Skip to main content

How to block suspicious app downloads on a Mac

how to block suspicious app downloads mac store macbook featured
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As technology advances, so do the talents of those who try to expose vulnerabilities in it. Knowing how to block app downloads on your Mac can be a good first step in keeping yourself safe from their nefarious actions.

When it comes to the apps you decide to install on your Mac, there are ways to avoid those that can be potentially dangerous or, at minimum, ways to reduce the risk of ones that could cause harm.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

20 minutes

What You Need

  • A Mac

Block automatic downloads in Safari

If you want to stop a download from a particular site or at least have a website ask your permission first, this is one way to eliminate harmful apps from making their way to your Mac.

Step 1: Open Safari and select Safari > Preferences from the menu bar.

Step 2: Go to the Websites tab at the top and choose Downloads on the left. On the right you’ll see a list of Currently Open Websites and below that, Configured Websites, if any.

Step 3: To the right of a site, select Deny to stop the site from automatically downloading items to your Mac.

If you would rather make a decision on the fly, you can choose Ask. In this case, you’ll see an alert that the site is attempting to download an item. Click Allow to accept the download or Cancel to stop it.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac safari deny website
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: To stop all future sites you visit from automatically downloading items, select Deny at the bottom next to When visiting other websites.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac safari deny other websites
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Stop downloaded apps from opening

If you want an extra layer of protection from suspicious apps on your Mac, with a simple setting you can make sure that no apps open unless they come from the App Store. And even if you decide to loosen that security to allow apps from identified developers in addition to the App Store, you can still stop yourself from opening it by heeding an alert.

Although you can still download apps that are from a source other than the App Store, Apple uses Gatekeeper to prevent your Mac from actually opening the app.

Step 1: Open System Preferences using the icon in your Dock or by clicking the Apple icon > System Preferences from the menu bar and selecting Security & Privacy.

Step 2: Go to the General tab. Then, click the padlock on the bottom, enter your system password, and click Unlock.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac privacy security enter password
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Next, below Allow apps downloaded from, select App Store.

Alternatively, you can select App Store and identified developers, which allows apps to be opened that are developer-signed or Apple-notarized.

You can then click the padlock to secure your settings again and close System Preferences.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac privacy security store
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: If you choose the first option for App Store and try to open an app downloaded from somewhere other than the App Store, you’ll receive a notification that the app cannot be opened.

Click OK to dismiss the message or Show in Finder to open the containing folder and take an action.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac alert not store
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: If you choose the second option for App Store and identified developers and you try to open an app downloaded from another source, you’ll receive a notification asking if you’re sure you want to open it.

Click Open to open the app anyway, Show Web Page to see the page you downloaded it from, or Cancel to dismiss the message.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac alert from internet
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 6: If you dismiss the above messages and still want to open the app later, return to your Security & Privacy settings in System Preferences.

You’ll see a message that the app was blocked and a button to the right for Open Anyway. Click that button to open the app.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac privacy security open anyway
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Disable app downloads using Screen Time

One other way to stop app downloads on Mac is with Screen Time. While this may not be the ideal option for yourself, it can be if you set up Screen Time for a family member.

Step 1: Open System Preferences using the icon in your Dock or by clicking the Apple icon > System Preferences from the menu bar and selecting Screen Time.

Step 2: Choose Content & Privacy on the left. If you see that Content & Privacy Restrictions is set to Off at the top, click the button for Turn On.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac screen time content privacy off
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Select the Stores tab directly beneath.

Step 4: Next to Allowed Content, use the drop-down box for Apps to select Don’t Allow Apps. Optionally, you can do the same for Movies and TV Shows as well if you like.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac screen time allowed apps
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: When you visit the App Store on Mac after making this change, the options to Get and purchase apps are grayed out. If you select an app, you’ll also see a message at the top that the app cannot be downloaded.

how to block suspicious app downloads mac store cannot download
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There’s no surefire way to make sure that malicious apps stay away from your Mac. But, there are things you can do to avoid them, or if nothing else, reduce the risk.

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
The ChatGPT app has changed how I use my Mac in three key ways
The Option+Space shortcut of the macOS ChatGPT app.

After a long wait, OpenAI has launched the ChatGPT app on macOS for everyone to use. I’ve been playing around with it to see how it works and what it’s good at, and I’ve come away pretty impressed so far. It’s got all the power of ChatGPT in a handy desktop package. Better yet, you don’t need to pay to use it, as there’s no cost to download it, and it works with a free OpenAI account (free accounts do have limits placed on their usage, though, as they do on the web).

After seeing what I can get out of it, I’ve found there are three things I really love about the new ChatGPT Mac app. From the way it launches to its impressive capabilities, I think you’ll enjoy these aspects of the app as well.
It launches with a clever shortcut

Read more
Here’s why people are fearing for the future of this beloved Mac app
bartender app changes ownership mac

Bartender, a popular menu bar customization app for macOS with a long history, was quietly acquired by new developers sometime in the past few months. With no word from the app's original creator or the new owners about the transition, MacUpdater sent out the following alert warning users of the situation.

"The company and developer behind Bartender was replaced in a silent and dubious manner -- updates to version 5.0.52 and newer are your own risk and responsibility."

Read more
Stop using these default Mac apps — trust me
A person using a MacBook Air connected to two monitors.

Apple makes a huge variety of its own Mac apps, and some of them are among the best Mac apps you can get. The problem is that while many of them are pretty excellent, that’s not the case for every last one -- some are middling while others are worth avoiding altogether.

Whatever the case, you might be looking for an alternative to Apple’s built-in Mac apps. Here, we’ve catalogued the apps we think you should replace first, and suggested which third-party apps you should swap them out for. That should bring you more features and an all-around better Mac experience.
Calculator (use PCalc instead)
The PCalc app in macOS Sonoma Digital Trends

Read more