Less Than a Minute to Hijack a MacBook's Wireless

Kadin2048 writes "As reported by Ars Technica and the Washington Post, two hackers have found an exploitable vulnerability in the wireless drivers used by Apple's MacBook. Machines are vulnerable if they have wireless enabled and are set to connect to any available wireless network, fairly close to their default state, and the exploit allows an attacker to gain "total access" -— apparently a remote root. Although the demo, performed via video at the BlackHat conference, takes aim at what one of the hackers calls the "Mac userbase aura of smugness on security," Windows users shouldn't get too smug themselves: according to the Post article, "the two have found at least two similar flaws in device drivers for wireless cards either designed for or embedded in machines running the Windows OS." Ultimately, it may be the attacks against embedded devices which are the most threatening, since those devices are the hardest to upgrade. Currently there have not been any reports of this vulnerability 'in the wild.'" According to this story at ITwire.com, they were able to exploit Linux and Windows machines, too. (Thanks to Josh Fink.)

Comments

Misconceptions by users

[Anonymous Coward]

See, a lot of people think newer Mac based computers are more secure and better. That's not always the case. It is only because not many people using these computers.

Re:Mod parent Redundant

[Ash Vince]

Have you ever heard the expression "The old ones are the best"?

I was more inclined to mod your post down rather than his as I found the joke moderately amusing. Mind you, I'm not a Mac user and I think anyone who has money to burn on over priced hardware should have the piss taken out of them.

Re:Uh

[rahrens]

Oh, I see I got caught by the "windows fanboi" club of /. modifiers..

I suppose it makes no difference that I made reasoned arguments, and didn't call anybody names, either. (and didn't, for once, make fun of Windows!)

Ok, metamoderators, do yer thing!