Macintosh security is a joke....

[hongkongfever]

So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

 

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

Is this OS X?

 

[FoBoT]

if you have console access to any computer, then getting in isn't a problem

 

[PowerMacG5]

You're an idiot. You're not allowed to install certain software without administrative rights for obvious reasons.

Also, if you have physical access to a machine, software security makes no difference. Every machine can be broken easily with physical access.

 

[Mallow]

I can get into any computer by formating the harddrive 😛

 

[Rallispec]

Originally posted by: Mallow
I can get into any computer by formating the harddrive 😛

but you lose all the data on it.

In reality , its just as easy to gain administitor access to any windows machine with the proper software, which is not hard to find.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

All non-locked down machines I've used are that easy to get into. Windows, Solaris, Linux, *BSD, it doesn't matter. Stop posting flame bait bullshit, it's stupid.

 

[hongkongfever]

This is Mac OSX yes. And no I'm not an idiot for resetting the master password. I am in charge of 30+ eMacs in our lab. The school district's technology department REFUSES to grant us access to install software. They said we MUST place a ticket for them to come out and let them do it. And they even admit it will take awhile for someone to show up. Now you tell me if it is practical for me to place this ticket EVERY time I need something installed or modified on these computers. I have the software in hand, we own a site license, and I know exactly what to do. These computers are bought with our school money and they will stay here. Why should we NOT have full access? So some chump who works at headquarters can have a job?

 

[hongkongfever]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

All non-locked down machines I've used are that easy to get into. Windows, Solaris, Linux, *BSD, it doesn't matter. Stop posting flame bait bullshit, it's stupid.

Easy as booting up with a CD they give you?

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Cant you boot off a Windows cd and reformat the HD on a PC?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

All non-locked down machines I've used are that easy to get into. Windows, Solaris, Linux, *BSD, it doesn't matter. Stop posting flame bait bullshit, it's stupid.

Easy as booting up with a CD they give you?

Yes. I've done it in Solaris, Linux, and various BSDs. You can lock down the machine so this is tougher, but with physical access, I can get anything from any machine.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
This is Mac OSX yes. And no I'm not an idiot for resetting the master password. I am in charge of 30+ eMacs in our lab. The school district's technology department REFUSES to grant us access to install software. They said we MUST place a ticket for them to come out and let them do it. And they even admit it will take awhile for someone to show up. Now you tell me if it is practical for me to place this ticket EVERY time I need something installed or modified on these computers. I have the software in hand, we own a site license, and I know exactly what to do. These computers are bought with our school money and they will stay here. Why should we NOT have full access? So some chump who works at headquarters can have a job?

Where I work you'd be fired for what you did. And I think that's a beautiful thing. 😎

 

[Double Trouble]

Pretty much any machine can be compromised if the compromiser has physical access. However, as far as I know windows doesn't come with a disk that when booted gives you the option to simply reset the admin password? That sounds rather strange......

 

[imported_Lucifer]

I own an eMac, and I was never able to just change the admin password by just booting off the cd. In order to change the password, you have to enter the current password to be able to enter a new one.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: tagej
Pretty much any machine can be compromised if the compromiser has physical access. However, as far as I know windows doesn't come with a disk that when booted gives you the option to simply reset the admin password? That sounds rather strange......

It's an easy procedure on most *nix systems.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

All non-locked down machines I've used are that easy to get into. Windows, Solaris, Linux, *BSD, it doesn't matter. Stop posting flame bait bullshit, it's stupid.

Easy as booting up with a CD they give you?

with any system you can boot off the cd and mount the harddrive that has the password. I have bunch of gentoo boxes at work and it's just a matter of mounting the drive, doing chroot and passwd root.


Also if they really wanted you to lock you out, theres an option for locking the open firmware that prevents your from booting off the cd. There's way of resetting that also, but it gets more complicated.

It's hilarious that you think that windows is more secure than osx. Do some research on spam and try to see where most of it comes from (cough zombies cough)

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
This is Mac OSX yes. And no I'm not an idiot for resetting the master password. I am in charge of 30+ eMacs in our lab. The school district's technology department REFUSES to grant us access to install software. They said we MUST place a ticket for them to come out and let them do it. And they even admit it will take awhile for someone to show up. Now you tell me if it is practical for me to place this ticket EVERY time I need something installed or modified on these computers. I have the software in hand, we own a site license, and I know exactly what to do. These computers are bought with our school money and they will stay here. Why should we NOT have full access? So some chump who works at headquarters can have a job?

I didn't call you an idiot for resetting the password, I called you an idiot for saying that the security is a joke.

 

[Mallow]

Originally posted by: Rallispec

Originally posted by: Mallow
I can get into any computer by formating the harddrive 😛

but you lose all the data on it.

In reality , its just as easy to gain administitor access to any windows machine with the proper software, which is not hard to find.

I was being facetious 🙂

 

[Kilrsat]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

And the next time someone above you drops by to make a change to any of those machines and realizes the password has been changed, you can kiss your job goodbye.

How are you still employed is the question you should be asking, not why apple is in business.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Kilrsat

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
So the eMacs at my worksite won't allow us to install any software without administrative privileges. We'd have to actually schedule an appointment for a "techie" to come out and install the software for us. This is ridiculous because we have the software in hand, we have the license, and we know how to do it. Yet we still have to make an appointment, then wait a few weeks for someone to show up.

But luckily Macs are a joke. I managed to just boot up with the Software Restore CD that came with it and there was an option to reset the administrative password. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think PCs are this weak in terms of security. I think even the old Windows were more secure than the latest Macs.

Why is Apple still in business? Sheesh.

And the next time someone above you drops by to make a change to any of those machines and realizes the password has been changed, you can kiss your job goodbye.

How are you still employed is the question you should be asking, not why apple is in business.

:thumbsup:

 

[Wozster]

OP, can you get on the domain?

At my place of work you could also compromise a machine by having physical access to it, but you wouldn't be able to get on the domain/network afterwards.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: tagej
Pretty much any machine can be compromised if the compromiser has physical access. However, as far as I know windows doesn't come with a disk that when booted gives you the option to simply reset the admin password? That sounds rather strange......

Instead you have to download and burn a 5mb ISO.

/me carries that bootdisk on a bizcard CD in his wallet at all times.

 

[zakee00]

Originally posted by: hongkongfever
This is Mac OSX yes. And no I'm not an idiot for resetting the master password. I am in charge of 30+ eMacs in our lab. The school district's technology department REFUSES to grant us access to install software. They said we MUST place a ticket for them to come out and let them do it. And they even admit it will take awhile for someone to show up. Now you tell me if it is practical for me to place this ticket EVERY time I need something installed or modified on these computers. I have the software in hand, we own a site license, and I know exactly what to do. These computers are bought with our school money and they will stay here. Why should we NOT have full access? So some chump who works at headquarters can have a job?

you are retarded, you just contridict yourself. dont even bother posting here.

 

[nakedfrog]

eMacs or iMacs?

 

[nboy22]

This is kinda similar to the Windows administrative password security.. if you need data that's on the machine badly, just pop in a windows 2000 disc after clearing the CMOS/BIOS Battery and pulling the power plug to clear the bios password (if there is one). Then go to the windows 2000 installation repair console and there's no administrator password needed to get into the repair console.. pretty damn unsecure if you ask me.