What new software is app store trying to install?

If you are getting this when browsing, it is a scam and phishing attempt

and the site your are visiting is attempting to steal your log in

info to access your machine. Or it is also attempting to spoof you

into installing malware. Or, the malware may already be downloaded

and trying to get you to install it.

The Apps Store does not ever produce such a dialog and it will only

notify you of an update via Notifications (if you have it set) and will

only ever as you for your AppleID and that is one when you have

the App Store open and are attempting to download an app.

Anything else is a scam.

As far as scams go, this one is pretty lamely done as they don't even try

to make it look like an "official" Apple alert as some often do.

The App Store doesn't normally open such a window. Sounds like a scam.

First, open the App Store, click on updates and see if anything is listed. I assume not.

Try running Malwarebytes.

https://www.malwarebytes.com

Well, if the App Store doesn't list any updates then there should be no reason you are getting that message. I take it that window pops up when you are surfing the internet. If so what browser are you using?

YOu should read this as well: Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

I don't believe this is malware or phishing. It's just one of the enhanced security features in Catalina. It's like the new warnings that appear when apps want access to files/directories. It's just coincidental that it happens during browsing. I havn't received the warning since turning off Autoupdate and I have rebooted more than once just to see if the message reappeared. It has not. I have surfed, looked in Mail, played in VSCode; all the things I was doing when the message appeared before. Still no nag. Maybe someone else affected/annoyed could turn off Autoupdate and post their finding.

I was getting the same annoying message. So, I unchecked "Automatically keep my Mac up to date" in the System Preferences - Software Update. That seems to have taken care of the pop-ups. Now that I'm confident that it's a legitimate Apple update, I may turn it back on. Because, after all, Apple emphasizes "privacy" and you can't have that without a high level of security.

That has scam written all over it. I've never seen any such dialogue. It tells you nothing. It should ask you - at the very lest - to open the App Store. That's what App Store Notifications do - click on one and it opens the App Store where you can see what app is trying to update.

In my case, this appears to have been a bona fide OS dialogue box, although an extremely dubious one. Perhaps this dialogue should be handled through notifications from the App Store. As it is, it appears incredibly spoof-able.

You're welcome. Just to add, if you're already logged into the App Store you shouldn't be getting a request to log in.

I have autoupdate set on all my Macs running Catalina and have never seen that dialog window.

I get the same window. Malware bytes doesn’t mind it. I’m still not going to comply. Very fishy. Or phishy.

FYI, I do not have automatically check for updates on (but used to) and I have NEVER gotten that kind of window/popup. If there is nothing showing as available in the app store updates, I would bet it is a scam. Besides, I would also never respond to a popup wanting my ID and password without knowing what exactly it is that I am supposed to install. Next time you get that, take a look at the URL in your browser window and see if you can make out something other than whatever page you're on (instead of, say, homedepot.com, is there a different name and/or the word "redirect" in there anywhere)?