Tag: macOS Sequoia

Apple Disables Control-Click to Tighten Gatekeeper Security on macOS Sequoia

Posted on by Samir Makwana

Apple aims to double down against malware on Mac with the upcoming macOS Sequoia update. As part of a security measure, Sequoia won’t let you perform Control-click on a DMG file to install apps that aren’t from the Mac App Store or certified developers. You have one less option to override the Gatekeeper Security on your Mac. This change applies to online Mac apps that aren’t signed or notarized through Apple’s vetted system for legitimate developers.

Gatekeeper on macOS: Things You Need to Know

On macOS, you get Gatekeeper and runtime protection as the security layers to ensure only trusted software runs on the Mac. Such trusted software is signed by the Apple Store or a registered developer, and Apple has also notarized it. So, it alerts you about possible security concerns when installing an app or a plugin downloaded from the web on macOS.

You must’ve noticed the security prompt when installing an app that you may have downloaded from outside the Mac App Store. That prompt requires you to navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security, and you get a notification—the (app name) can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer. After that, you’ll need to click the Open Anyway button to install the app on your Mac.

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Samsung’s Auto Blocker on Galaxy Phones

Overriding Gatekeeper Becomes Harder

In theory, Gatekeeper prevents, rather than alerts, security mishaps that might happen if you install any third-party software after bypassing the security prompts. Some third-party apps may instruct you to download a ZIP or DMG file and install it using the Control-click option. That means you’ll need to hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click on the DMG file to install it. So the installation is easier than dragging and dropping the app package into the Application folder.

With macOS Sequoia, Apple will turn off the Control-click option to override Gatekeeper’s security prompt and prevent the installation of apps or plugins on Macs. At the same time, Gatekeeper isn’t exactly security scanner software but merely a layer to safeguard a Mac. The only thing you get on your Mac a prompt that states the app wasn’t opened since it wasn’t downloaded from the Mac App Store.

Theoretically, only developers and experts circumvent it by installing an app or plugin on macOS. You might end up compromising your Mac if you install random apps from sketchy sources. But, the ways to install to try out new or beta pps will be equally hard for budding developers, participating beta-testers for apps, and enthusiasts.

Half a Step With Security on macOS

Android phone users are familiar with the ‘Install from Unknown Sources’ option, which lets you install any .APK file procured outside the Google Play Store. Similar is the Gatekeeper and Runtime security mechanism, which ensures that apps are run only from the Mac App Store and from registered developers. The onus lies on us when choosing whether to install apps from unverified and uncertified sources. In retrospect, Apple’s new move only makes installing such apps tougher and doesn’t provide any security or sandboxing mechanism (which would be great) on the macOS.

How to Use Windows Tiling in macOS Sequoia and Later

Posted on by Samir Makwana

After transitioning from a Windows PC to a Mac, you will first miss the Windows tiling and management. Apple has made it easier to manage your windows with the Windows tiling feature set to arrive in the macOS Sequoia as shown at the WWDC 2024. This feature allows you to position open windows in a desired layout. For Windows tiling and snapping on macOS, you can use third-party tools like Rectangle, Magnet, Moom, etc. However, that will change with the macOS Sequoia update, and those tools might have to offer a few extra goodies.

Before we begin, it’s important to remember that window tiling will work on most native apps from Apple. Not all third-party apps will work seamlessly. For example, a few keyboard shortcuts to arrange windows don’t work with Microsoft Edge. Initially, you may assume it is due to the macOS Sequoia beta build. But those keyboard shortcuts always existed while using Edge.

Use Automatic Windows Tiling in macOS

Your Mac needs to run at least macOS Sequoia to use the new automatic Windows Tiling feature. We’ve been using a macOS Sequoia (developer beta 2) and didn’t face any major issues with the new Tiling feature. By default, the automatic tiling worked seamlessly and the Sequoia also offers options to arrange the windows.

Keyboard Shortcuts to Tile or Move a Window in Specific Direction

Direction to Tile WindowsKeyboard Shortcut
Tile a window to the Left halfFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + Left Arrow (←)
Tile a window to the Right halfFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + Right Arrow (→)
Tile a window to the Upper halfFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + Up Arrow (↑)
Tile a window to the Bottom halfFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + Down Arrow (↓)
Return to the previous sizeFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + R

Moving a single active window is quicker with a keyboard shortcut. However, this only works for the active window. That means the other ones remain in the background and don’t readjust.

Use Windows Tiling to Arrange Up to Four Windows

When multiple app windows are open, it can be difficult to switch between them. The new windows tile management feature also lets you arrange the open windows in full screen, split screen, and other layout.

When you want to arrange two open windows on the desktop, you can achieve with the new keyboard shortcuts. In a way, it’s like a split view but faster and there’s no separating bar to adjust or resize those two windows.

Keyboard Shortcuts to Tile or Arrange Open Windows

Tile Open WindowsKeyboard Shortcut
Left and RightFunction (fn) + Shift (⇧) + Control (⌃) + Left Arrow (←)
Right and LeftFunction (fn) + Shift (⇧) + Control (⌃) + Right Arrow (→)
Top and BottomFunction (fn) + Shift (⇧) + Control (⌃) + Up Arrow (↑)
Bottom and TopFunction (fn) + Shift (⇧) + Control (⌃) + Down Arrow (↓)
Return to the previous sizeFunction (fn) + Control (⌃) + R

You can manage three or four open windows. In fact, if you tile and arrange four windows equally on the desktop, Apple calls it Quarters. However, if you want to tile three windows, one of them will cover half of the screen and rest two will split in the remaining half of the screen space.

For that, hover the mouse on the green light button in the top-left corner of any window. That’ll reveal a menu showing Fill & Arrange windows section. Choose the option to arrange three or four windows. Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut for choosing between three windows or Quarters (four windows) layout with window tiling feature.

Additional Settings for Windows Tiling

The Settings app in macOS Sequoia offers new options to tweak the window tiling experience on your Mac. By default, these options are turned off, and you’ll need to enable them.

Open the Settings app on your Mac, head to Display & Dock from the left sidebar, and scroll down to Windows section in the right pane. You can turn on the toggle for these three options:

  • Tile by dragging windows to screen edges: When you drag any open window to screen edge (corners), it will show you a tiling outline and then you can leave the window to tile/snap it there.
  • Hold the Option key while dragging window to tile: You can activate window tiling when you hold down the Option key on the keyboard while you drag an open window to tile.
  • Tiled windows have margins: There will be a clearly visible margins bordering the tiled windows.

Finally, macOS Catches Up With Windows

After several years, macOS is finally catching up with window tiling management to please the existing and new Mac userse. Besides using it on the MacBooks, windows tiling feature will be helpful with large displays. The feature could use some additional customizations a keyboard shortcuts to arrange multiple windows, but you can always configure a custom one.