Apple Gatekeeper

E771045

application execution control mechanism macOS security feature

Apple Gatekeeper is a macOS security feature that verifies and controls the execution of apps to protect users from running untrusted or malicious software.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Surface forms Disambiguation Statements Elicitation Referenced by

All labels observed (4)

Label	Occurrences
Apple Gatekeeper canonical	2
Apple notarization service	1
Gatekeeper in OS X Mountain Lion	1
integrates with Gatekeeper	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T9003010 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Apple Gatekeeper
Context triple: [Apple Developer ID certificate, requiredBy, Apple Gatekeeper]

A. Apple FairPlay
Apple FairPlay is a digital rights management (DRM) technology developed by Apple to protect and control the use of copyrighted media content distributed through its platforms.
B. MacBadger
MacBadger is a gruff but kind-hearted badger character from Disney’s adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows," where he serves as a responsible guardian and friend to Mr. Toad.
C. FileVault
FileVault is Apple’s built-in full-disk encryption system for macOS that protects data by encrypting the contents of a Mac’s startup disk.
D. Apple T2
Apple T2 is a custom Apple coprocessor that enhances security and integrates multiple system controllers for Macs, handling functions like secure boot, encryption, and image processing.
E. Activation Lock
Activation Lock is an Apple security feature that prevents unauthorized use of a lost or stolen iOS device by requiring the owner’s Apple ID credentials to reactivate it.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Apple Gatekeeper
Target entity description: Apple Gatekeeper is a macOS security feature that verifies and controls the execution of apps to protect users from running untrusted or malicious software.

A. Apple FairPlay
Apple FairPlay is a digital rights management (DRM) technology developed by Apple to protect and control the use of copyrighted media content distributed through its platforms.
B. MacBadger
MacBadger is a gruff but kind-hearted badger character from Disney’s adaptation of "The Wind in the Willows," where he serves as a responsible guardian and friend to Mr. Toad.
C. FileVault
FileVault is Apple’s built-in full-disk encryption system for macOS that protects data by encrypting the contents of a Mac’s startup disk.
D. Apple T2
Apple T2 is a custom Apple coprocessor that enhances security and integrates multiple system controllers for Macs, handling functions like secure boot, encryption, and image processing.
E. Activation Lock
Activation Lock is an Apple security feature that prevents unauthorized use of a lost or stolen iOS device by requiring the owner’s Apple ID credentials to reactivate it.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	application execution control mechanism ⓘ macOS security feature ⓘ
blocks	apps from unidentified developers by default ⓘ apps that fail code signing validation ⓘ apps that fail notarization checks ⓘ
canBeBypassedBy	Control-click open and user confirmation ⓘ explicit user override in System Settings ⓘ
category	malware protection ⓘ security ⓘ
checks	quarantine attribute on downloaded files ⓘ whether an app is from an identified developer ⓘ whether an app is from the Mac App Store ⓘ whether an app is notarized by Apple ⓘ
configurableVia	System Preferences ⓘ linked to: macOS System Settings System Settings ⓘ linked to: macOS System Settings spctl command-line tool ⓘ
defaultState	enabled ⓘ
developedBy	Apple Inc. ⓘ
enforces	Apple Developer ID program requirements ⓘ notarization requirements for distributed software ⓘ
implementedIn	macOS security subsystem ⓘ
introducedIn	OS X Mountain Lion ⓘ
introducedInVersion	OS X 10.8 ⓘ linked to: OS X Mountain Lion
operatingSystem	macOS ⓘ
platform	Mac ⓘ
purpose	control execution of downloaded apps ⓘ enforce code signing requirements ⓘ protect users from running untrusted software ⓘ reduce risk of malware infections ⓘ
relatedTo	Apple Developer Program ⓘ Mac App Store ⓘ linked to: App Store
releaseYear	2012 ⓘ
requires	valid Apple Developer ID certificate for identified developers ⓘ
riskMitigated	drive-by downloads and common macOS malware ⓘ execution of unsigned apps from unknown sources ⓘ
scope	apps downloaded from the internet ⓘ first launch of apps ⓘ
settingOption	Allow apps from App Store ⓘ Allow apps from App Store and identified developers ⓘ
uses	Gatekeeper policy database ⓘ code signing ⓘ notarization tickets ⓘ
verifies	app code signatures ⓘ developer ID certificates ⓘ notarization status of apps ⓘ
worksWith	Apple notarization service ⓘ linked to: Apple Gatekeeper System Integrity Protection ⓘ XProtect ⓘ