Support
Last updated: June 2026
Need a hand with Cyclone Fortress? Email support@cyclonefortress.com and we'll get back to you.
For instant answers, open Cyclone Fortress and ask the built-in AI Assistant — an advanced, on-device expert on every feature. It can explain how anything works, recommend the right tool for what you're trying to do, and walk you straight to it.
Getting started
- Download & install. Cyclone Fortressis a Developer ID-signed, Apple-notarized
.pkginstaller from this website (it is not on the Mac App Store). Double-click the installer and follow the steps. - First launch. Because it is notarized, it opens normally. If macOS ever blocks it, right-click the app and choose Open, or go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and choose Open Anyway.
- Admin password. Low-level operations ask for your Mac password once per session; it is then held only in encrypted memory for that session.
- Full Disk Access. Core erasing, deleting and wiping work without it, but a few areas (System Cleaner deep scan, the AI scan analysis, and reading the app-permissions database) need Full Disk Access. Grant it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access.
System requirements
macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, on Apple Silicon Macs.
Trial, license & renewal
- Cyclone Fortress starts with a free 7-day full-access trial — every feature, no payment needed.
- After the trial, a 12-month license key is $37, bought directly from this website. There is no monthly subscription and no App Store version.
- License keys are verified on your Mac, so the app keeps working offline; it only re-checks status roughly every 7 days.
- After 12 months without renewal, Cyclone Fortress enters Limited Mode rather than locking you out — the app opens, existing vaults still mount and your data stays readable, while premium/destructive actions and signature updates pause until you renew.
Troubleshooting
- “App can't be opened” / unidentified developer. Cyclone Fortress is notarized, so this is rare — right-click the app and choose Open, or allow it under System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- A feature says it needs Full Disk Access. Grant it in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access, then re-run the scan for complete results.
- Deep Scan is taking a while. Deep Scan adds extra layers (hash database, rule engine, cloud intelligence) that inspect file contents, so it can take a few minutes. Quick Scan is fast and fully offline.
- Recovering erased files. Secure erase is permanent by design. On SSDs, TRIM can clear data quickly — snapshot-based recovery has the best success rate there.
- Going fully offline. A single switch suspends every network feature — AI chat, cloud analysis, signature updates, license re-checks, update checks and anonymous diagnostics — so nothing leaves your Mac.
Updates & security
Cyclone Fortress checks for new versions and downloads malware-detection signature updates over certificate-pinned HTTPS; no personal data is sent to receive them. Every download is Apple-notarized and Developer ID-signed. See our Privacy Policy for exactly what does and doesn't leave your Mac.
Common questions
Is Cyclone Fortress on the Mac App Store?
No. Cyclone Fortress needs low-level disk access the App Store sandbox doesn't allow, so it's a notarized direct download, signed with an Apple Developer ID.
How much does it cost?
A 7-day free trial with full access, then $37 for a 12-month license. After that, an optional $37/year renewal keeps product updates and fresh malware signatures coming — you can opt out anytime and there's no auto-charging surprise.
What do I need to run it?
A Mac on macOS 13 (Ventura) or later.
Can deleted files really not be recovered?
Correct — when you securely erase a file with Cyclone Fortress (rather than just moving it to the Trash), the data is overwritten using industry-standard methods (DoD 5220.22-M and Gutmann) and the result is verified, so it can't be recovered by us, by you, or by any recovery tool. One nuance: on solid-state drives, wear-levelling and TRIM mean macOS decides where data physically lives, so plain overwriting is less certain. For the strongest guarantee on an SSD, keep sensitive files inside an encrypted vault and use crypto shred — it discards the encryption key, making the data unreadable instantly no matter where it sits.
Still need help?
Email support@cyclonefortress.com with your macOS version and a short description of the issue, and we'll help you out.