App Trust Preview
Inspect Mac apps for security risks and privacy concerns before running them
App Trust Preview helps you inspect Mac software before running it, with readable security and privacy reports suited to people without technical expertise.
by Ihor July
What you get
You get a clearer picture of software risks before running it.
You can examine an unfamiliar app, installer, disk image, script, or executable without launching it. Select it in Finder and press Space to see a security report, or open it in App Trust Preview for more detail. You get explanations of signing, notarization, and sensitive capabilities to help you decide what deserves closer scrutiny.
You can look beyond the main app to inspect bundled helpers, compare permissions and sandboxing, and explore potential network connections. The reports flag when network findings are incomplete or unverifiable, so you can distinguish available evidence from unanswered questions. You can also review available download sources, dates, and quarantine details to understand where software came from.
When you need a second opinion or deeper analysis, you can export the findings as text or JSON and open the inspected file with your preferred antivirus or utility.
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Inspect without running
You can review unfamiliar software before giving it a chance to execute.
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Understand security findings
You get readable explanations of signing, notarization, and sensitive capabilities without needing to interpret raw technical details.
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See beyond the app
You can inspect bundled helpers separately to uncover differences in permissions, sandboxing, and network capabilities.
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Trace download origins
You can review available source URLs, download dates, and quarantine information to check where software came from.
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Take findings further
You can export reports as text or JSON for a second opinion or more detailed analysis.
Best for
- You want to check unfamiliar downloads before running them
- You need security findings explained in everyday language
- You review software and need exportable inspection reports
Skip it if
You don't need it if you're looking for antivirus protection rather than information to assess software yourself.
Screenshots
From the developer
App Trust Preview is a security inspector for Mac designed to provide clear, easy-to-understand information for nontechnical users. Examine apps, installers, disk images, scripts, and executables before running them.Read the full description
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