The GatekeeperEnabled control verifies that macOS Gatekeeper is enabled and actively protecting your Mac. Gatekeeper checks all applications you download and open to ensure they're from identified developers and haven't been tampered with by malware.
Important: Gatekeeper is your first line of defense against malicious software on macOS. When you download and try to open an application, Gatekeeper verifies it's been signed by an identified Apple developer and checks with Apple to ensure it hasn't been reported as malware. Without Gatekeeper, you could unknowingly run malicious applications that appear legitimate but have been modified to steal your data, install malware, or compromise your system. Disabling Gatekeeper is like removing the lock from your front door.
Gatekeeper blocks unsigned or malicious applications from running, preventing malware infections from downloaded software before they can compromise your Mac.
Gatekeeper verifies that applications come from identified developers, ensuring you're running genuine software and not malware disguised as legitimate applications.
Gatekeeper checks that applications haven't been modified after being signed by their developers, protecting you from trojaned or backdoored versions of legitimate software.
After enabling Gatekeeper, Citadel will automatically verify this control during its next check.
Alternative: Check System Settings → Privacy & Security and verify "Allow applications downloaded from" is NOT set to "Anywhere".