OS X - Mountain Lion - Installing Unsigned Applications

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 Note: This Article Only Applies For OSX Version 10.8 And Above I.E Mountain Lion (10.8), Mavericks (10.9).


If you’re Mac OS X user, you may have already upgraded to the latest version called Mountain Lion. By default this new version of OS X will only allow you to install applications downloaded from the App Store.

Whilst in theory, this is a great idea, unfortunately there are a few issues with its implementation. Specifically, the terms of the App Store licence do not appear to be compatible with the commonly used open source licensing (GPL) and the App Store will not permit privileged applications such as Tunnelblick, our preferred VPN application. All is not lost and there is a way around this, but it’s bit of a pain!

If you download software from anywhere other than the App Store, you will probably see one of the following errors (in these examples, we are trying to install an application called Tunnelblick):

1. Application Tunnelblick can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer.

or

2. Application Tunnelblick is damaged and can’t be opened. You should eject the disk image or move it to trash.


This is simply because the application you’ve downloaded is not digitally signed by Apple.

Before you can install unsigned software, you have to change your security settings.

Note. Please only do this for software that you trust! Apple have taken this step to protect you the customer from rogue third party applications. We strongly recommend that you do not leave this setting off and that you only temporarily disable it to install trusted software from nice people like us!


Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and choose System Preferences.


Next, click on Security & Privacy icon.

To edit the security settings, you must first click the padlock icon in the bottom left of the window.


You will be asked to confirm your Mac credentials, just enter them and hit Unlock.

On the following screen, you’ll see the options for Allow applications downloaded from, you need to click on the Anywhere option button, once you click that you will see a confirmation window, click on Allow From Anywhere.


That’s it! You may now install Tunnelblick or any other application that is not available through the App Store.

We strongly recommend that you set this option back to Mac App Store or Mac App Store and identified developers once you have finished installing the unsigned software. You can always change it back again later and it will prevent you, or someone else using your computer, from installing unsigned and potentially untrusted software


Unfortunately it doesn’t always go to plan!

If you have any problems or can’t get connected, please email us at [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible and try to help.