You may remember good-old
David Maynor, the infamous hacker who caused a stir in the Mac community by
"exploiting" a "loophole" in a MacBook's
WiFi that allowed an outside user to gain control of the system. Of course, the hack was then promptly
disputed by all sorts of people, said to be a hoax, and generally made fun of. A little bit later on, Maynor and co. turned up in a nerd-tastic war of words on the internet over an OS X "
worm," trading
barbs, assuming fake names, creating counterfeit blogs, and eventually being reduced to
death-threats and public "outings" of their online personalities. Now, according to reports, Maynor is "officially" publishing the details of his original exploit, freed from legal shackles (i.e., NDAs) which he claim prevented him from revealing the truth about his hack. The hot-blooded work is to be published in the September issue of Uninformed.org (an online hacking journal). Says Maynor, "Let them tear me apart all they want but at the end of the day the technical merit of the paper will stand on its own." To which we respond: your 15 minutes are up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Truth Beacon @ Sep 19th 2007 8:11PM
So is engadget 90% or 89% owned by apple? I have a bet with a friend...
charlie @ Sep 19th 2007 8:21PM
Yeah, Apple would never release a product with a "loophole" that could be "exploited".
mikey @ Sep 19th 2007 8:26PM
Shall we spell it out?
I-F Y-O-U D-O-N-T L-I-K-E I-T , T-H-E-N D-O-N-T R-E-A-D I-T .
david @ Sep 19th 2007 8:44PM
The Truth Beacon? You mean The M$ Beacon! Go play with your Zune.
Tim @ Sep 19th 2007 9:47PM
Actually, Engadget is owned by AOL. So does AOL have a thing for Apple? It seems to me that any blog that reports on Apple has a high number of stories about them...not because they loooovve Apple so much, but because Apple's PR/Marketing campaigns seem to be impossible to ignore.
BigPana @ Sep 19th 2007 10:08PM
Yeah douche, if people didn't care about Apple news, then they wouldn't read it.
ryantrevisol @ Sep 19th 2007 10:40PM
I haven't been reading Engadget all that mu ch, but I don't find I'm missing much between this and CNet News, and Techdirt. There's an inordinate amount of stuff about Apple but WHO THE FLIP CARES. I like reading about apple stuff, but if I a post doesn't interest me, I don't read it. I don't bitch and moan about it.
I normally wouldn't waste the time to tell the engadget haters-but-religious-readers, but this has been annoying me for a long time.
James Ollier @ Sep 19th 2007 8:12PM
I guess 24 hours after this, MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.1.1 will be released
stens @ Sep 19th 2007 8:36PM
It was patched last September...a whole year ago.
It should be noted that, reportedly, the vulnerability was not unique to the "third-party" WiFi card, but was present in a number of WiFi drivers-- supposedly including Apple's Airport drivers.
Whatever, this is a 12 month old, already patched vulnerability, at worst.
Liam Billington @ Sep 19th 2007 8:15PM
*Waits for death threat comments from Apple fangurls*
Andrew Hansen @ Sep 19th 2007 8:18PM
90% or 89%, i thought it was like 100%, i have never heard engadget say anything bad about apple
humpty @ Sep 19th 2007 8:29PM
Engadget needs an editor to clean up all these sh!tty posts.. seriously, get a f*cking editor.
Andrew Harrison @ Sep 19th 2007 8:35PM
he also published a photo of his home office, complete with several high powered rifles and a handgun next to the keyboard
http://bp1.blogger.com/_AKhPPf_qofs/RuVY_kzchQI/AAAAAAAAAFI/YmyXUGrfx-I/s1600-h/home-office.jpg
Chris M @ Sep 19th 2007 9:09PM
I mean seriously.
Because everyone keeps a .45 cal handgun on their desk while they hack MacBooks in their spare time.
Chris
Russ @ Sep 19th 2007 9:13PM
Hmmm medication and guns, what a combination!
Henry @ Sep 19th 2007 10:04PM
Wow, an FN P90, an SG 550, an M4, and a Beretta 92. Dude's packing some serious firepower there.
tiuk @ Sep 19th 2007 11:41PM
Christ, what a joke this guy is.
David Clark @ Sep 19th 2007 8:36PM
Apple has a nasty hole and it's an unfortunate tradgedy sparred by an a$$tunnel.
Microsoft has a hole and everybody breaks into a chorus of how awful and inept windows is.
And my bet is 98% owned by Apple.
Señor Swanky @ Sep 19th 2007 8:37PM
Once upon a time, all the douche bags sought to remind the tampons that they were, in fact, clotted and generally no better than a rag.
In turn, the tampons reminded the douche bags that they should go to bed-- they have school in the morning
Josh @ Sep 19th 2007 8:48PM
interesting but wtf?
I would guess at 89% personally. Don't get me wrong, i love apple and i enjoy reading all of the articles on engadget about apple, just seem to be a lot of them. Then again, that is pretty much true on ARS Technica too so that would lead me to change my percentage to 0%.
