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macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

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Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#881

Post by dep_b »

harryf wrote: post #875
chmars wrote: post #823

Earlier quoted context omitted.

… as a _workaround_ for an administrator account-related bug. I should have known that updating to a new MacOS versions before 6 to 9 months have passed is a mistake. High Sierra is in my experience the buggiest MacOS release so far, not only security-wise. The system is not very stable and APFS reduced drive performance … :(

From one bad upgrade that cost me a bunch of productivity - believe it was Lion - as well as observing the struggles of colleagues, these days always wait 6 months at least before upgrading OSX

I basically only update when (a beta of) Xcode tells me it won't run on my current version. Usually that's the point when either all bugs have been fixed or they will not be fixed before the new version.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#882

Post by elysian_eunoia »

teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

Whether or not most potential apple users have already switched, security is surely vital to keeping their customers with them.

Much like the importance of feeling safe in our own house, if the computer that houses our information suddenly makes us feel unsafe or exposed, we'll naturally seek other options unless the issue is, shall I say, swiftly fixed or easily fixable.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#884

Post by _pmf_ »

neotek wrote: post #738
pls2halp wrote: post #715

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s absolutely terrible. Does Apple not monitor those forums at all?

Apple's support forums aren't a place where Apple provides their users with support, they're where Apple users seek support from other Apple users, mostly unhelpful and often inaccurate support. In fact, 99% of the time the only advice you'll get is "restore your iPhone", "restore your MacBook Pro", "restore your Apple TV" and so on into bitter infinity.

> mostly unhelpful and often inaccurate support

Sorry that the free support for your expensive device does not match the quality of the non-existing support from your device vendor.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#885

Post by scjr »

angrygoat wrote: post #880
teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

These days, where is the lock-in? The core applications that I use (Firefox, Docker, VSCode, vim, ...) all work just as well on Linux, MacOS and Windows. I have a Mac, because it's (at least previously) been pretty secure by default, doesn't require me to invest a lot of time sysadmining my own box, and lets me dip into a healthy ecosystem of commercial software useful to my hobbies (like photography.) The software h…

While you don't believe you are locked in, I don't believe that you as a programmer "power user" are the majority that Apple cares about.

I believe not only that for the majority of users there is a level of software lock-in, but further there is a high level of psychological lock-in, where users get used to and comfortable with Apple's design strength, which is Apple's main offering.

As people get more comfortable and more older it is easy to say that people get more resistant to change.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#886

Post by juanmirocks »

teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

Surely they should care about the security of their _own_ developers, who surely program in macOS. I believe we are being too harsh on Apple unnecessarily.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#887

Post by zelos »

angrygoat wrote: post #880
teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

These days, where is the lock-in? The core applications that I use (Firefox, Docker, VSCode, vim, ...) all work just as well on Linux, MacOS and Windows. I have a Mac, because it's (at least previously) been pretty secure by default, doesn't require me to invest a lot of time sysadmining my own box, and lets me dip into a healthy ecosystem of commercial software useful to my hobbies (like photography.) The software h…

The lock in is definitely less, but for me:

- Large iPhoto library - Easy syncing with multiple iPhones (notes, photos etc) - Xcode for iOS development

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#888

Post by schuke »

angrygoat wrote: post #880
teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

These days, where is the lock-in? The core applications that I use (Firefox, Docker, VSCode, vim, ...) all work just as well on Linux, MacOS and Windows. I have a Mac, because it's (at least previously) been pretty secure by default, doesn't require me to invest a lot of time sysadmining my own box, and lets me dip into a healthy ecosystem of commercial software useful to my hobbies (like photography.) The software h…

I second this. The only feature that I can immediately think of that locks me in the mac eco-system is the convenience of airdropping files with my wife. Apart from this, with most of my stuff on the cloud, there won't even be a migration process if I decide to switch to Windows.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#889

Post by amildie »

oneeyedpigeon wrote: post #613
komali2 wrote: post #502

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't deadlines at Apple always been driven by marketing? I'm looking for a source but I remember a story where the product director for iPod was told by steve jobs "make it simple, fast, beautiful, and have it done by Christmas."

That's sure to send shivers down the spine of anyone reading it here but, to be fair to jobs, he managed to get exactly what he wanted on that occasion.

Asking for stuff requires no talent, vision, discipline or effort whatsoever. Pretty much anyone can do it. If you don't actually deliver, you don't actually matter.

Re: macOS High Sierra: Anyone can login as “root” with empty password

#890

Post by criddell »

angrygoat wrote: post #880
teddyh wrote: post #838

I see a lot of comments here wondering why Apple seems to not care about software quality anymore. I don’t know if that’s true, but there’s a perfectly obvious answer: They don’t have to. Software quality in macOS was important back when they were trying to get people to switch from Windows-based PCs to Macs. Nowadays, most people who were going to switch have already switched, so Apple has no incentive to keep up th…

These days, where is the lock-in? The core applications that I use (Firefox, Docker, VSCode, vim, ...) all work just as well on Linux, MacOS and Windows. I have a Mac, because it's (at least previously) been pretty secure by default, doesn't require me to invest a lot of time sysadmining my own box, and lets me dip into a healthy ecosystem of commercial software useful to my hobbies (like photography.) The software h…

The lock-in is Messages, at least for a lot of people.
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