macOS 12 Monterey promises consolidation and improvement, even truth and reconciliation perhaps. But Shortcuts and Universal Control promise strongly.
privacy
Big Sur 11.3 includes support for AirTags, as explained here. Apple has also thought out how they could be misused, and how to prevent that.
Updates recommended for all users. They finally address problems with using 12-hour and other clocks. Log handling code has been refactored to improve performance.
An important feature for many iOS users, this has now appeared in macOS, despite not apparently being exposed to the user. Here’s what I know.
Certificate revocation checks in macOS could be misused in surveillance. How could you prevent that without putting your Mac at risk?
Apple’s Mail, Notes ad other apps now use Core Spotlight, which protects the privacy of their data, but stops search apps from doing their job. And worse.
Fifteen years ago, when we first got Spotlight search, we were more concerned with finding our documents rather than preventing others from reading their contents. Why?
Final in series. Examines how the hardened runtime controls access to protected private data and services, and how some use private entitlements.
Second in the series. Considers in detail what the hardened environment offers the user, and how notarized apps can opt out of its protection.
Two bugs – one affecting SDK version beyond 11.0, the other changing designation of the Audio privacy entitlement. Now fixed.
The Eclectic Light Company 