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

Re:Smug Mac users?

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

This isn't about Macs - it's about vulnerabilties in driver code

I should also have mentioned that some apologist was bound to say "This is not a Mac issue."

How can you possibly be serious? Kernel Drivers distributed in OS X have a serious vulnerability and you say its not about Macs? Just because it's about windows too doesn't mean Apple can't accept responsibility for their fuckup.

Re:Uh

[Anonymous Coward]

"How is this in any way indicative of Mac user smugness?"

Definition Indicative: verb form denoting something as real and factual

This is not attempting to prove Mac users are smug. It is poking fun at something that already is established as a fact. Mac users ARE arrogant. How was this conclusion arrived at? Simply talk to an Mac user. Listen to Apple's own "I switched to Apple 'cause it's better" commercials or the "We've finally freed the Intel chip" campaign. The only reason they can justify the higher prices for Macs is to tell people they are superior. Just like buying a Lexus or an iPod. It's all about status. If you don't have the status then your are just a fool who spent too much money.

Here's some reasons why people consider Mac users smug (and arrogant)

1: Mac Users constantly talk about how superior their boxes are to Windows boxes.

2: It is commonly claimed that there are no exploits for the Mac OS (or very few)

3: Mac users often look down their nose at Windows users like they are lesser when citing features of the Mac OS, even when these people have no real idea what features are in Windows.

Re:A Mac Exploit

[autocracy]

Ah, yes, time to throw the lincoln in the scrap heap because it needs a new shock obsorber. Let's go back to the Pinto!

Re:Actually, your Powerbook probably IS safe!

[Ohreally_factor]

So in other words, the old Powerbooks contain a secret ingredient to preserve smugness. yay! my farts stil don't smell!

Re:Actually, your Powerbook probably IS safe!

[Ohreally_factor]

Wait, I'm confused. Can I or can I not still be a self-important narcissistic jackass?

Oh, never mind. I'll ask Whiney.

=)

Re:Uh

[elrous0]

Well, in all fairness, I went over to Gamespot and looked at a list of their 15 highest rated PC games of the last 12 months. Of that 15, I counted only 2 games that had Mac ports (Civilization IV and Call of Duty 2), and one more whose Mac port has been announced (Fable: The Lost Chapters). Three of the 15 best games of the last year hardly gives OS X users much of a selection.

Of course, as you point out, you can run any Windows game with bootcamp. But the topic was about smug Mac users. And no truly smug Mac user would dare run Windows on his beloved Apple machine. It would be akin to admitting defeat.

-Eric