OS 10.5’s got lotsa new stuff, particularly in the field of security. In fact, Apple’s got about 11 new security features incorporated into Leopard.
Perhaps the most interesting of the lot is the security technology called ASLR, or Address Space Layout Randomization, whose basic concept is to randomly and periodically jumble up the locations of key data areas, thus preventing malware attacks that rely on the established addresses of vulnerable data, or predicting their locations - it’s a bit like scrambling eggs.
This code-scrambling technology makes the system less prone to virus and worm attacks, and mixes things up for a more lively and exciting time. One more reason to get Leopard on Friday.
November 20th, 2007 at 4:56 am
Wow, thanks for the post, that’s some good info. I didn’t know that Leopard had ASLR…I just wonder HOW much of a difference it would have made years ago for Windows. It’s nice to see Apple taking a lead incorporating it into Mac OS before viruses start coming our way.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Thankyou Mike - i’m not the only one who realised this article’s ENTIRE HEADLINE is a complete fabrication - how is something a ’secret’ if windows *and* linux use it already?
Oh that’s right… Mac Headline=readers=page hits.
Cheap, guys. Very cheap
October 25th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
As a Mac user who has pre-ordered Leopard, I am waiting with bated breath to receive Leopard.
However, Microsoft can actually brag that it beat Apple to the scene with ASLR, as ASLR is a feature of Windows Vista.