Stop freaking complaining about apple articles, they are in the news because they are active.
Jeff @ Sep 19th 2007 9:13PM
"Stop freaking complaining about apple articles, they are in the news because they are active."
So are a lot of companies. Just because you post articles from one company only in order to promote them does not mean that everyone else is doing nothing.
That's just dishonest.
david @ Sep 19th 2007 8:46PM
The M$ fanboys speak!
Marty @ Sep 19th 2007 9:03PM
ZOMG! An internet argument!
adrian @ Sep 19th 2007 9:06PM
No doubt there are flaws still within OS X that need to be dealt with, But if people like Maynor wasn't so obsessed in finding and broadcasting alleged problems within OS X to the world he wouldn't of put himself in this position in the first place. He should just move on.
painty @ Sep 19th 2007 9:07PM
I really like Apple products but ya gotta admit that Engadget does seem to have a serious bias towards Apple...
Jeff @ Sep 19th 2007 9:13PM
"So is engadget 90% or 89% owned by apple? I have a bet with a friend..."
They aren't owned by them so much as they are willing stooges that go out and spin news in favor of them, bury bad news, attack people that may tarnish them, smear their competitors, and otherwise shill their gear.
And the sad thing is that they do it for free!
No different than Gizmodo. They will never admit it even though they have been caught doing it hundreds of times.
Luke @ Sep 19th 2007 9:30PM
I'm going to go with 80% especially after the "Borg" comment 3 articles ago.
derek @ Sep 19th 2007 9:31PM
Who cares? We get a bunch of good articles too. I enjoy having a free blog with a fun staff and comments, and can get past all the Apple posts and still enjoy the rest. Why can't you guys?
joe @ Sep 19th 2007 9:32PM
I am really love the comment wars on every Apple article. I don't even read the articles anymore just skip to the comments. Keep the Apple stuff coming!
John @ Sep 19th 2007 9:35PM
I have to admit, after all that crap about the hack and then nothing really coming of it that I'm pretty skeptical as well. Sure, there could be some merit, but if there is, then he's about a year too late to actually get anyone's trust.
Luigi193 @ Sep 19th 2007 9:52PM
And to all I say, If you don't like it, go away (or use the anti apple yahoo thing or whatever)
NO one on the internet will post everything you want to here. Go to Gizmodo...o wait, they do it too!!!! So instead of complaining EVERY POST, can we just stop, please?
Mike @ Sep 19th 2007 10:17PM
Boo hoo an Apple article.
Give me a break. Don't read it.
Darkest Daze @ Sep 19th 2007 10:52PM
I don't think the problem is the fact it's an Apple article, but the massive spin put on it. If someone said they were releasing an exploit for Vista through Wifi, I can guarantee the article would be about how bad MS's security is instead of saying they don't care and making it seem like this is nothing but a hoax. Sure it may be a hoax, but if you're going to put that much spin on it, you better be damn sure or else you just look like another Apple fan who sends death threats to anyone who claims their OS is less than perfect.
Mike @ Sep 19th 2007 11:00PM
That's fair.
doctorSpoc @ Sep 20th 2007 8:43AM
@Darkest Daze... i don't think you know the history of this story. Maynor has been doing demos of this supposed exploit for 2 years now but has refused to show anyone how it actually works??? this is about the 4the time he has said that, NOW he will finally reveal how it works... he's a joker who f'd up his career by faking and exploit and got caught doing it... that's why the cynicism.
redseven @ Sep 19th 2007 10:26PM
I wish I had control over my own WiFi 10.4.10 FTL
doctorSpoc @ Sep 19th 2007 10:40PM
That's pretty funny... they say how they hate all the Apple stories and yet, not only are they reading the articles when they could have just skipped over them or just not come to the site at all (since they hate it so much) they actually take the time to read it, think about it, come up with a "witty" response and write a comment...??? WTF???
someone please explain this to me... how is that people that SOOOO don't care about Apple find themselves spending some much of their time reading, writing and thinking about Apple and their product???
classic white @ Sep 19th 2007 10:50PM
if you didnt like pumpkins, but your favorite corn was planted in a pumpkin feild, obviously you have to see them everytime you want to get the corn. seriously, engadget should just make a totally seperate section for apple.
doctorSpoc @ Sep 19th 2007 11:49PM
@classic white
sorry but that makes absolutely no sense to me... i just blast past all the crappy stories i'm not interested in... i don't give 3/4 of the stories on this site a second glance..
but like i said... a) what are you doing in this thread? and b) what are you doing taking your precious time to comment on it?
doctorSpoc @ Sep 19th 2007 10:47PM
oh... and Maynor... Seriously, I'm being earnest when i say you really need to get a life... you f!ck up... you stretched the truth... ok, you lied... this is two years now that it has taken for you to come up with a plausible hack for a 2 year old, already patched vulnerability... do yourself a favour and just move on. find a new profession (you life as a security expert is over), move out of your mom's basement and move on with your life... for your own good please...
siriusfox @ Sep 19th 2007 11:27PM
The heck with you all! I use Linux. Bask in my glory! :P
Natedog @ Sep 20th 2007 12:57AM
One of tomorrow's Engadget headlines:
WiFi hack discovered in Windows laptops. . . Shoulda bought an Apple!
