I got a new Mac recently, had run Bartender in the past and decided to but the newest version without checking it out first. I was surprised to see the screen recording permission.
This was 12 days ago. I wrote support saying:
> I think screen recording is too much of a privacy and security concern.
> Even if you have no bad intentions, if someone compromises your security, they have access to an app that I've allowed screen recording to.
They replied:
> Bartender 5 isn't actually capturing your screen, this message will show anytime Bartender gets an image of your menu bar items, Bartender only ever gets images of menu bar items, the menu bar, and the desktop wallpaper behind the menu bar.
> That said, we are thinking of a way to isolate the parts of the app that need this particular permission so that way it becomes optional.
Yes, but you had to re-enable it due to the cert change. Bartender doesn't explain this is what happened and simply states "there's a known issue where certain apps, including Bartender, might not receive Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions properly, despite the user granting them in System Settings."
I agree the communication about this change of ownership has been far from ideal.
But issues with permissions (e.g. the user needing to disable/re-enable some macOS permission after an update, even if the cert doesn't change) are fairly common.
I assume if there was a way to recreate what Bartender does as smoothly as Bartender without the recording permission, they or someone else would have done it by now considering it makes the setup process clunkier than what would be ideal.
This ain't Linux, it's honestly surprising Bartender and various window management apps and whatnot can be pulled off on macOS considering the restrictions. It's not surprising they need to do a weird hack like taking advantage of screen recording privileges to make it work.
Our docks require the same permission as a way to verify the multiple monitors are actually working. As a result I just bring my usb-c dongle and a couple usb-c -> displayport cables instead
This was 12 days ago. I wrote support saying:
> I think screen recording is too much of a privacy and security concern.
> Even if you have no bad intentions, if someone compromises your security, they have access to an app that I've allowed screen recording to.
They replied:
> Bartender 5 isn't actually capturing your screen, this message will show anytime Bartender gets an image of your menu bar items, Bartender only ever gets images of menu bar items, the menu bar, and the desktop wallpaper behind the menu bar.
> That said, we are thinking of a way to isolate the parts of the app that need this particular permission so that way it becomes optional.
I never gave the persmissions to Bartender.