Apple races to fix password security flaw
Login glitch means anyone can access computers running MacOS High Sierra - but you can protect yourself
Apple is scrambling to fix a newly discovered security flaw that enables people to access Mac computers without a password.
The bug in MacOS High Sierra, the most recent version of the company’s computer operating software, was discovered by Turkish software developer Lemi Ergin, BBC News reports.
Ergin revealed on his Twitter page that anyone can log in to a Mac computer by entering the word “root” as the username, leaving the password field blank and then hitting the enter key a few times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ergin, whose tweet has been shared “hundreds of thousands of times”, has been criticised for publicly disclosing the security flaw, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Developers typically notify the company in private and allow a fix to be issued before making the fault public, says the newspaper.
According to Mac Rumors, the MacOS High Sierra “trick” allows users to bypass the administrator security systems and “see everything on the computer”.
An Apple spokesperson told the website that the company was “working on a software update to address this issue”.
“In the meantime, setting a root password prevents unauthorised access to your Mac,” the spokesperson said. Click here for instructions on how to carry out the quick fix.
Apple computers running older operating systems, such as El Capitan and Yosemite, are not believed to be affected by the security flaw.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The potential impact of Trump tariffs for the UK
UK goods exports to the US could be hit with tariffs of up to 20% seriously affecting the British economy
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Shoot to Kill: Terror on the Tube – a 'raw' and 'riveting' docuseries
The Week Recommends Channel 4's 'gripping' two-part show explores the Metropolitan police killing of an innocent man in the aftermath of 7/7
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
'Salute to those who served'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Google Maps gets an AI upgrade to compete with Apple
Under the Radar The Google-owned Waze, a navigation app, will be getting similar upgrades
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How will the introduction of AI change Apple's iPhone?
Today's Big Question 'Apple Intelligence' is set to be introduced on the iPhone 16 as part of iOS 18
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
FDA OKs Apple AirPods as OTC hearing aids
Speed read The approved software will turn Apple's AirPods Pro 2 headphones into over-the-counter hearing aids
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will the Google antitrust ruling shake up the internet?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for users?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Apple unveils AI integration, ChatGPT partnership
Speed Read AI capabilities will be added to a bulked-up Siri and other apps, in partnership with OpenAI's ChatGPT
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Apple Intelligence: iPhone maker set to overhaul the AI experience
In the Spotlight A 'top-to-bottom makeover of the iPhone' sees the tech giant try to win the consumer AI game
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suit
Speed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Apple kills its secret electric car project
Speed Read Many of the people from Project Titan are being reassigned to work on generative AI
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published