Google is your friend. > macOS is getting more and more locked down. Yes... and no. It's exaggerated. Apps must have a certificate (a "notarization") before t

Google is your friend. > macOS is getting more and more locked down. Yes... and no. It's exaggerated. Apps must have a certificate (a "notarization") before they will run. However, "notarization" does not entitle Apple to any profit cuts or require using the App Store, and it can be disabled for technical users. You can install basically whatever you want, and using apps without the App Store is normal. As for tampering with the OS, it's now inside a Signed System Volume with System Integrity Protection which does make it more malware-resistant, but this can also be disabled for technical users. So... More locked-down out of the box than previously, perhaps, but for 90% of normal users I don't have a problem with that. They both do have functions for making the system more resistant to viruses without needing the bolted-on virus scanner Windows-style.