Odds and Ends: Apple ending support for older iTunes; FireWire a security risk?; Knowledge Base updates

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 10:05 a.m. PT

2 min read

Apple ending support for older versions of iTunes According to Apple Insider, a number of the site's readers using pre-4.6 versions of iTunes have received warning dialogs stating that those versions "will soon no longer be supported" and urging them to upgrade to the current version. These warnings come fresh on the heels of news of an Apple special event related to music next Tuesday, October 26, fueling speculation that new features for the iTunes Music Store may be announced.

FireWire a security risk? An interesting summary of a presentation at the upcoming PacSec 04 conference describes a potential security risk posed by a computer's FireWire interface:

"IEEE1394 Specification allows client devices to directly access host memory, bypassing operating system limitations. A malicious client device can read and modify sensitive memory, causing privilege escalation, information leakage and system compromise. Any system with sensitive information or in an unsecured physical location, esp. public access systems should re-evaluate their system security and consider additional physical security measures if they are equipped with 'FireWire' ports. These ports are sometimes also called 'iLink' on some Sony models."

The synopsis also notes that the same technique can also be used for "beneficial applications...in the areas of system forensics and external debugging." (Thanks, Engadget.)

New/Updated Knowledge Base Articles