[clug] [OT] New Interconnect from Intel+Apple: Thunderbolt

[Alex Satrapa]

On 28/02/2011, at 10:53 , Scott Ferguson wrote:

> Not wanting to dampen all that Mac enthusiasm but... you are aware of
> the security speculations (reminiscent of Firewire) aren't you? ;-p
> 
> In case you didn't see the references on SANs and other sites,
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/24/thunderbolt_mac_threat/

The threat is due to the Thunderbolt & Intel architecture, not specific to Apple hardware or Mac OS X.

Labelling it as a "Mac" threat will lead to non-Apple users getting complacent and being caught by surprise when the projector they plug their computer into downloads the contents of their hard drive due to the "Thunderbolt & Intel architecture vulnerability".

FWIW Apple is spreading the word that they're keen on getting some good security eyes over their products: though I'm somewhat cynically expecting that they just want to rubber-stamp their upcoming Lion release as "most secure desktop OS" ;)

One of the more worrying issues here would be corrupt government agencies such as TSA ordering you to plug in a specific Thunderbolt device as part of their enhanced security protocols.  Cavity search meets laptop security :\

Alex