Quick Alert: Apple Maybe Locking Up Hacked Apple TV Devices
By Alexander Grundner |
March 29th, 2007
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The now infamous Apple TV hackers at Tutorial Ninjas have posted disturbing news (via Gizmodo) that Apple Inc. maybe fighting back and locking up modded Apple TV devices after they’ve phoned home. Tutorial Ninjas states, “This is a warning to all of you to block your Apple TV from the internet by going into your routers settings and denying it internet access! This does mean Apple may have the power to update your Apple TV, without you knowing it!” (Scary, but not surprising – if true.)
Implications: The hacks you added to get Joost, SSH, or applications like Firefox installed are no longer that attractive if your Apple TV is transformed into a brick by your friends at Apple Inc. This begs the question: Who *really* owns the hardware you’ve legally purchased? International law would probably side with the consumer, but after the DMCA passage in the U.S. a while back, it seems reality and common sense have become distorted.
Okay, deep breath: Before throwing Jobs and company to the wolves, lets see if the rumors can be substantiated by more people. Some are suggesting that a simple code ‘clean-up’ script automatically run by the device maybe disabling the hacks. Sounds plausible… but if everything else turns out to be working after the device has been taken offline for several days, then their be ghosts trying to access this box.
UPDATE:
Engadget – Apple’s not fighting back against Apple TV hacks
Filed in: Streaming Media Devices