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Any way to get rid of "allow to find devices on local networks" alert?
- Thread starter zevrix
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No. All of this is part of the new nanny security, which makes no sense to me.
- Nontechnical people will just click ok without knowing what it means.
- Technical people do not need those guardrails.
- Technical people do not need those guardrails and so will also click allow.
plus i don't even understand what this bizarro message means. what will i "select from available devices" in Chrome to display what "content on them" and what does Chrome have to do with this?
and why does this suddenly require additional permissions - like what kind of sinister stuff was happening before, that involved Chrome and "devices on local networks"?
I'll make sure to submit this as a bug to Apple. hopefully, many other users will do the same.
and why does this suddenly require additional permissions - like what kind of sinister stuff was happening before, that involved Chrome and "devices on local networks"?
I'll make sure to submit this as a bug to Apple. hopefully, many other users will do the same.
If I saw the dialog in the OP above, I would click "Don't Allow".
I don't want google prying/spying on me at all.
At least, I'll do whatever I can to prevent it.
(and no, I don't use google for searching... ANYWHERE).
I don't want google prying/spying on me at all.
At least, I'll do whatever I can to prevent it.
(and no, I don't use google for searching... ANYWHERE).
This is another example of MacOS being turned into iOS, which while there are some good parts, has on the whole, been very negative. The local network access restriction has been around in iOS for a number of years. It doesn't come up as often on a phone as most(not all, but most) Apps will use an Apple API to do local network things(Airplay, etc), and Apple system binaries have implicit permission.
The most egregious part, IMO, is that there is no way to disable it. My Mac is not a freaking phone. I don't use it like a phone. I don't want the low level system pieces(network, system certs, etc) to act like a phone.
The most egregious part, IMO, is that there is no way to disable it. My Mac is not a freaking phone. I don't use it like a phone. I don't want the low level system pieces(network, system certs, etc) to act like a phone.
I don't consider it pseudo-security. Just because I have a need to run some piece of software doesn't mean I want to give it access to search my local network. Which includes ******* companies like Google trying to map out and identify me based on a unique set of devices that are in my house.
As an aside I don't run garbage software(anything from Google, Mozilla, MS, Meta, Adobe and many others) so almost never see these kinds of prompts.
If I do run a piece of software and see a bunch of popups requesting various permission it's a strong sign to delete it.
Once given, the permission should persist. Quit Chrome and turn it off and on again in Privacy & Security – Local Network.
Ah that's where it is. Thanks for the info.
I searched System Settings several times for both "local" and "network" (separately) and it didn't bring up anything relevant in the search results. Definitely a bug - I sent it to Apple.
In the meantime, the alert indeed has stopped appearing on each login by now so I guess it was some kind of one-off issue.
Ok I think I know why this alert keeps appearing. That's because after each Chrome update, I replace the new disgusting icon with Chrome's original icon. Now I see that after this a new instance of Chrome is added to the Privacy & Security > Local Network section. I don't know if it happens after each time I replace the icon, but Chrome is listed there 5 times already.
I have not replaced icons or anything like that and also have Chrome listed 5 times there.
If I saw the dialogue, it would be because the app needs my DNS (pihole) or I want to connect to a local service on my network.
Just remember that Chrome isn't sandboxed and can access a ton of your data without any kind of prompt.
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Little Snitch is a far more powerful tool than this dialog. It has actual, granular control, rather than this vague yes/no blanket permission. You'd be surprised to see how many other devices on your network are connected to by Apple services on your computer.
Oh and don't forget Apple keeps a log of every app you launch on their servers. You know, for "privacy"