News · curated 3 Oct 2026
Apple changes full-disk access permissions to curb abuse from AI agents
First reported arstechnica.com
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Why it matters
Apple's move highlights how AI agents granted broad system permissions like Full Disk Access can exfiltrate private user data, including messages and browsing history, often without users' clear understanding.
Apple announced it is changing macOS Full Disk Access (FDA) permissions to limit how third-party apps and AI agents can silently read messages, mail, and browsing history, following an uproar over Meta's Muse AI agent referencing a user's private Apple Messages thread. Security expert Patrick Wardle noted that any app with FDA can technically read all non-root files, contradicting Meta's claim that Muse could only read Messages via an additional opt-in connector.