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Mac OS X for Intel systems cracked again?

updated 10:25 am EST, Mon November 21, 2005

OS X for Intel cracked?


An aspiring individual has apparently managed to --allowing it to run on non-Apple hardware and even some older hardware--circumventing the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) by fooling the operating system into thinking it doesn't need the chip. The latest version of Mac OS X for Intel features tougher security to prevent the system from running on non-Apple hardware, and while the TPM itself is virtually uncrackable, a hacker by the name of "Maxxuss, the hacking God" has managed to remove the dependency for the chip, according to hack in the box.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. Deal

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Apr 2001

    0
    11/21, 10:58am | report spam | Reply |

    This really is great

    Apple is getting such great feedback on this. I wonder if they'll actually get it secure before the real thing comes out?

    Probably not. It seems everything is hackable.

  1. Rosyna

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    11/21, 11:04am | report spam | Reply |

    Have to laugh

    I have to laugh at these people like Maxxus that brag about doing this. When there is no sign whatsoever that Apple is even *trying* to prevent installation on generic PCs with these developer seeds.

  1. outZider

    Junior Member

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    11/21, 11:09am | report spam | Reply |

    argh.

    It isn't 'Maxxuss the hacking God', it's just Maxxuss. It's the other users attaching names.

    Also, Rosyna, yeah, they are. 10.4.1 was far easier than 10.4.3. 10.4.3 has been out for Intel for a few months. It took this long to get it going.

  1. zac4mac

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 1999

    0
    11/21, 11:09am | report spam | Reply |

    So why no virus?

    I thought the only reason there are none is lack of interest in MacOS. They sure seem interested in cracking the OS's protection... hmm maybe OS X really is secure, ya think?

    Z

  1. olePigeon

    Clinically Insane

    Joined: Dec 1999

    0
    11/21, 11:20am | report spam | Reply |

    If it's difficult enough

    I think Apple's learned as it did with iTunes that if the protection is difficult enough, it's enough to deter the average user. Those who are determined will do it no matter what. You can't really stop them.

    However, the majority of computer users won't know how to even approach hacking OS X and its hardware protection. And that should be enough for 95% of the computer users out there.

    So 5% of everyone who uses a computer will pirate the OS. *shrug*

  1. aristotles

    Grizzled Veteran

    Joined: Jul 2004

    0
    11/21, 11:27am | report spam | Reply |

    Geekus Maxxuss

    This Maxxuss loser really needs to get a life. If he spent as much time and effort looking for a real job, he could find one and be able to afford a "real" mac.

    These morons don't seem to have any morals or ethics. I'm sure he would be pissed if he wrote some commercial software and everyone pirated it instead of buying it.

  1. rwahrens@verizon.net

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2005

    0
    11/21, 11:44am | report spam | Reply |

    what a life

    He's got a life - it's called a hobby. His happens to be hacking computers. Some people skydive, some people paint. He hacks. So what?

    He's likely not doing it to pirate the system. He may not even care about running OS X. But he's heard that Apple is locking their new system to prevent it from running on x86 boxes, so, like your typical hacker he thinks: "S***, I can break that!" So he does. It's akin to climbing a mountain. Being the first to do it confers status.

    Pretty simple, really.

  1. gambit23

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2004

    0
    11/21, 11:52am | report spam | Reply |

    aristotles

    Eesh. Don't be so harsh. This is free advertising for Apple and they know this. It's also free beta-testing for their security before they officially release the OS for Intel chips.

    Best quote, as far as DRM is concerned: "Trying to make a bit uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet." Point is, anything can be hacked with time, but if Apple makes it just hard enough, it will discourage most.

  1. lockhartt

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Apr 2000

    0
    11/21, 11:52am | report spam | Reply |

    This is great...

    Not for the reasons one might think, but this is really a good thing. Far better to have folks demonstrating the weak points in your design BEFORE the software is in the live. For each of these incidents, Apple has an opportunity to address the shortcomings before Intel Macs hit the streets. Mind you, nothing is hack proof... but the more opportunity you have to learn hacker tactics and adapt, the better.

    This is NOT to say that I endorse or even approve of hacking in general... I don't. But there are hackers who are (at least somewhat) well-intentioned, and if you legitimize the work they do by making them part of the process you can build a better product. Even Microsoft put aside their infinite arrogance recently and invited hackers into the campus to collaborate with engineers. Of course, they have a lot more ground to cover at MS than just hacking around the TPM :)

  1. stainless

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2005

    0
    11/21, 11:56am | report spam | Reply |

    It's all about the ego..

    It isn't about pirating software, it is about beating a big corporate company whom pays BIG money to top software engineers whom has master and Ph.D. degrees! You see something wonderful about the hacking community is that a lot of them are not college educated or not degreed in computers or programming but the challenge to outsmart the nerds that do have those top paying jobs. I for think that Maxxuss is doing Apple a favor as they will look into how to perform this crack and be able to address it before the commercial version is released... that is the point of beta testing software, secretively the company wants these people to "break" their software at this point so when it is released the true pirates can mass produce it.

    What is bad is when a company keep everything internal and does their own testing using these geeks that think that tested everything and then pronouncing that they are secure software or hardware... only to be hacked by a 16 year old whom look at it from a non-degreed angle and found a hole. Case in point is Cisco, whoms older hardware has got many holes in it but was released and know in the industry as one of the best. (back in the day!) ;-)

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