Apple-issued Developer ID so that users can validate their integrity.
In macOS, code signing and notarization work independently—and can be performed by different actors—for different goals. Code signing is performed by the developer using their Developer ID certificate (issued by Apple). Verification of this signature proves to the user that a developer’s software hasn’t been tampered with since the developer built and signed it. Notarization can be performed by anyone in the software distribution chain and proves that Apple has been provided a copy of the code to check for malware and no known malware was found. The output of Notarization is a ticket, which is stored on Apple servers and can be optionally stapled to the app (by anyone) without invalidating the signature of the developer.
Mandatory Access Controls (MACs) require code signing to enable entitlements protected by the system. For example, apps requiring access through the firewall must be code signed with the appropriate MAC entitlement.