Jump To:
Leopard Reference Library: Darwin
Mac OS X provides a number of authorization, authentication, and cryptographic services that developers can use to build security into their applications. Developers can use certain security-related programming techniques (such as enabling root access) at the Darwin or core OS level to enable applications to perform operations not ordinarily supported by these APIs.

View all Security Reference Library.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sort by
Resource Type
Sorted by
Date
Authorization Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Guides 2009-01-06
Code Signing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how you can sign your code and why you should.
Guides 2008-11-19
Security Overview (HTML) (PDF)
An introduction to computer security concepts and the security APIs in Mac OS X and iPhone OS.
Guides 2008-10-15
Mac OS X and root access (HTML)
QA1013: Describes how to enable root access in Mac OS X.
Technical Q&As 2008-09-16
Mac OS X Code Signing In Depth (HTML)
TN2206: Intermediate to expert level overview of code signing that details specific options and gotchas
Technical Notes 2008-08-06
Secure Coding Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes techniques to use and factors to consider to make your code more secure from attack.
Guides 2008-05-23
CryptNoMore (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to authenticate a user using Open Directory (Directory Services).
Sample Code 2008-03-17
Suppressing the "unexpectedly quit" alert (HTML)
QA1288: Describes how to suppress the "unexpectedly quit" alert.
Technical Q&As 2008-03-11
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Release Notes 2007-10-31
KauthORama (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints each Kauth request, illustrating how Kauth interacts with high-level operations, like copying files.
Sample Code 2007-04-30
Kerberos: Highly Secure Single Sign On Authentication in Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn how you can take advantage of Kerberos in your application.
Articles 2007-02-05
Kernel Authorization (HTML)
TN2127: Describes the kernel authorization (kauth) subsystem and its associated KPI.
Technical Notes 2007-01-16
Security Framework Error Codes (HTML)
QA1499: Explains how to interpret errors returned by the Security Framework with an overview of Security error handling.
Technical Q&As 2006-11-16
Uniquely Identifying a Macintosh Computer (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN1103: How to identify a specific Macintosh computer.
Technical Notes 2006-04-25
GetPrimaryMACAddress (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates retrieving the MAC address of the built-in Ethernet controller. Useful for uniquely identifying a Macintosh system.
Sample Code 2005-10-27
MoreIsBetter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Library providing indispensable wrapers and workarounds for many areas of Mac OS programming.
Sample Code 2003-10-27
QISA (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the basics of writing an Internet setup assistant for traditional Mac OS and Mac OS X.
Sample Code 2003-05-15
CryptoSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains sample code showing symmetric encryption and message digest calculation.
Sample Code 2003-02-06
GetMACAddressSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to retrieve the MAC address for each Ethernet interface from the Mac OS X I/O Registry.
Sample Code 2003-01-14
SSLSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains examples showing how to use SecureTransport.
Sample Code 2003-01-14