Input managers strike again: Security Update 2008-002, printing and Instant Hijack

[Wednesday, March 19th]

UPDATE: Rogue Amoeba has now released an update for Instant Hijack that resolves this issue.

No matter how many times we recommend the removal of input managers (at the very least before installation of major system updates and preferably altogether), and how many significant issues they cause, users, pundits and select developers will continue to defend and make use of these add-ons.

To reiterate, Input Managers reach right into an application and alter its code. This puts the behavior of the affected application outside the control and responsibility of its developers: a recipe for troubleshooting problems. That's not to say that issues absolutely will ensue as a result of Input Managers, but you, as a user, must do some cost/benefit analysis. If the functionality of a specific Input Manager or set thereof proves crucial, you may well choose to assume the associated risk.

Regardless, the problematic potential of input managers was demonstrated again this week when dozens if not hundreds of users lost their ability to print after applying Security Update 2008-002. Our previously mentioned fix, re-applying the Mac OS X combo updater, worked for many, but others had to remove "Instant Hijack," a component of Rogue Amoeba's Audio Hijack Pro and... surprise!: an Input Manager.

You can uninstall Instant Hijack, which is located in /usr/local/hermes from the Install Extras... window under the Audio Hijack Pro menu in Audio Hijack Pro.

Most other input managers are located in the the following directories:

• /Library/InputManagers
• ~/Library/InputManagers

and we recommend removing them all. Especially prior to system updates (they can always be added back one-by-one later). But advice is just advice.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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