Many files in macOS are more than just their data, and contain metadata in extended attributes. Does macOS know the true size of any file, taking into account those attributes?
macOS
Apple should name macOS version with literary references. Here’s the justification for macOS 10.14 Gormenghast.
Contains binary data on the last integrity check made using fsck on a disk image. Can be deleted to enable some images to be mounted.
Contains details of the last checksum of a disk image, performed using hdiutil verify, which can be compared against that stored in the image. Read-only and compressed images only.
Robust example Swift code for checking the free space available on a volume. A good quick check to run before trying to write out anything hefty.
Several Mac users have contacted me to report apparent contradictions between different estimates of free space remaining on […]
For no apparent reason, Sierra has again downloaded and installed an old ‘security’ update from 2016. Not only that, but it does its utmost to prevent you from finding out, even when studying the log. At least 5 bugs!
Its purpose is unknown, but it is automatically attached to contents of apps downloaded from iCloud Drive, if to a different system from the uploader.
More mitigation for Meltdown and Spectre, EFI updates, and steady progress in High Sierra are all very promising. So where does that put macOS 10.14?
Gatekeeper doesn’t seem interested in extended attributes attached to the contents of signed apps – the signature remains valid. Could this be exploited?
The Eclectic Light Company 