Sounds insane, but it allows remote upgrades over the network because it will leave the system running and you can restore the files from another server. All unix systems that I have seen do assume they are being administered by someone who knows what they are doing. That tends to go with the terriory of being a multiuser system.
BTW, network connected unix systems should never be run as root except when being worked on. Always run from a user account. If someone can get into your system as root they can do anything they want with it from just about anywhere.
BTW, does Apple tell you any of this?
--
Cotty wrote:
Hot on the heels of the assurances that OS/X is secure, and not susceptible to the same sorts of exploits Windows suffers from, comes the news that there's a gaping great hole in OS/X as shipped.
Basically, the AppleHelp service can be used to execute an arbitrary shell-level script. (rm -rf /, anybody?)
I'd suggest any OS/X users here might want to disable that service.
John, can you put that into plain language for me? thx.
rm -rf /
means : make up some space on those quite-full disk, you'll problably need it.
but also means: loose all your data and Operating System too.
Personally I prefer rm -rf .
that first delete your data. (to be sure)
;)
on how to disable this service, i really don't know. I haven't a Mac. But mac is all about mouse, so there should be some option called
"AppleHelp"
(as Cotty suggested) somewhere. Cotty is suggesting to disable it, I don't know if there are any drawbacks.
No - I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I need an idiot's guide here. Personally i might prefer rm -rf *if I iknew what the hell it was* !
Cheers, Cotty
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