Between mid October 2019 and mid February 2020 everyone in the Army was migrated to use their PIV Authentication certificate for Email access. You no longer use the Email certificate for Enterprise Email or any CAC enabled websites
Mac users who choose to upgrade (or already have upgraded) to Mac OS Catalina (10.15.x) will need to uninstall all 3rd Party CAC enablers per https://militarycac.com/macuninstall.htm AND reenable the built in smart card ability (very bottom of macuninstall link above)
If you purchased your Mac with OS Catalina (10.15.x) already installed, you can skip the uninstall part above and follow the instructions below.
Start quickly with the most recent versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive —combining the familiarity of Office and the unique Mac features you love. Work online or offline, on your own or with others in real time—whatever works for what you’re doing. Update Office from the Mac App Store. If you downloaded Office from the Mac App Store, and have automatic updates turned on, your apps will update automatically. But you can also manually download the updates: Open the Mac App Store from your Dock or Finder. To be fair, in aggregate, Access is probably the least used Office app in the entire lineup, but that's still no excuse for keeping it out of Office 365 business subscriptions.
Without it Access Forms & Reports would be nonexistent as would other core elements of the program. IMHO, the likelihood of any sort of acceptable imitation for the Mac is remote at best. Other data management apps for the Mac can be used to interface with Access tables. Your Mac can use Wireless Diagnostics to perform additional analysis. Quit any apps that are open, and connect to your Wi-Fi network, if possible.; Press and hold Option (Alt) ⌥ key, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics from the Wi-Fi status menu.
6 'high level' steps needed, follow down the page to make this a painless systematic process
1.
Is your CAC reader 'Mac friendly'?
2.
Can your Mac 'see' the reader?
3.
Verify which version of Mac OS you have
4.
Figure out which CAC (ID card) you have
5.
Install the DoD certificates
5a.
Additional DoD certificate installation instructions for Firefox users
6.
Decide which CAC enabler you want to use (except for 10.12-.15)
Step 1: Is your CAC reader Mac friendly?
Visit the USB Readers page to verify the CAC reader you have is Mac friendly.
Visit the USB-C Readers page to verify the CAC reader you have is Mac friendly.
'Some, not all' CAC readers may need to have a driver installed to make it work.
NOTE: Readers such as: SCR-331 & SCR-3500A may need a firmware update (NO OTHER Readers need firmware updates).
Information about these specific readers are in Step 2
Step 2: Can your Mac 'see' the reader?
Plug the CAC reader into an open USB port before proceeding, give it a few moments to install
Step 2a: Click the Apple Icon in the upper left corner of the desktop, select 'About This Mac'
Step 2b: Click 'System Report..' (button)
Access For Mac Os
Step 2c: Verify the CAC reader shows in Hardware, USB, under USB Device Tree. Different readers will show differently, most readers have no problem in this step. See Step 2c1 for specific reader issues.
Step 2c1: Verify firmware version on your SCR-331 or GSR-202, 202V, 203 CAC, or SCR-3500a reader. If you have a reader other than these 5, Proceed directly to step 3
Step 2c1a-SCR-331 reader
If your reader does not look like this, go to the next step.
In the 'Hardware' drop down, click 'USB.' On the right side of the screen under 'USB Device Tree' the window will display all hardware plugged into the USB ports on your Mac. Look for “SCRx31 USB Smart Card Reader.” If the Smart Card reader is present, look at 'Version' in the lower right corner of this box: If you have a number below 5.25, you need to update your firmware to 5.25. If you are already at 5.25, your reader is installed on your system, and no further hardware changes are required. You can now Quit System Profiler and continue to Step 3.
Step 2c1b-SCR-3500A reader
If you have the SCR3500A P/N:905430-1 CAC reader,you may need to install this driver, as the one that installs automatically will not work on most Macs. Hold the control key [on your keyboard] when clicking the .pkg file [with your mouse], select [the word] Open
Step 3: Verify which version of MacOS do you have?
