What version of MacOS should I use?

Questions
1

I need a moderately recent version of MacOS for compatibility reasons. I also want decent OS security. But I am not sure if the most recent versions of MacOS have more intrusive spyware than older versions. Also, can MacOS look at another dual booted OS and see the contents inside it? If so how can I make sure macOS cannot spy on my other OS?

2

Use the most recent version, it’s the most secure. There’s no spyware.

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3

What I find more interesting is that you are thinking or at the very least not sure that there’s no spyware in the latest versions of macOS.

What would even make you think and ask the questions you have? I’m genuinely curious where you’re coming from.

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4

You should never use outdated software.

If you are unhappy with the practices of a piece of software, you should discontinue your use of said software.

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5

1 .If you trust MacOS enough to use it, then use the latest version.
2. If youdistrust MacOS (or any other OS) to the point you are tempted to use old versions for fear of spyware in new versions, you should probably not use that OS, or do the research necessary to establish a basis for trusting in it, and then use the most recent version.

If so how can I make sure macOS cannot spy on my other OS?

One of the most uncomfortable ways to use technology is when you fundamentally distrust the OS or hardware. You keep coming back to the concern that MacOS is ‘spying on you’, setting aside whether this is objectively true or not, I think you should ask yourself the questions: what would it take for you to trust MacOS and what steps could you take to establish that trust? If the answer is that you just can’t personally trust a proprietary OS from a for profit company, or just generally can see no way you’d trust the OS, you are likely better off choosing another starting point (e.g. Linux).

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6

Here’s a tip you can use.

Ask the question on the macforums, there’s some guys on there who know everything about the OS.

What I do;
I run an m4 for dev work, and I distrust apple. Not them, but those who impart blackmail upon them (3 letters). We know that they have done so; because it spills out into fakestream media occasionally. Therefore, I generally proceed with distrust so I segregate my dev work and accounts between linux desktop and the m4. I also use privacysexy.com to download a bunch of scripts which I leave in my home dir and run everytime I’ve made an OS update to disable apples BS.

Depending on your threat level, the macforum guys have even more intrusive scripts that require disabling SIP.

fyi, I disable a lot of crap, and never had any problems with the OS. I am an arch guy which means bloat physically hurts me, and I also declare everything bloat, including desktop environments haha :smiley:

EDIT: can’t spell, write too much code

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I need to use proprietary software for work and thought having an open source OS with proprietary software in it made it not worth it?

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The way I see it, the OS is the most important and most fundamental piece of software you need to trust. The value ("worth") you place on trusting your OS (“it”) is somewhat personal (and how much FOSS matters to you in that context is also personal). While using proprietary or untrusted software on any OS is ‘less perfect’, and less ‘pure’ feeling, an untrusted application running on a trusted OS is a lower priority and more limited threat than the OS itself being untrusted. So for me personally, it’s very important to me to trust my OS even if I don’t necessarily trust every application that runs on that OS.

TL;DR “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” (if you’d feel more comfortable with a FOSS OS, don’t rule it out just because not every application you will use will be FOSS).

Note, this comment or my previous one should not be read as agreement (or disagreement) with your impression that MacOS is ‘spying on you’ or ‘has spyware’. I’m trying to stay intentionally unopinionated on that. Because while it matters what is objectively true, it’s also important what brings you peace of mind, and what can be verified as true. And from your comments so far it seems you are not at ease with MacOS, which in my eyes means you either need to do the requisite research to feel at ease using MacOS, or your need to use an OS that you do have greater trust in.

YSK, the first person to respond to you (@fria) is much much more informed than I am about MacOS and Apple generally.

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I run these -incrementally- on an old m1 then graduate them to my M4. Have fun!