NOTE:
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
System 7, codenamed 'Big Bang', and also known as Mac OS 7, is a graphical user interface-based operating system for Macintosh computers and is part of the classic Mac OS series of operating systems. It was introduced on May 13, 1991, by Apple Computer, Inc. It succeeded System 6, and was the main Macintosh operating system until it was succeeded by Mac OS 8 in 1997.
Mac users who choose to upgrade (or already have upgraded) to Mac OS Catalina (10.15.x) or Big Sur (11.xx.x) will need to uninstall all 3rd Party CAC enablers per https://militarycac.com/macuninstall.htm AND reenable the native smart card ability (very bottom of macuninstall link above)
If you purchased your Mac with OS Catalina (10.15.x) or Big Sur (11.xx.x) already installed, you can skip the uninstall part above and follow the instructions below.
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 & 11) |
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)
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, SCR-3310 v2.0, GSR-202, 202V, 203, or SCR-3500a reader. If you have a reader other than these 6, 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-3310 v2.0 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 “SCR3310 v2.0 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 6.02, it will not read the 'G+D FIPS 201 SCE 7.0' CAC on Mac OS 11.xx.x or 10.15.7. I contacted HID (the company that makes these readers) on 14 DEC 2020 to find a way to update the firmware to 6.02. They said there is not firmware update for the reader. If your reader is older, you may need a new one. Please look at: https://militarycac.com/usbreaders.htm to find a compatible one. If you are already at version 6.02, your reader should work fine on your Mac and no further hardware changes are required. You can now Quit System Profiler and continue to Step 3.
Step 2c1c-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 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, or 11.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 seven 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:
DOD EMAIL CA-33 through DOD EMAIL CA-34,
DOD EMAIL CA-39 through DOD EMAIL CA-44,
DOD EMAIL CA-49 through DOD EMAIL CA-52,
DOD EMAIL CA-59,
DOD ID CA-33 through DOD ID CA-34,
DOD ID CA-39 through DOD ID CA-44,
DOD ID CA-49 through DOD ID CA-52,
DOD ID CA-59
DOD ID SW CA-35 through DOD ID SW CA-38,
DOD ID SW CA-45 through DOD ID SW CA-48,
DoD Root CA 2 through DoD Root CA 5,
DOD SW CA-53 through DOD SW CA-58, and
DOD SW CA-60 through DOD SW CA-61
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
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), Catalina (10.15.x), and Big Sur (11.1) 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
What's Mac OS X? What are the key features of Mac OS X? This article will introduce Mac OS in details and show you how to make full use of Mac OS features.
OS X, also macOS, is the Unix-based graphical interface operating system developed by Apple Inc. to exclusively power every Mac computer. It's engineered to make the utmost of what the hardware is capable of and to deliver the most intuitive and comprehensive computer experience in the world.
Mac OS X, X on behalf of the Roman numeral for 10, was the successor to Mac OS 9 (released in 1999) and its first version released was Mac OS X Server 1.0 in 1999, followed with Mac OS X v10.0 'Cheetah' in 2001. Former releases of OS X were named after big cats, such as OS X v10.8 referred to as 'Mountain Lion'. Yet, with the exposure of Mavericks in June 2013, this was dropped in favor of Californian landmarks and this codename tradition lasts to 10.10 Yosemite. In 2015, we eventually wait the day of 10.11 El Capitan's arrivial.
Mac OS X Version | Codename | Release date |
Server 1.0 | Hera | March 16, 1999 |
10.0 | Cheetah | March 24, 2001 |
10.1 | Puma | September 25, 2001 |
10.2 | Jaguar | August 24, 2002 |
10.3 | Panther | October 24, 2003 |
10.4 | Tiger | April 29, 2005 |
10.5 | Leopard | October 26, 2007 |
10.6 | Snow Leopard | August 28, 2009 |
10.7 | Lion | July 20, 2011 |
10.8 | Mountain Lion | July 25, 2012 |
10.9 | Mavericks | October 22, 2013 |
10.10 | Yosemite | Fall 2014 |
10.11 | El Capitan | September 30, 2015 |
macOS Sierra | Sep. 20, 2016 | |
macOS | Autumn, 2017 |
From the table, you can see Apple insists on continuously surpassing itself that promptly upgrades its OS X nearly every one or two years and each OS X upgrade brings you a better combination of your software and hardware on Mac computer. An obvious example is that using DVD ripper to rip and copy DVD on your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or iMac is seemingly much quicker and easier with the enhanced OS X. And when you apply MacX YouTube Downloader to download YouTube video on Mac, you can also find the YouTube downloader works seamlessly with your Mac to jointly aid you to effortlessly download YouTube video on Mac with amazing fast speed up to 83X faster.
