How to Launch Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper is a Security controller application in Macintosh Mountain Lion (Mac Version 10.8). This post describes how you can launch Gatekeeper to view current setting and optionally to change them. You would need to authenticate yourself in order to make changes to the Gatekeeper settings. To start with, open up System Preferences and  click on the Security and Privacy Icon. You can alternatively search for the word Gatekeeper in System Preferences so that Macintosh can easily help you to locate the Security and Privacy Icon as displayed in the screenshot below.

Gatekeeper in Security & Privacy Icon of Macintosh Mountain Lion

Gatekeeper in Security & Privacy Icon of Macintosh Mountain Lion

Once you have located the Security & Privacy Icon in System Preferences of Mac Mountain Lion (Mac version 10.8), just click on it and Gatekeeper will open up. By default Gatekeeper will open up in read only mode and you would need to unlock the settings to make any changes. Gatekeeper of Macintosh Mountain Lion allows you to configure which applications you can download on your Mac and Install as displayed below.

Macintosh Gatekeeper Allowing Applications to be downloaded from Anywhere on Internet

Macintosh Gatekeeper Allowing Applications to be downloaded from Anywhere on Internet

In the Gatekeeper Settings above, applications downloaded from Anywhere are allowed on this Macintosh Mountain Lion Installation. In case you wish to download & try out any application from MurGaa.com, you would either need to configure Gatekeeper the way as displayed in the screenshot above or you can right click on the Setup File (As displayed below) downloaded and select Open and then follow onscreen prompts.

Right Click on the downloaded setup file and select Open to launch MurGaa Fast Clicker Setup

Right Click on the downloaded setup file and select Open to launch MurGaa Fast Clicker Setup

Opening application files or setup programs this way can be easy shortcut to skip Gatekeeper Security. Ofcourse you should only skip Gatekeeper Security checks in case you do trust the application provider. Yes ideally speaking every Mac Application must be signed appropriately so that you can use the application easily and quickly on your Mac running Mountain Lion, however there can be technical & financial issues due to which every application for Mac might not be signed by Apple. Also do remember that lots of efforts are required by developers to develop applications for end users and distribute them.

This post talked about how to locate and launch Gatekeeper in Mac Mountain Lion. This post also provided a quick shortcut way to skip the Gatekeeper checks for trusted applications. Apple is trying to make it’s operating more and more secure and developers are trying to cope up with the changes and hence shortcut ways to skip GateKeeper settings can be handy and ofcourse now you can change Gatekeeper settings as and when required.