MacOS Security Alert

[mwfanelli]

FWIW, the latest security fixes don't address the exploit in MacOS wireless drivers. Two hackers, the video tape of their efforts being released today, broke into root access of a Mac in less than one minute. This is roughly the same exploit that was already used successfully on Windows and Linux machines.

The point being made here is not that Macs are bad. Its just that Apples attempt to boost sales makes it a more satisfying target to the lunatics out there. Mac users have been extremely lax about security accepting the Apple philosophy of "Be Happy, Don't Worry." That used to be one advantage of being number 3 in the marketplace. MacOS holes have always existed, but now hackers are getting interested. What will be needed to change Mac users "warm and comfy" feeling, still be promoted by Apple in their latest ads, to "be prepared"? Things will be getting a lot worse.

Several references provided on Slashdot.

[Erik Stiegler]

Things will be getting a lot worse.

I'm terrified.

Apple regularly issues patches for their software. This is the 4th security update this year.

Until it is demonstrated that the wireless exploit is something practical, and doesn't require software or hardware configurations that literally no one uses, I'm not going to lose any sleep over this latest Mac vulnarability revalation.

[mwfanelli]

I'm terrified.

Apple regularly issues patches for their software. This is the 4th security update this year.

Until it is demonstrated that the wireless exploit is something practical, and doesn't require software or hardware configurations that literally no one uses, I'm not going to lose any sleep over this latest Mac vulnarability revalation.

What is scary is that none of my four friends with Macs worry about, or even heard about, the updates! Their attitude, regardless of what I tell them, is that Macs are invunerable. This is the same lax attitude that forced MS to make the update function on Windows automatic by default. Perhaps Apple will have to do the same.

By the way, 4 security updates this year is a good thing! Better to fix problems when they occur. Linux is still the champ with updates, sometimes 4 -5 in a single week from Mandriva.

[Lionheart]

What is scary is that none of my four friends with Macs worry about, or even heard about, the updates! Their attitude, regardless of what I tell them, is that Macs are invunerable. This is the same lax attitude that forced MS to make the update function on Windows automatic by default. Perhaps Apple will have to do the same.

By the way, 4 security updates this year is a good thing! Better to fix problems when they occur. Linux is still the champ with updates, sometimes 4 -5 in a single week from Mandriva.

Long time Mac users aren't used to having to worry about the state of their computer. I've got my wife's MacBook Pro set to automatically download the updates, and we run the install regularly as they become available (which seems to be getting more frequent since we first got the Mac). As a longtime Wintel user, I'm used to losing sleep over the well being of my PC's and my network, so I tend to watch my wife's new Mac as well. It is alarming that the Mac is not as invulnerable as I had wanted to believe, so researching security software for our Mac is now a high priority on my ever growing task list.
Leon