Keylogger can be injected directly into Apple Keyboard and question

Question

Level 6

13,238 points

Keylogger can be injected directly into Apple Keyboard and question

APPLE KEYBOARDS ARE vulnerable to a hack that puts keyloggers and malware directly into the keyboard.
The concept is simple, a modern Apple keyboard has about 8K of flash memory, and 256 bytes of working ram.

Keyboard. http://www.semiaccurate.com/2009/07/31/apple-keyboard-firmware-hack-demonstrated /

(And from Macworld article) http://www.macworld.com/article/142115/2009/08/keyboard_vulnerability.html

Does anyone know if the Apple Pro Keyboard that came with my 2001 iMac G3 would qualify as "modern?" Don't see any specs on it in System Profiler. See nothing with Google search.

iMac G3/400 "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking", Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 5, 2009 1:13 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,038 points

Aug 5, 2009 3:23 PM in response to WZZZ

I scanned one of the source reports on the subject and it seems to address only keyboards that can be updated via firmware. The only free-standing Apple boards affected are probably the recent Aluminum models. There are no firmware updates out for older boards so I assume they have simpler technology.

The article also mentions numerous other devices other than those from Apple, so it not limited to our stuff.

Reply

Answer 2

WZZZ Author

Level 6

13,238 points

Aug 5, 2009 5:17 PM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks Alan.

Was looking around some more and saw that also. Seems plastic is safe. I guess I'd see something about firmware in System Profiler if this one had it, but keyboard isn't even mentioned, except under USB bus info.

Reply