Nate @ Sep 20th 2007 2:34AM
EnApple, when you are done wiping Steve Jobs' cum off your face, let me know so I can continue reading your blog.
I like Engadget, but I like calling a spade a spade better. Whores.
aaron @ Sep 20th 2007 8:40AM
Engadget, you're mac fanboys, let's face it. I'm leaving for GIZMODO! GIZMODO.COM
doctorSpoc @ Sep 20th 2007 10:14AM
i think some of you guys don't know the history here and think that Engaget is just doubting a hack for a MacBook because it's an Apple product. but nothing could be further from the truth.
this is about Maynor and his buddy (can't remember his name) who demoed this supposed hack 2 years ago... but since them have not bothered or been able to show anyone how it actually works... this would be about the 4th time this joker has said... in a few weeks i'm going to reveal the details of exploit but he still never has... that's two years of saying he's going to reveal it and never does... that's where the cynicism comes from..
but the other thing is it's two years later.. who knows what he may have cooked up by now.. the only thing is that the exploit he reveals needs to match the one he demoed (faked) two years ago... but even still two years is a long time to cook something up... what has he been doing all this time?
the other thing that i think Engadget was getting at was... who cares... he says that his supposed hack was patched a year and a half ago... so it this even news?
look if Maynor said he had an exploit for windows or Linux.. i'd be.. yeah right.. he has no credibility... this guy's is just a joker who got busted... wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the detail of this hack.. he's done this before.
The Truth Beacon @ Sep 20th 2007 3:59PM
@ Doctor Spoc
If they were just doubting this one attempt, then I would have not commented and thought the same as you. The problem is that the very first time this problem came up around a year ago they had the same doubtful attitude and stretched the statement he posted, "These exploits might apply to other systems as well, not just OS X" to 'It should be noted that Windows is affected by these exploits too.' If I could find the exact article than I would give you a word-for-word quote of both, but I am rather positive that my summation above is close to exact.
The problem is that every time there is a flaw with an Apple product (save the article about the faulty iPod Touch screens today) they always imply that it is just a few people, or probably a hoax. When they were buying the iPhone spin, and reporting so much about it they continually espoused the same exact propaganda and disregarded (often immediately) following articles about phones doing the same such as HTC or Blackberry phones.
There is an obvious favoring towards Apple too in how they report patent problems between non-Apple companies and Apple. My comment as the first on this article was merely a sardonic way of asking them to at least tone down their obvious infatuation.
Further in reply to a person who claimed I was a Zune-toting fanboy: I hate Microshaft with a passion equal to that of my hatred for Apple and the entire Linux camp. I have to use all three pretty much daily, and they all have their equal flaws. Neither OS is remotely as secure as Linux (granted it is not very secure either out of the box, but it is easy enough to make airtight.) Neither OS is as easy to use as Winblows or Mac who both appeal to certain crowds. Windows is more logical than Mac, and Mac is certainly more artsy than Windows - they appeal to different crowds completely. The only reason everything works on Windows is because everyone uses Windows, and that is why there are so few viruses on Mac compared. Being a fan-boy does nothing to contribute to the success of one over the other, it just clouds your judgment to the good of the others and the bad of your own camp. So open your eyes and realize that they are all crap - you will become more cynical sure, and you will certainly hate bias towards any camp; but you will be able to actually know things instead of merely forcing someone else's philosophy over another as your own.
The Truth Beacon @ Sep 20th 2007 4:35PM
Further:
To everyone saying, "if you don't like it then don't read it," you are ignorant beyond belief. Closed mindedness is not any way to increase your knowledge over anything at all. Simply not reading something because you dislike an editorial about it has to be the most moronic thing I hear on the internet with a regular basis. How can you expect to learn about something good or bad about Company A or Company B if you don't read things about them simply because you do not like them.
If you don't like it, then reading it is probably the best thing for you to do, you might - gasp - learn something new about life.
I bet you are the same kind of people who hate Fox news because you hear from CNN that Fox sucks. If you take time to actually check it out you might like it. (I am just using that example because it is the best one which easily comes to mind.)
I am sure the same could be said about certain books. "Oh I don't like that author, so I am not going to read his book." What assures you that said book isn't going to be the very best book you have ever lain eyes upon?
The same could be said about movies, vehicles, and in some cases styles of food...
No two things in all of existence are the same. Many things may be similar, but nothing is the same.