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Apple's Hidden Message to Hackers: "Dont Steal Mac OS X"


Swad

We’ve received some information regarding Apple's newest portable, the MacBook Pro, and with it a hidden message for would-be hackers. We were made privy to a text dump from the System Profiler of one of the new MacBooks and, naturally, couldn’t wait to sort through its contents. What we didn’t expect to see was a warning from Apple to those that would hack OS X, presumably to those wanting it to run on beige-box PCs:

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

_name

Dont Steal Mac OS X

[...]

Copyright © 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

The purpose of this Apple software is to protect Apple copyrighted

materials from unauthorized copying and use. You may not copy, modify,

reverse engineer, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense,

transfer or redistribute this file, in whole or in part. If you have

obtained a copy of this Apple software and do not have a valid license

from Apple Computer to use it, please immediately destroy or delete it

from your computer.

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

The most interesting part of this message? It’s placement, found in /System/Library/Extensions/Dont Steal Mac OS X.kext Despite being a lighthearted jab at hackers, it seems that Apple is taking the pirating of the new OSx86 seriously, since the same kext is not found in the PPC version of 10.4.4. Is this simply a hidden message for the interested parties, or is it a new tounge-in-cheek implementation of OS X’s TPM security? Details are sketchy at this point… watch this space for more news as we get it.

 

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Message to Linus Torvalds:

Thou shalt not copy, freely distribute, customise, develop or re-write a UNIX-based OS for Intel/AMD-based hardware :)

 

I remember in the late 80s there was a Prince bootleg floating about, called 'The black album'. Before his concerts in the early 90s he had a large screen next to the stage where they projected the phrase:

 

DO NOT BUY THE BLACK ALBUM!!

 

He did that AFTER he officially released the album himself...

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(a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. - Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:

 

This has been picked apart time and time again, as the person licensing the software, you have the right to back it up so you don't loose it. You are not allowed to run both copies.

 

(1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner

 

I'm not even sure why you posted that part. Mac OS X does not require "copying itself" as an "essential step in utilizing it."

 

I don't care about DMCA as I am long and far away its jurisdiction. But as I read this;

a) You don't do it to run both copies, but one.

B) To utilizate the software it is essential to copy it to your machine. OS X is not usable from the DVD without copying it to the harddisk.

c) But I can't see it directly implying that you cannot restrict it to be used on certain hardware, you certainly had to test the case in the court.

 

On the other hand, you could always install it to the ipod and boot it from it to use it from an apple hardware...

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I saw this kext on 10.4.5 about a month ago, I just thought that one of the hackintosh hackers was responsible for.

 

Anyway Apple must be able to see whats going on, they have a great oppertunity to get our attention.......

 

Mr Jobs,please dont go the MS way of doing things, its tempting but dont........

 

I know Apple is about the Hardware, but they must understand, it's about the software as well. Apple should release Tiger/Lepoard as a DVD $100.00. They would take an even large % of (other os users) and strengthen there own share even more.

 

This is the only way that they could do it,

 

(While Billy boy and his numptie's in MS Hell are laughing at the way to the bank.

They hold us to ransom,

Buy the os, drivers, apps, when you buy an MS os 'How much are you really paying' ?)

 

 

There's no doubt that apple has the sexiest (I want one of of those) kit, even if they did drop the prices (from there own profit costs) they would sell more. Its a catch 22, we are waiting to buy cheaper mac's and Apple are waiting for us to buy them before the prices fall.

 

I have a PC (hackingtosh)

 

But in the past 3 years, I have purchesed 2 G4 Powerbooks

 

FCP

Aperture

iLife06

 

The list goes on.......

 

regards another lost sole.........

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Seriously, I reckon Apple has carved large enough of a hardware niche in terms of 'coolness factor' and system stability to have a reason not to be paranoid. On the other hand, where they have miserably failed to keep up with the global pace is in terms of quality/performance/price ratio in both, initial purchase of the system and later upgrades. That's most likely their dilemma now. They seem to be stuck in a rut, price-wise, which becomes more and more difficult to justify.

