I understand that the objective is to, pardon the language, detect the "creeps", but somehow the app itself feels creepy, too :/ Somehow I wouldn't feel comfortable even installing it. Not to mention my own privacy concerns.
I felt pretty violated when someone went through my Mac and personal data without my knowledge which is why I created this app. I see this much like a home security system with cameras: a way to know when someone accesses your space.
The app runs sandboxed, doesn't have access to your personal files, and meets Apple's privacy requirements as well as my own. That said, not everyone will be comfortable with it, and that's fine.
Where is your Mac sitting that random people go through it? And it stays unlocked? My family had a shared iMac when I was a kid, but people still had their own accounts. Some of us may have known one or more other users' passwords, plus I had sudo, but that still prevented random people from going on.
DND is a valid alternative! There's definitely overlap, including photo alerts. DND's detection is based on opening a MacBook's lid.
Someone Was Here also detects activity after idle, lock-screen interaction, and unlocks, so it covers an already-open laptop or a desktop Mac that has no "lid" as well.
It also recognizes your face locally to suppress alerts about yourself, and offers a multiple remote alert options, Shortcuts actions with Siri phrases, a webhook for integration, and an MCP server for agents.
> Real-time remote alerts are available via one-time $4.99 lifetime purchase via the free companion iPhone/iPad app, Pushover, ntfy, Telegram or a webhook.
Instead of making users download 2 apps (one on the Mac and one on the iPhone), you should instead consider sending the alert by email (through Mail extensions) and / or iMessage (iMessage Extensions) - you can still charge for it.
Wouldn't messages syncing to all devices, which might be a concern if you wanted the detection to be covert and only get alerts on a devices you can trust to be on your person? i.e. the 'unrecognized person' won't see a new email coming in to tell them they've been spotted and prompt then to cover their tracks.
To this point, the app holds its own desktop notification until it recognizes your face again, and only then tells you who came by. Remote alerts are instant.
Fair suggestion! The real-time remote alerts are optional.
The companion app gives you encrypted delivery through your own iCloud account without involving my servers, but I can see the appeal of email. For anyone comfortable wiring things together, there’s also a built-in MCP server alongside webhooks, so there’s plenty of room for custom integrations.
The goal is an audit trail of someone trying to use your Mac, including at the lock screen. Much like a doorbell camera or home security system. It complements proper account boundaries.
There's nothing hidden about the app. It sits visibly in the menu bar, and the camera light comes on whenever it takes a photo. Face recognition happens locally. Photos stay on your Mac unless you enable an alert destination. They never touch my server. No ads or tracking. I built it how I would want an app to function from a privacy standpoint.
I understand that the objective is to, pardon the language, detect the "creeps", but somehow the app itself feels creepy, too :/ Somehow I wouldn't feel comfortable even installing it. Not to mention my own privacy concerns.
I felt pretty violated when someone went through my Mac and personal data without my knowledge which is why I created this app. I see this much like a home security system with cameras: a way to know when someone accesses your space.
The app runs sandboxed, doesn't have access to your personal files, and meets Apple's privacy requirements as well as my own. That said, not everyone will be comfortable with it, and that's fine.
Where is your Mac sitting that random people go through it? And it stays unlocked? My family had a shared iMac when I was a kid, but people still had their own accounts. Some of us may have known one or more other users' passwords, plus I had sudo, but that still prevented random people from going on.
How about the free DND (DoNotDisturb) [0] by Objective See foundation?
[0]: https://objective-see.org/products/donotdisturb.html
DND is a valid alternative! There's definitely overlap, including photo alerts. DND's detection is based on opening a MacBook's lid.
Someone Was Here also detects activity after idle, lock-screen interaction, and unlocks, so it covers an already-open laptop or a desktop Mac that has no "lid" as well.
It also recognizes your face locally to suppress alerts about yourself, and offers a multiple remote alert options, Shortcuts actions with Siri phrases, a webhook for integration, and an MCP server for agents.
> Many thanks to my ex for inspiring my new MacOS app
story implied?
Oh yes...some relationships end in closure, others end in software.
Maybe in Clojure, even
Nice idea.
> Real-time remote alerts are available via one-time $4.99 lifetime purchase via the free companion iPhone/iPad app, Pushover, ntfy, Telegram or a webhook.
Instead of making users download 2 apps (one on the Mac and one on the iPhone), you should instead consider sending the alert by email (through Mail extensions) and / or iMessage (iMessage Extensions) - you can still charge for it.
Wouldn't messages syncing to all devices, which might be a concern if you wanted the detection to be covert and only get alerts on a devices you can trust to be on your person? i.e. the 'unrecognized person' won't see a new email coming in to tell them they've been spotted and prompt then to cover their tracks.
To this point, the app holds its own desktop notification until it recognizes your face again, and only then tells you who came by. Remote alerts are instant.
Fair suggestion! The real-time remote alerts are optional.
The companion app gives you encrypted delivery through your own iCloud account without involving my servers, but I can see the appeal of email. For anyone comfortable wiring things together, there’s also a built-in MCP server alongside webhooks, so there’s plenty of room for custom integrations.
This is so weird.
Like, ...
Lock your laptop when you stand up??
Why would anyone know your password? If they do, change it.
This advice is available for the low low price of $4.99/month.
Locking your Mac is good advice. This also records someone trying to use it while it's locked.
A lock prevents access; an audit trail tells you someone tried. Same reason people have both door locks and security cameras.
And to clarify the pricing: the Mac app and local history are free. Remote alerts are $4.99 once, not per month.
I look forward to a barrage of alerts with cat pictures.
Ads for spyware on HN. Is the goal entrapment instead of proper account boundaries?
The goal is an audit trail of someone trying to use your Mac, including at the lock screen. Much like a doorbell camera or home security system. It complements proper account boundaries.
There's nothing hidden about the app. It sits visibly in the menu bar, and the camera light comes on whenever it takes a photo. Face recognition happens locally. Photos stay on your Mac unless you enable an alert destination. They never touch my server. No ads or tracking. I built it how I would want an app to function from a privacy standpoint.
spyware is by definition capturing information from someone else's computer