# The Effects of Server Interruptions on macOS Big Sur: An Overview of Apple’s Notarization System
Soon after the launch of macOS Big Sur in November 2020, Apple encountered significant server interruptions that affected multiple services, including macOS setups, iMessage, Apple Pay, and most critically, the notarization system. This event underscored a severe vulnerability in Apple’s app validation method on Macs, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among users as many found themselves unable to access applications.
## Comprehending App Notarization
To fully grasp the consequences of the outage, it’s crucial to comprehend the notarization procedure. Whenever a user initiates an app on a Mac, the operating system conducts a variety of verification checks. These checks aim to confirm that the app is free from malware and that the developer’s certificate linked to the app remains valid. This procedure, referred to as app notarization, serves as a security protocol designed to safeguard users from harmful software.
In typical scenarios, if a Mac is offline, these checks would simply fail, permitting the app to launch without problems. However, during the server outage, macOS persistently tried to connect to Apple’s servers for verification. This resulted in a frustrating scenario for users, as apps took an excessively long time to start, essentially making numerous applications nonfunctional until the problem was rectified.
## Apple’s Reaction and Assurance of Changes
Following the outage, Apple recognized the issues and revealed a range of modifications aimed at enhancing the notarization procedure. Among the suggested changes was an option for users to entirely opt-out of online notarization checks, a feature projected to be implemented in 2021.
Apple’s assurances included a promise to bolster user privacy by discontinuing the logging of IP addresses linked to Developer ID certificate verifications. The company detailed several significant enhancements in a support document, such as:
– An updated encrypted protocol for Developer ID certificate revocation checks.
– Increased safeguards against server failures.
– A user preference option to decline certain security measures.
These modifications were aimed at addressing both the technical problems exposed by the outage and the privacy issues raised by users concerning the notarization system.
## The Present State of Notarization Modifications
While Apple did enact some of the pledged changes, like halting the collection of IP addresses and implementing a new encrypted protocol, the complete opt-out option for online notarization checks has yet to be realized. In fact, mentions of this feature have been removed from Apple’s support documentation, leading to speculation that the company may have abandoned its initiatives.
Developer Jeff Johnson has highlighted this issue on his blog, stressing the ambiguity surrounding Apple’s plans. The possible cancellation of the opt-out feature raises questions about user independence and the ramifications of server interruptions on app performance.
## The Effects for Users
The inability to launch apps due to server interruptions is a significant issue for users who depend on their Macs for daily tasks. Allowing users to decline notarization checks would not only improve privacy but also dispute the notion that users lack full authority over their devices.
Although Apple has likely made fundamental adjustments to macOS to alleviate the effects of server interruptions on app launches, the lack of a transparent strategy regarding the notarization opt-out feature leaves many users uncertain.
## Conclusion
The server outages that occurred shortly after the launch of macOS Big Sur acted as a crucial alert for Apple, exposing weaknesses in its app verification approach. While the company has made advances in addressing privacy concerns and reinforcing security measures, the absence of a complete opt-out option for online notarization checks remains a controversial topic. As users continue to seek more autonomy over their devices, it is vital for Apple to clarify its intentions regarding the notarization process and ensure that server interruptions do not hinder app performance in the future.
In the continually changing realm of technology, user autonomy and security must operate in tandem, and Apple’s response to these issues will be keenly monitored by its user community.
