Kougar
05-18-2006, 05:37 AM
Complete article:
Apple tells hacks to stay out of its kernel
Since before its release, Apple's OS X for the Intel platform had been circulating the Internet in many places, and many had been running the operating system for months ahead of Apple's own release schedules.
Thanks to cunning hackery by famed OS X hacker Maxxuss, many were able to install the protected operating system on generic machines. Apple had implemented a check for a trusted platform module (TPM) chip that was integrated on specific Intel motherboards, which when detected, allowed the installation of OS X. When Apple had finally released a the full fledged x86 version of OS X, the company had switched from BIOS support over to EFI, Intel's new firmware model. This move put a major roadblock in for pirates and those who installed OS X without proper licenses.
Now, Apple has decided to remove the source kernel from OS X for the x86 platform. Because OS X is based on the BSD platform, and most *nix OSes have their kernels open, it was possible for people to modify and recompile OS X's mach kernel. In the *nix universe, kernels are often modified and recompiled for various reasons such as security, speed and reliability. Due to the sheer number of people running illegal copies of OS X x86, Apple lawyers have found it necessary to close the kernel down.
No word from Apple was given on whether or not this action will remain permanent, but the company did indicate that it was still deciding on what to do. Apple knows that an open kernel is a key advantage that OS X holds over a closed OS such as Windows, but for now, Apple users and develops will have to continue with a closed kernel OS X.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2404 (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2404)
Apple tells hacks to stay out of its kernel
Since before its release, Apple's OS X for the Intel platform had been circulating the Internet in many places, and many had been running the operating system for months ahead of Apple's own release schedules.
Thanks to cunning hackery by famed OS X hacker Maxxuss, many were able to install the protected operating system on generic machines. Apple had implemented a check for a trusted platform module (TPM) chip that was integrated on specific Intel motherboards, which when detected, allowed the installation of OS X. When Apple had finally released a the full fledged x86 version of OS X, the company had switched from BIOS support over to EFI, Intel's new firmware model. This move put a major roadblock in for pirates and those who installed OS X without proper licenses.
Now, Apple has decided to remove the source kernel from OS X for the x86 platform. Because OS X is based on the BSD platform, and most *nix OSes have their kernels open, it was possible for people to modify and recompile OS X's mach kernel. In the *nix universe, kernels are often modified and recompiled for various reasons such as security, speed and reliability. Due to the sheer number of people running illegal copies of OS X x86, Apple lawyers have found it necessary to close the kernel down.
No word from Apple was given on whether or not this action will remain permanent, but the company did indicate that it was still deciding on what to do. Apple knows that an open kernel is a key advantage that OS X holds over a closed OS such as Windows, but for now, Apple users and develops will have to continue with a closed kernel OS X.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2404 (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2404)