(You need to know this information for step 6)
Step 3a: Click the Apple Icon in the upper left corner of your desktop and select 'About This Mac'
Step 3b: Look below Mac OS X for: Example: Version 10.X.X.
Step 4: Figure out which CAC (ID Card) you have
(You need to know this information for step 6)
Look at the top back of your ID card for these card types. If you have any version other than the six shown below, you need to visit an ID card office and have it replaced. All CACs [other than these six] were supposed to be replaced prior to 1 October 2012.
Find out how to flip card over video
Step 5: Install the DoD certificates (for Safari and Chrome Users)
Go to Keychain Access
Click: Go (top of screen), Utilities, double click Keychain Access.app
(You can also type: keychain access using Spotlight (this is my preferred method))
Select login (under Keychains),and All Items (under Category).
Download the 5 files via links below (you may need to <ctrl> click, select Download Linked File As.. on each link) Save to your downloads folder
Please know.. IF You have any DoD certificates already located in your keychain access, you will need to delete them prior to running the AllCerts.p7b file below.
https://militarycac.com/maccerts/AllCerts.p7b,
https://militarycac.com/maccerts/RootCert2.cer,
https://militarycac.com/maccerts/RootCert3.cer,
https://militarycac.com/maccerts/RootCert4.cer, and
Double click each of the files to install certificates into the login section of keychain
Select the Kind column, verify the arrow is pointing up, scroll down to certificate, look for all of the following certificates:
NOTE: If you are missing any of the above certificates, you have 2 choices,
1. Delete all of them, and re-run the 5 files above, or
2. Download the allcerts.zip file and install each of the certificates you are missing individually.
Errors:
Error 100001 Solution
Error 100013 Solution
You may notice some of the certificates will have a red circle with a white X . This means your computer does not trust those certificates
You need to manually trust the DoD Root CA 2, 3, 4, & 5 certificates
Double click each of the DoD Root CA certificates, select the triangle next to Trust, in the When using this certificate: select Always Trust, repeat until all 4 do not have the red circle with a white X.
You may be prompted to enter computer password when you close the window
Once you select Always Trust, your icon will have a light blue circle with a white + on it.
The 'bad certs' that have caused problems for Windows users may show up in the keychain access section on some Macs. These need to be deleted / moved to trash.
The DoD Root CA 2 & 3 you are removing has a light blue frame, leave the yellow frame version. The icons may or may not have a red circle with the white x
or
DoD Interoperability Root CA 1 or CA 2
certificate
DoD Root CA 2 or 3 (light blue frame ONLY)
certificate
or
Federal Bridge CA 2016 or 2013
certificate
or
Federal Common Policy CA
certificate
or
or
SHA-1 Federal Root CA G2
certificate
or
US DoD CCEB Interoperability Root CA 1
certificate
If you have tried accessing CAC enabled sites prior to following these instructions, please go through this page before proceeding
Clearing the keychain (opens a new page)
Please come back to this page to continue installation instructions.
Step 5a: DoD certificate installation instructions for Firefox users
NOTE: Firefox will not work on Catalina (10.15.x), or last 4 versions of Mac OS if using the native Apple smartcard ability
Download AllCerts.zip, [remember where you save it].
double click the allcerts.zip file (it'll automatically extract into a new folder)
Option 1 to install the certificates (semi automated):
From inside the AllCerts extracted folder, select all of the certificates
<control> click (or Right click) the selected certificates, select Open With, Other..
In the Enable (selection box), change to All Applications
Select Firefox, then Open
You will see several dozen browser tabs open up, let it open as many as it wants.
You will eventually start seeing either of the 2 messages shown next
If the certificate is not already in Firefox, a window will pop up stating 'You have been asked to trust a new Certificate Authority (CA).'
Check all three boxes to allow the certificate to: identify websites, identify email users, and identify software developers
or
'Alert This certificate is already installed as a certificate authority.' Click OK
Once you've added all of the certificates.. • Click Firefox (word) (upper left of your screen) • Preferences • Advanced (tab) • Press Network under the Advanced Tab • In the Cached Web Content section, click Clear Now (button). • Quit Firefox and restart it
Option 2 to install the certificates (very tedious manual):
Click Firefox (word) (upper left of your screen)
Preferences
Advanced (tab on left side of screen)
Certificates (tab)
View Certificates (button)
Authorities (tab)
Import (button)
Browse to the DoD certificates (AllCerts) extracted folder you downloaded and extracted above.
