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Apple Tightens macOS Full Disk Access Controls Amid AI Risks
Confirmed
In Short: Apple is tightening controls on macOS's 'Full Disk Access' feature in response to growing privacy concerns related to AI agents, according to a statement from the company.
The Full Disk Access feature, originally designed to facilitate proper functioning of backup applications, now poses new risks as AI agents gain more autonomy and access to user data.
Some developers are exploiting Full Disk Access to expose user files, messages, and browsing history without full user consent, raising privacy concerns.
Apple has not provided specific details on the changes but emphasized the need for users to understand the implications of granting such extensive access to their Macs.
Additionally, a Wired report highlighted a potential flaw in ChatGPT's Mac app that could have allowed hackers to access sensitive data.
AI agents that run on the desktop can request substantial access to personal data, and some apps, like Meta Muse, offer users the option to enable Full Disk Access.
Apple's decision underscores the increasing risks associated with AI agents and the need for more robust security measures to protect user privacy.
Apple's adjustments to Full Disk Access aim to mitigate these risks and ensure that users are fully informed about the implications of granting such permissions to applications.
What's confirmed
- Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems—including files, mail, messages, and even browsing history—without users’ full knowledge and understanding.
- As AI agents become increasingly capable and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will grow substantially.
What's still developing
- While the company hasn’t shared specifics, Apple says users should understand what it means to give an app such “extraordinary” access to their Mac.
- Days after a journalist claimed that Meta’s Muse app on Mac read their private messages — a claim that Meta disputed — Apple announced that it’s introducing additional controls around a setting called “Full Disk Access” on macOS.
- AI agents that run on the desktop allow users to provide their respective apps with greater access to the files, messages, and other personal content on their computers by adjusting macOS settings.