“I subscribe to a line of thinking that goes like this: Windows is attacked so often because it controls such a large portion of the market. Period. So we might be able to apply this thinking to another popular software market–online music services, in which the Apple Computer iTunes Music Store dominates,” Paul Thurrott writes for Paul Thurrott’s WinInfo. “Predictably, iTunes, like Windows, is attacked far more often than its Windows-based competitors. Or is it? The truth is that iTunes is compromised far more often than Windows-based services, but how often hackers attack Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme is unclear. Regardless, iTunes, like pre-XP SP2 versions of Windows, has fallen time and again under the withering attack of hackers who are intent on gaining access to the service. Doing so is amazingly easy. Last week, infamous encryption hacker DVD Jon broke through Apple’s weak security and offered Windows and Linux users a way to purchase iTunes tracks without DRM. Apple fixed the hole, of course. But a day later–just 1 day–DVD Jon was back with a new version of his hack that foiled Apple’s efforts. My question is simple. If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows, why can’t Apple secure one service?”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Thurrott “subscribes to a line of thinking” that is obviously wholly unique this side of schizophrenia; we can’t help wondering if his rate is competitively priced to Napster To Go’s $14.95 a month. If Paul stops paying his fees, would he start thinking logically? For entertainment purposes alone, we hope Microsoft never stops covering Paul’s subscription expenses.
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Resurrection Day comes quickly for PyMusique – March 22, 2005
The day the PyMusique died; Apple kills DVD Jon’s iTunes Music Store hack – March 21, 2005
‘PyMusique’ lets users buy songs without DRM from Apple’s iTunes Music Store– March 18, 2005
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68,736 Microsoft Windows viruses vs. zero for Apple Mac’s OS X – March 12, 2005
Microsoft tries to turn its own security flaw into commercial gain – February 25, 2005
Cybersecurity advisor Clarke questions why anybody would buy from Microsoft – February 18, 2005
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I see MDN doesn’t really have any response for Mr. Thurrott. So how ’bout it, then? Why is iTMS hacked so continuously?
This guy is delusional. Does he really subscribe to all this crap???
iTunes hasn’t been ‘attacked’. It hasn’t been ‘hacked’. Access to the music store has been accessed by a third party program that does not apply the DRM to the music the same way iTunes does. Solution? Apple changes their distribution to now apply the DRM to music on it’s server, before it transmits the information to your iTunes client. Now, no matter which client conects to the music store, the music paid for (this is key, you have to PAY for your music before you download it) is downloaded WITH the DRM already in it.
Thurrotts idea of security leaves a lot to be desired. And did he actually say “If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows..”?!
“If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows, why can’t Apple secure one service?”
Did I miss something here. Is he saying that Windoze is secure?
Gotta luv Thurrott!
Thurrott writes: “If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows, . . .” Can this guy argue from sound premises or what?!!!
Sounds like Thurrot’s website is down on hits. What better way than to bait people to flame him. A hit to his website is more money in his pocketbook.
OMG, this guy must have lost his job writing propaganda for the USSR. No WAIT didn’t someone once note that he does this crap on purpose in order to get hits from all of us Mac users? I’m not sure.
“If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows, why can’t Apple secure one service?”
The first part of the premise is false. MS havs shown “time and again” that they cannot secure Windows, and the results are *devastating* for users.
Hackers intercept Apple’s DRM stream, and that really is devastating for no one. The only victim is Apple, as they have to answer to the record companies.
But the reason is understandable. DRM cannot thus far be applied to the purchased music files until they are downloaded. The hackers interrupt the DRM process, and they have the music file– big whoop– not really a hack so much as a work-around. And no one’s data is compromised.
Again, big whoop. Almost makes me want to “thorrott” up.
Microsoft can secure Windows? They haven’t done that yet…
As for this iTunes stuff, I don’t know enough about it to have a thought. But it doesn’t sound right….
whoops! someone hacked this message board! My message appeared twice! Someone tell Thurrott! Why can’t you secure this thing?
He’s demonstrated that he is a total dumbass time and time again.
What gets me is that he blatantly bends the truth to suit his message.
Apple have a problem with someone masquerading a program as iTunes. That’s not hacking a server at all.
It is truly amazing what journalist think they can say.
“I see MDN doesn’t really have any response for Mr. Thurrott. So how ’bout it, then? Why is iTMS hacked so continuously?”
Two DVD Jon incidents = continuously??!! Such as for years, like Windoze? Fact is, MS have demonstrated that they cannot secure Windoze, so TurdRot’s premise is false from its inception.
Let’s consider the inaccuracies:
If MS can secure Windows – already covered.
iTunes has fallen time and again – time and again implies more than twice.
Doing so is amazingly easy – a miniscule percentage of the world’s population has the expertise. It’s like saying it would be easy for Michael Jordan to beat me in a game of one on one.
It took DVD Jon 1 day – he obviously hacked iTunes 4.6 and 4.7 together and staggered the releases.
Just a suggestion MDN, when reporting crap from this guy don’t include a link to his website. If you all have a Mac new reporters network, pass it on to the rest of the reporters.
moron. That’s the only response I can muster to this kind of idiocy.
Well, this is actually from one of the many Penton Media websites to whom Thurrott whores his “professional” opinion, so I doubt very much that Thurrott gets any cash from this personally.
That said, this does actually qualify as one of Paulie’s most surreal articles and one can’t help but wonder if he’s been overdoing the celebrations since Superbowl added to his World Series celebrations.
What dear old Paul fails to appreciate is that there is a wealth of difference between “hacking” the Fairplay DRM – which is there to inconvenience commercial music pirates and indiscriminate file sharers – and the 100,000+ pieces of malware that infest his “secure” platform due to Redmond’s overweaning desire to build everything into operating system and the holes left as a result.
Jon’s program enables you to play purchased iTunes songs without the DRM. This isn’t new, and it’s not exactly a security problem. You can essentially do the same thing a multitude of ways including the really crude way of using a tape recorder and recording the song through the speaker as you play it. In fact, iTunes itself provides a way of playing and saving purchased songs without the DRM just by creating a CD. Now if Jon had found out a way to download songs from iTunes without having to pay for them, then yes, Apple has a security problem.
He says that “iTunes…is attacked far more often than its Windows-based competitors”.
1.) maybe it’s because of Windows. I don’t think Jon ever made a Mac version
2.) “far more” equals how many? Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t know of any other issues besides DVD Jon’s program.
“My question is simple. If Microsoft can secure a system as complex as Windows, why can’t Apple secure one service?””
1.) obvious flaws in this statement beginning with the assumption that Windows is secure, but why doesn’t he flip the question so that it reads, “If Apple can secure a system as complex and superior as OS X, why can’t Microsoft secure one service (like Outlook, Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger…)?
If MS can secure Windows !!!!!
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
How upset can the RIAA and friends get? They are still getting thier blasted money.
DakRoland is correct, this isn’t a security issue with iTunes. iTunes hasn’t made your computer less secure, there is simply another program that bypasses a DRM. People running Windows would love to be so lucky.
hey…this guy gets paid by the word…it’s as simple as that…..you’al should call him Dan Rather
All you misunderstand old Thouroot. If you read the original article you can notice that the last question was “Why Apple can’t secure OUR (not one) service”
Don’t forget to clink the article link (WindowsIT Pro) and leave an anonymous comment!
???????????????????????????????????????????????????
(if only i could make my question marks about 100x as big)
Wait, Windows is secure?
Oh, I guess I’ll switch back.