Note: You have to do this step for every single certificate
Note2: If the certificate is already in Firefox, a window will pop up stating: 'Alert This certificate is already installed as a certificate authority (CA).' Click OK
Microsoft Access For Macs
Note3: If the certificate is not already in Firefox, a window will pop up stating 'You have been asked to trust a new Certificate Authority (CA).'
Check all three boxes to allow the certificate to: identify websites, identify email users, and identify software developers
Once you've added all of the certificates.. • Click Firefox (word) (upper left of your screen) • Preferences • Advanced (tab) • Press Network under the Advanced Tab • In the Cached Web Content section, click Clear Now (button). • Quit Firefox and restart it
Step 6: Decide which CAC enabler you can / want to use
Only for Mac El Capitan (10.11.x or older)
After installing the CAC enabler, restart the computer and go to a CAC enabled website
NOTE: Mac OS Sierra (10.12.x), High Sierra (10.13.x), Mojave (10.14.x) or Catalina (10.15.x) computers no longer need a CAC Enabler.
Try to access the CAC enabled site you need to access now
Mac support provided by: Michael Danberry
macOS 10.14 Mojave is the “most secure macOS up to date”, if you believe Apple advertising, of course. This macOS update introduces unprecedented restrictions on third-party apps that operate on your Mac. Long gone are times when an app could easily access your content, Mail, address books, and browser history. With global data leakages happening on a daily basis, no wonder that in 2018 Apple placed a kind of “an Iron Curtain” that seals up your most important data, namely, Full Disk Access permission.
What is full disk access in macOS Mojave?
Full Disk Access feature is much like a security check at an airport. When you grant “Full Disk Access” to an app it is added to the white-list of applications that are now marked as safe to work with your data. At the same time, all other applications will be greeted with “You Shall Not Pass.” The protected areas that require Full Disk Access permission are your Mail, Messages, Safari, Home, Time Machine.
According to Apple: “So if your app attempts to access any data that is part of one of the protected categories the system will automatically terminate it.” And by “terminate” Apple really means a forced crash.
What does Full Disk Access mean to you
If you haven’t upgraded to Mojave yet, you don’t have to worry. If you’re running Mojave, using some apps may get troublesome in case they haven’t been yet optimized for 10.14. So, just in case, be prepared for a number of app crashes on your Mac. What else you might expect is that many apps will start bombarding you with prompts to grant them the so-desirable “Full Disk Access.” Should you grant such access? We’ll try to answer that further below.
When should you grant Full disk access for an application?
First, if an app comes from a credible developer and you want it to properly do its job. Obviously, a daily scheduler or some other app from “Productivity” category would absolutely need access to your Calendar in order to simply function. On the other hand, if some Chess application is asking to access your Mail you should be concerned about its real intentions.
Normally, credible apps would politely explain why they want to access your disk and specify the limits for their activity. For example, apps from utilities category, like disk cleaners or disk backup software, are designed to analyze your disk contents to do their job properly, so giving them “Full Disk Access” makes sense. But even if you don’t, these apps will still retain much of their functionality, though be limited in certain actions. To sum it up, providing “Full Disk Access” is perfectly normal if you follow these 2 main conditions:
An app comes from a trusted source
The explanation for FDA is reasonable
If you doubt about the app’s declared intentions, you can contact the developers of the app — usually their response will be quick and to the point.
How to give Full Disk Access?
Full Disk Access is administered via System Preferences > Security & Privacy. Starting from macOS 10.14 Mojave it contains a special Full Disk Access section that like a folder. Easily enough, you can drag & drop your apps onto a pane right from the Applications folder. But prior to that, you should “unlock” this dialogue window.
How to see Full Disk Access utility:
Click on Apple icon > System Preferences..
