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Apple's 'Presto' Wireless Update Tech May Soon Reach the Mac

Shirasaki said:
So what? The fact that device never have an “off” state that is truly powered off means many things can happen. A hardware bug or protocol loophole or something similar can cause hackers to remotely access certain data or download and install malware to your phone while you are just shopping. Or it can be as simple as a software bug that causes the battery to drain and warm up even if you turn the device off.
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You all worry a little too much.

Presto could never be a system that updates iOS. That would be dangerous and stupid.

The only thing that updates iPhones is its own operating system.

Presto will wake up the iPhone and say hello. iOS then talks to presto and decides whether it wishes to download and update its software.

Before it does do, it will have a thousand checksums to work on, am I new, have I any data written on me, am I on pre registration mode, is this link secure, is presto authentic, is the new code base authentic.

Only when it is satisfied will it update its own operating system.
 
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ForkHandles said:
You all worry a little too much.

Presto could never be a system that updates iOS. That would be dangerous and stupid.

The only thing that updates iPhones is its own operating system.

Presto will wake up the iPhone and say hello. iOS then talks to presto and decides whether it wishes to download and update its software.

Before it does do, it will have a thousand checksums to work on, am I new, have I any data written on me, am I on pre registration mode, is this link secure, is presto authentic, is the new code base authentic.

Only when it is satisfied will it update its own operating system.
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Totally agree. People just making noise with nothing to say.

I can't see this being used as a back door for anything useful. If it were even at all possible, there would be far greater uses of time for more benefit.

orbital~debris said:
A cool development of this technology would be for an Apple Store itself to become the Presto shelf.
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That would be cool, but I think it has to be pretty close to the shelf to work.

59113-120653-prestoigeneration-xl.jpg
 
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ForkHandles said:
You all worry a little too much.

Presto could never be a system that updates iOS. That would be dangerous and stupid.

The only thing that updates iPhones is its own operating system.

Presto will wake up the iPhone and say hello. iOS then talks to presto and decides whether it wishes to download and update its software.

Before it does do, it will have a thousand checksums to work on, am I new, have I any data written on me, am I on pre registration mode, is this link secure, is presto authentic, is the new code base authentic.

Only when it is satisfied will it update its own operating system.
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Presto may as well work that way as you described, but what I mention is the permanently on device (particularly those with built in batteries) and how dangerous it is. It’s outside the scope of Presto system and I don’t think anybody would worry about how Apple updates their device firmware before opening it.
 
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Whelp. Rip the time when you could find devices with launch version iOS brand new from some Apple Store upon purchase. Used to be a fun time.
 
I think folks overreacting a bit.

This requires physical contact with the device by a technician with special tool in authorized service center/factory.

For now, at least, desktop Macs cannot be updated that way. I'm sure MacBooks will be the first for obvious reasons, but desktops that's a different ball game.

If someone is that paranoid then simply unplugging Mac from power and UPS is enough to prevent stealth upgrade of OS. Anyway I would recommend Linux where you compile the kernel on your own to fit your own paranoid requirements. Remember you can't use ready made 'paranoid distros' if you're Really paranoid. ;)
 
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Good to know. Maybe such a system will be available at Apple stores by November when new Macs are expected to launch.
 
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Shirasaki said:
So what? The fact that device never have an “off” state that is truly powered off means many things can happen. A hardware bug or protocol loophole or something similar can cause hackers to remotely access certain data or download and install malware to your phone while you are just shopping. Or it can be as simple as a software bug that causes the battery to drain and warm up even if you turn the device off.
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If you are protected with a Passcode, you don’t need to worry about this. What you are worrying about is Zero Day Exploits, and Intelligence Agencies use those sparingly and in a very targeted manner
 
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Shirasaki said:
So what? The fact that device never have an “off” state that is truly powered off means many things can happen. A hardware bug or protocol loophole or something similar can cause hackers to remotely access certain data or download and install malware to your phone while you are just shopping. Or it can be as simple as a software bug that causes the battery to drain and warm up even if you turn the device off.
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Show me any „smart“ wireless tech with a screen that can ever be „truly powered off“ without an empty battery.
You’re talking about this as if it’s something new and still in development.
Presto has been around for many years, this is the first time I’ve ever read about it on MR.
If there was any potential to abuse this system, it would already have happened looooong before this discussion and there would have been a headline about it.
Maybe there was, but I don’t think so.
 
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Shirasaki said:
I found it out the hard way when I first unboxing it and it was and is still scary.
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What do you mean, what did you find out?
I still remember my first Intel Mac booting automatically the first time I opened the lid. Guess it never was truly off, either.
 
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insomniac86 said:
Until there's a bug to exploit.
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How is updating inside a box different from updating when outside a box? The ONLY difference is by what mechanism the update is triggered. (you press the update button vs. the presto shelf communicates the wish to update.)
How is this different to the setting "Automatically download and apply iOS Updates"?
 
@Shirasaki you can be mad about my comments all you want, I don’t care. I asked you some, I think, valid questions. I was actually interested in your replies but I see now I don’t have to be. Considering all you do about other posts you don’t like is :mad: I think we don’t have to wait for any further explanation from you?
 
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Parowdy said:
@Shirasaki you can be mad about my comments all you want, I don’t care. I asked you some, I think, valid questions. I was actually interested in your replies but I see now I don’t have to be. Considering all you do about other posts you don’t like is :mad: I think we don’t have to wait for any further explanation from you?
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I think I explained my personal concern very well, regardless of when this “permanently on” thing started. To me, when I shut down a computer, it should be shut down, power off, with no way to wake it up. If someone wants to wake up a computer quickly, there’s sleep and hibernate for that. But, seeing many consider this a non-issue, I don’t know what I can explain more.
 
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