What new software is app store trying to install?

I keep getting a pop-up window that says, "App Store is trying to install new software." and wants my admin name and PW. Problem: I have no idea what software is involved. Since it says "new" software, it must not be a patch or update. Question: How do I find out what the new software is?


Thanks

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 16, 2019 7:48 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 23, 2019 1:11 PM

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.


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14 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 23, 2019 1:11 PM in response to Larspa

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.


Nov 23, 2019 2:48 PM in response to Topher B

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.

Nov 23, 2019 10:53 AM in response to Larspa

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.

Nov 23, 2019 3:01 PM in response to Topher B

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)?

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What new software is app store trying to install?

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