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Apple Submits Mac OS X For Security Evaluation

Posted by pudge on from the something-about-being-powered-off-and-buried-underground dept.

ranger8x writes "Apple has submitted Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server to the U.S. government's National Information Assurance Partnership to evaluate various security features. It seems Apple is looking for some respect by the government, and to 'get more exposure.'"

1 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Not look for holes by gbooker · · Score: 5, Informative
    The testing doesn't look for holes in the operating system, but rather evaluates what security features are built into it.

    I guess they needed this so that Windows could be used.

    If that is the case, OS X should not have any trouble at all. Let's look at some of the security features:
    • Root disabled by default
    • SSH remote login
    • Telnet not easy to turn on (should use SSH instead)
    • Can disable auto login
    • Any major system changes require authentication even if the current user is an admin
    • Built in Firewall
    I know this is a short list, but it demonstrates the point well. OS X has many security features that are inherant of a unix based OS. It will be nice to see OS X more accepted amoung the government.
    --
    You see? It's like I've always said. You can get more with a kind word and a 2x4 than you can with just a kind word.