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Lastpass says: "The app needs this permission to provide a global, system-wide shortcut to bring up the search field, so that users can quickly locate a vault e

Lastpass says: "The app needs this permission to provide a global, system-wide shortcut to bring up the search field, so that users can quickly locate a vault entry and copy passwords or launch sites. You can deny this permission request, as the Mac application will continue to work. It will just disable this function from working." I bet it's similar here, they want a system-wide shortcut to get to google drive. Seems like an oddly named permission.

inetknght 7y ago
A system-wide shortcut to get to something which other applications aren't able to use is a Bad Thing. For example: if you're in Notepad, how do you save your file to Google Drive? Or for example: if you're in Notepad, why do you need your password?
- dan-robertson 7y ago
  On the other hand it’s hard to predict all the ways a feature might be used so why restrict it’s flexibility to your own imagination.
mirthflat83 7y ago
I like how they named it. If you can get permission for systemwide keystrokes it is also obviously able to see what you’re typing in other apps. More straightforward for those who are not tech oriented.
- jjeaff 7y ago
  But why would that permission be needed at all for this use case? Is there not a simple "allow us to create a keyboard shortcut" permission?
- sukilot 7y ago
  Only because MacOS doesn't provide a more specific shortcut functionality. It should let an app register the specific keystrokes to get notified by, and doesn't need to notify which app was foreground when the shortcut was invoked.
  - ben509 7y ago
    It would also be helpful in letting users figure out conflicting shortcuts.
  - pdkl95 7y ago
    Since the proper API isn't available, the principle of least privilege suggests that abusing a high-privilege, easily abused feature in an unorthodox manner to work around that problem might be a bad idea. Maybe MacOS shouldn't have this "systemwide shortcut" feature until it provides the necessary functionality. Currently that feature appears to be incompatible with the platform's security model; don't undermine that model just to make a hotkey feature work.
    - adrianmonk 7y ago
      My guess is this API predates the introduction of these new security approvals. Some quick googling revealed that several developers are not even clear why their app causes the new macOS to ask the user for this approval. I agree it's better not to have features that don't mesh with the security model, but when you're tightening down the security on an existing design, you may have to deal with awkward transitions. Even if they introduced a replacement API that fits with their security model better, a bunch of apps out there would have to be ported to use it, so they're going to need to maintain backward compatibility for a long while.
- soulofmischief 7y ago
  Sounds like a bad API. There should be a way to register shortcuts and macros without giving keystroke information to the app.
  - lexicality 7y ago
    Especially given Apple apps seem to be able to register keyboard shortcuts in the system preferences and let you change them...
    - kitsunesoba 7y ago
      That works through the menu system, so any app that uses the standard menubar can have shortcuts reassigned. It works well, but it comes with the downside that the shortcuts are not global.
  - tryptophan 7y ago
    Doesn't linux work like this? Where certain input starts at the top (kernel), and then goes to the first program that "listens" for a certain key/combo? So you could have a program only listen/capture certain keys?
    - jankotek 7y ago
      XWin app can listen to all keystrokes in system. This was fixed in Wayland.
      - sam_lowry_ 7y ago
        "fixed".
      - capableweb 7y ago
        How would you write an application that uses global shortcuts in Wayland?
        ubercow13 7y ago

inetknght 7y ago

A system-wide shortcut to get to something which other applications aren't able to use is a Bad Thing. For example: if you're in Notepad, how do you save your file to Google Drive? Or for example: if you're in Notepad, why do you need your password?

dan-robertson 7y ago
On the other hand it’s hard to predict all the ways a feature might be used so why restrict it’s flexibility to your own imagination.

mirthflat83 7y ago

I like how they named it. If you can get permission for systemwide keystrokes it is also obviously able to see what you’re typing in other apps. More straightforward for those who are not tech oriented.

jjeaff 7y ago
But why would that permission be needed at all for this use case? Is there not a simple "allow us to create a keyboard shortcut" permission?
sukilot 7y ago
Only because MacOS doesn't provide a more specific shortcut functionality. It should let an app register the specific keystrokes to get notified by, and doesn't need to notify which app was foreground when the shortcut was invoked.
- ben509 7y ago
  It would also be helpful in letting users figure out conflicting shortcuts.
- pdkl95 7y ago
  Since the proper API isn't available, the principle of least privilege suggests that abusing a high-privilege, easily abused feature in an unorthodox manner to work around that problem might be a bad idea. Maybe MacOS shouldn't have this "systemwide shortcut" feature until it provides the necessary functionality. Currently that feature appears to be incompatible with the platform's security model; don't undermine that model just to make a hotkey feature work.
  - adrianmonk 7y ago
    My guess is this API predates the introduction of these new security approvals. Some quick googling revealed that several developers are not even clear why their app causes the new macOS to ask the user for this approval. I agree it's better not to have features that don't mesh with the security model, but when you're tightening down the security on an existing design, you may have to deal with awkward transitions. Even if they introduced a replacement API that fits with their security model better, a bunch of apps out there would have to be ported to use it, so they're going to need to maintain backward compatibility for a long while.
soulofmischief 7y ago
Sounds like a bad API. There should be a way to register shortcuts and macros without giving keystroke information to the app.
- lexicality 7y ago
  Especially given Apple apps seem to be able to register keyboard shortcuts in the system preferences and let you change them...
  - kitsunesoba 7y ago
    That works through the menu system, so any app that uses the standard menubar can have shortcuts reassigned. It works well, but it comes with the downside that the shortcuts are not global.
- tryptophan 7y ago
  Doesn't linux work like this? Where certain input starts at the top (kernel), and then goes to the first program that "listens" for a certain key/combo? So you could have a program only listen/capture certain keys?
  - jankotek 7y ago
    XWin app can listen to all keystrokes in system. This was fixed in Wayland.
    - sam_lowry_ 7y ago
      "fixed".
    - capableweb 7y ago
      How would you write an application that uses global shortcuts in Wayland?
      - ubercow13 7y ago