In a move presumably designed to protect customers from potential online threats, Apple recently changed access requirements of its online store to restrict compatibility to more current versions of macOS and Safari.
The online Apple store now requires at least OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite or over and Safari version 10.1.2 or newer to access. Attempting to view the shopping domain within Apple.com using an older version of Safari or OS X results in an error message.
As noted by Mac Otakara, which stumbled onto the new requirement on Friday, Apple's webpage displays an "Unsupported Browser Version" message when using older Safari and Mac software.
Interestingly, a separate alert suggests third-party web browsers are completely unsupported when running iterations of OS X 10.10.
Attempting to access the online storefront from a legacy Yosemite build triggers a message instructing users to download the latest version of Chrome or Firefox. Yosemite-compliant iterations of the two browsers are already outdated, meaning Mac owners must update to a more recent operating system build like macOS 10.14 Mojave.
The minor change further protects customers from online threats by ensuring they are running the latest, most up-to-date operating system and web browser software.
Apple, long a stalwart of consumer privacy, has over the past year amplified efforts to secure its hardware and software offerings, including online services. The company will introduce a new slate of protections with iOS 13, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, watchOS 6 and tvOS 13 this fall, including internet-based utilities like Sign in with Apple.