Official documentation
Safely open apps on your Mac
Apple, Apple Support, 2026
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- Apple's support article on Gatekeeper, the macOS feature that checks apps for a valid developer signature and for notarization. It explains what each check means and when macOS warns you before you open an app.
- How much weight it carries
- Official Apple documentation, maintained by the company that runs the checks. It describes what notarization shows about malware, and it does not promise that a notarized app is safe in every respect.
Facts taken from this source
- Apple says an app that has been notarized has been checked for malicious software, and none was detected.
“An app that has been notarized by Apple indicates that Apple checked it for malicious software and none was detected.” (Section on notarization and Gatekeeper)