Go to Security & Privacy
Click on a Privacy Tab
Click Full Disk Access section in the sidebar
Now click the “lock” icon and enter your system password to unlock the panel settings. Well done! Now you can drag & drop apps directly from your Applications so they have a Full Disk Access. You can also do it in bulk by adding many apps at once. Alternatively, you might click the “+” sign to add apps one by one. Note: For more security of your accounts, you can click “Advanced…” in the same window and tick the checkbox that reads “Require an administrative password…”. This will prevent other users of your Mac from accessing the most important system parts and thus minimize the potential damage from such actions.
What is Full Permissions and how to give them?
How is Full Disk Access different from standard permissions requests on macOS? Permissions are granted for individual actions, like accessing your Photos, whereas Full Disk Access gives unrestricted rights to do multiple operations on your Mac. System permissions come in 3 types.
Permission-protected areas are: contacts, microphone, webcam, Mail, remote desktop control, and calendars. Whenever an app wants to have access to your a, b, c.. it will initiate a standard dialogue box (you’ve seen it million times) where you can click either “Ok” or “Don’t Allow”. In the second case, an app will crash if it attempts to access the restricted areas on your Mac. Once again, you should be ready for a flood of permission prompts when you upgrade to macOS 10.14 Mojave. The new reality is that permissions is no longer a mere formality when dealing with apps on your computer. You should rather view permissions as a tool, which means you can grant and revoke permissions when necessary. For example, if an app is bothering you with notifications, you can easily take away it’s privileges in System Preferences/Privacy/. Starting from macOS Mojave this particular panel will become an often-visited place on your Mac.
Broken permissions?
The problem comes when some user permissions get lost or broken. One morning you may find that you no longer can open a file or access a certain folder on your Mac. Luckily, there is an easy way to fix it.
I usually fix disk permissions with a tool called CleanMyMac X which has a pretty strong reputation within Mac community.
To fix broken disk permissions:
Download CleanMyMac from developer’s site (free download)
Click Maintenance tab
Check Repair disk permissions
If you perform the rest of maintenance tasks from the described section you may even see your Mac running faster and smoother.
Using Microsoft Access On Mac
Privacy Permissions not working on Mojave (Camera and Mic)
An often reported issue on macOS Mojave is camera and microphone permissions not working properly. While Apple’s own apps handle camera and mic perfectly well, many third-party apps (like Skype) end up becoming totally unusable due to missing permissions or “Full Disk Access denied”. In such cases, a dialogue box that requests permission is never displayed, for whatever reason. And if a program hasn’t requested a permission — you guessed right — there is no way to make it work. What can you do?
Reinstall the app in question
Add the app to Full Disk Access folder (see above)
If nothing else helps, you may want to downgrade to macOS High Sierra
macOS Mojave privacy changes (and challenges)
Apple’s decision to harden security requirements on macOS Mojave is a long expected move. In the short term we’ll see a swarm of software conflicts linked with macOS permissions. As I mentioned earlier, many users have already reported their audio apps crashing while attempting to enable the microphone access. The same refers to apps that require using camera on your Mac. Still, in the long run, the stronger grip on security will is beneficial for all of us. And as to the flaws, they will hopefully be fixed in the next macOS updates.
To save yourself from the misfortune of constantly crashing software it is recommended that you update all your apps to the latest available versions. Good news, it no longer means hours of googling. You can use the tool I described above, CleanMyMac X, that has a quick built-in Updater module.
Run CleanMyMac X (Download a free version here)
Click Updater
Mark apps you want to update
This will reduce the chances of your apps crashing on macOS Mojave. Under today’s security standards users must explicitly authorize any app i.e “an opt-in” logic will become prevalent. Previously, malicious programs could simulate the supposed consent by using the so-called synthetic clicks — a term from a hacker universe. Now such practice becomes more and more difficult but it doesn’t mean “data leaks” will disappear anytime soon. The described pre-authorization logic is nothing new for iOS users and has gradually become an industry standard. But who would complain about having stronger security on their Mac? Eventually, we’ll get there even if it means making a few redundant clicks everyday.