Master Key

The usually helpful people at SubRosaSoft are known for making really nice software that saves a nd salvages files and other lost data. They even make device-specific file reco very utilities for music and photos like iPods and digital cameras. You want yo ur ass saved, go to SubRosaSoft. But I think they went a bit too far with their latest product - your ass is gra ss if the wrong people get a hold of this nice, expensive little trinket. It's called MacLockPick, and it's exactly what it implies - a lock pick for your Mac. SubRosaSoft def ines it as "a valuable tool for law enforcement professionals to perform live f orensics on Mac OS X systems". The valuable data in the Apple keychain and in o ther password and critical data locations are apparently open for looting and r ifling if you had the right tool and a running Mac for a target, even a sleepin g one. By default, the keychain is left open by the OS and leaves the informati on it's supposed to secure free for the taking. The data include passwords, log ins, buddy lists, email details, serial numbers, bookmarks, cookies, etc. The MacLockPick is a USB flash drive that you insert into a running Mac. Once j acked in the software runs and does the dirty deed quick. It does not write any thing to the Mac, and leaves no trace it was ever there; it resets everything b ack to the state it was in before the pick was used. It just saves the data it gets into the drive, and disappears into the night (or a pants pocket) like the thief that it is. Included readers can access the purloined database on Window s, Linux or Mac OS X. It's something James Bond might have on his Aston Martin' s keychain. Scary thing, if you ask me. Cool, yes, but this goes a bit overboard, don't you think? SubRosaSoft restricts sales of the pick to law enforcement people only. (Sure. Like the way guns are supposed to be?) Perhaps the biggest restriction for the MacLockPick is the price: US$500 for the stick. But hey, all a pirate needs is one, and pretty soon it's all over the damned place. I predict the next biggest selling product will be physical locks for your USB ports. All I know is, no one's coming near my Mac with a flash drive from now o n.