 

Case in point - Dell was and still is quite successful in name branding otherwise very generic hardware. OS-independent and reasonably priced, that is. If Apple see themselves as grown-up market competitors on the Intel-based front they should act as such and make their hi-end products competitive to the generic market and affordable to a larger audience.

 

In fact I just did purchase OSX for 120$. Call it insane, an empty gesture whatever but at least it's not empty-handed. I also spent 100$ on Mandriva since I feel it's worth it. I did not spend the 200$ that costs M$ XP in my neck of the woods and I'm running two very stable systems for the price of a dodgy one.

However as a consumer, I still make the choice which hardware specs I need and want to run those systems on. IMHO the main task of an OS is to make hardware run in the most stable way possible. If it says it's for Intel then it's for ANY Intel. To imprison the OS in specific subsets of the same thing is ludicrous and should be considered a relic from a long forgotten past.

 

l8rz

sol

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Does this file block anyting when using OSX86? Apple probably has the OS call home when non-apple hardware is used, but have they actually stopped anyone yet from using OSX86?

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I'm just going to say that, in my opinion, selling a person a copy of OSX and then telling them you can only run it on a Mac is as absurd as selling a person a copy of Windows and then telling them they can only run it on a Dell.. or selling a person a CD and telling them they can only play it on Sony CD players.

 

Seems to me, the DMCA allows for "adaptation" that is "created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine".

 

So while making a copy isn't an essential part of utilizing it with a Mac, making an 'adapted copy' of the original disk is an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a 'non-Mac'.

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apple should think about selling their os for generic pcs. apple has become an enigma not because of its hardware, but because of its software. the OSX. the more popular osx becomes, the more profitable it is for company, we all want to see our grandchildren using osx.. dont we..! :)

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Yea but then they will be shooting them selves in the foot and they won't sell any of their hardware.

Look OS X is unreal because it only supports specific hardware, when you start having OEM's like Dell adapting the OS by making drivers for it your going to get a more unstable product like Windows.

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Doesn't anyone here understand that piracy does not equal sales boom?

 

You all want to write long complicated essays on how throwing a million dollar investment out for free might be beneficial, only because (be it ulterior or not) you don't want to pay for it.

 

Don't lie to yourselves, I find it pathetic. If there is a pirated version around, you're not going to suddenly and unexplainably become a good person and buy it instead of download it. You're going to download it, and try to justify it if made public.

 

Simple, just the way I like it: Piracy will never equal gain, only loss.

 

Apple's marketing and strategy is very respectable, and they take risks. But now it's looking like give people a hand, they'll try to take the arm.

 

Don't Steal Mac OS X

 

 

I'll add my 2 cents worth.

 

I have an entire bookcase full of boxed software, yes, video games for my PC. You can judge me later.

I have made almost all my purchases based on testing the titles first, some were tested as demos, others were not.

The point is I was able to make informed choices in regards to what I bought, $50-$60 a shot.

The software companies made money, and I didn't waste any.

 

Now I'm testing OSX, I am thinking about purchasing the mini because it is the most reasonable offering that Apple has.

 

Allright maybe it's only 1.5 cents worth...

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I'll add my 2 cents worth.

 

I have an entire bookcase full of boxed software, yes, video games for my PC. You can judge me later.

I have made almost all my purchases based on testing the titles first, some were tested as demos, others were not.

The point is I was able to make informed choices in regards to what I bought, $50-$60 a shot.

The software companies made money, and I didn't waste any.

 

Now I'm testing OSX, I am thinking about purchasing the mini because it is the most reasonable offering that Apple has.

 

Allright maybe it's only 1.5 cents worth...

 

I agree with this. I thank the lord that i didnt buy half the games i downloaded for my psp! The ones i liked i bought (which was hardly any), the rest were deleted.

 

I had an imac g5 and wanted to move into the intel macs which i couldnt afford. I bought a cheap pc and ran osx86 whilst i was saving for my new mac. I dont agree with software piracy but id rather kids did that than mug people!

 

Just my :tomato:

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