Apple to Restrict Mac Full Disk Access Amid AI Agent Security Concerns

Apple is moving to tighten Full Disk Access permissions on macOS to address security risks linked to the rise of autonomous AI agents. The company plans to implement new controls that will force users to take explicit action before granting applications broad access to sensitive local data.

Full Disk Access currently allows software to bypass standard macOS privacy protections, providing a gateway to files, emails, messages, and browsing history. While the feature was originally intended to support backup software, Apple noted that some developers are utilizing these permissions in ways that may not be clear to the average user.

The company highlighted that the increasing capabilities of AI agents have elevated the potential risks associated with such broad data access. Apple has not yet announced a specific date for when these new security controls will be rolled out.

The update follows a report from Inc. columnist Jason Aten, who claimed that Meta’s Muse AI appeared to have knowledge of his messages despite his assertion that he had not authorized the app to access them. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone contested this, stating that access to messages is optional and requires users to manually enable both Full Disk Access and the Muse Messages connector.