Apple Tightens macOS Full Disk Access as AI Agents Raise Security Stakes
Apple is moving to tighten controls on macOS's Full Disk Access permission, responding to what the company sees as evolving security risks posed by modern AI agents.
Full Disk Access on macOS grants applications broad permission to read user data across the system, including files, messages, mail, and browsing history. While this permission exists to enable legitimate functionality for certain apps and tools, Apple is now warning that the growing capabilities of AI agents make such broad access significantly riskier.
The company indicated that the combination of AI systems that can autonomously navigate systems and the extensive data accessible through Full Disk Access creates a new attack surface that needs addressing. Under the planned changes, users and administrators can expect more granular controls over what data these permissions grant access to.
The move reflects a broader industry trend of reexamining permission models as AI capabilities advance. As agents become more capable of performing complex, multi-step tasks on behalf of users, the security implications of the permissions they rely on have come under closer scrutiny.
Apple has not yet specified an exact timeline for when the new Full Disk Access controls will roll out to macOS users.