OS X is designed to bring the best Mac experience for you, so you get a fully integrated system in which software and hardware work together perfectly. It has a cordial working with the processor in your Mac to deliver the most amazing performance. It goes well with the super-responsive trackpad in Mac notebooks such that Multi Touch gestures feel extremely natural to use. And also it's upgraded for the high-resolution Retina display in the high-performance MacBook Pro.
With Mac OS X installed, you are tethered to do everything on Mac with simple, intuitive gestures needed. You see, the Dock takes it opening your favorite apps like a duck to water. The Finder lets you browse and organize your files easy as rolling off a log. And Launchpad makes you access to your full library of the whole apps in a flash. The mentionable Spotlight search lets locate the file you're searching for without any hitch. Actually, a Mac does plethora of things automatically, among which you don't even have to have a finger in.
Well, if you already have a shot on an iPhone or iPad, you will be not unfamiliar with its big brother Mac OS X since OS X and iOS have plenty of the same apps and features — Safari, Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Maps, to name a few. Attributing to the feasible iCloud, the apps on your Mac work together with the apps on your iOS devices. To illustrate you, no matter what you do in apps on your Mac will happen on your other ios devices, as well. By the same token, a contact or a calendar event you add on your iPhone will appear on your Mac, too. That's why we say OS X and iOS are inseparable brothers.
Generally speaking, you do everyday things on computer usually ranging from surfing the Internet, sending messages to managing your contacts, reading e-books and alike. With Mac OS X standing by, you enable to do things by exerting its ultrafast Safari, message app, Contacts app and iBook with a few mouse clicks. In addition, there are still a slew of other amazing apps like Maps, Reminders, Time machine, Face Time, Photo Booth and more for you to address your needs.
Every Mac is wrapped up with advanced technologies that work together to continuously scrutinize and ultimately safeguard your Mac safer. OS X covers a glut of mighty features to protect your Mac and all the information on it, and so does Gatekeeper when it comes to download and install apps. Additionally, Sandboxing guarantees your system secure by segregating apps from each other, as well as from your system and data. Pretty sure, the previous versions of Mac OS X being problem-free in security, hence its latest Mac OS X El Capitan will do far better on security and much easier than ever to keep your Mac safe.
The above mentioned statements talk about the general features OS X has, and for numerous Mac users who are using the latest Mac OS X El Capitan but have little knowledge about OS X 10.11, it's seemingly necessary to specify Mac El Capitan for them. Here the focus mainly rests with its enhanced features it has. Let's have a look now.
Enhanced Features | Safari | Messages | Finder | |
Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan | With an enhanced Nitro JavaScript engine and support for the latest web standards, it's the fastest, most advanced way to browse the web with less toolbar and more web. | Assisted by the new Markup feature, you enable to quickly add an attachment you receive and send it back — without leaving Mail. And a new feature called Mail Drop makes you send large attachments (up to 5GB per message) quickly and smoothly. | What message appears on your iPhone, you can also see it on your Mac. | Thanks to iCloud Drive in the Finder, you can store any file in iCloud Drive and seek out it on any device. |
macOS brings the Mac users with countless features and apps for them to make computer experience much easier and more wonderful. But the latest Mac OS X 10.10 bothers a crowd of Mac users, for their previous video converter for Mac is not compatible with Mac OS X 10.10, let alone the 10.11 or higher. In such case, the solid yet first rate video converter for Mac -MacX Video Converter Pro can deliver the assistance to you such that converting SD or HD video to MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, MKV on Mac is just a piece of cake.