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Re: OS 10.2 & Mail scripting has introduced a new wrinkle
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Re: OS 10.2 & Mail scripting has introduced a new wrinkle


  • Subject: Re: OS 10.2 & Mail scripting has introduced a new wrinkle
  • From: "John C. Welch" <email@hidden>
  • Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 23:32:47 -0400

On 08/16/2002 19:58, "cricket" <email@hidden> wrote:

>> Right...and since you *have* to log in to the system to use Mail
>> *anyway*,
>> this dialogue is really quite silly.
>
> We're rightfully concerned that someone could send out an Applescript
> application via email that, when run, will silently (no UI) send out
> personal data without the user's knowledge that this is taking place.

How could it use Mail without Mail *starting*..."Hmm...I ran this app, and
Mail started...that's not right". Also, since there *is* a full copy of
Sendmail with Mac OS X, you don't *need* Mail to do that, you can use
Sendmail which *will* run without the user *ever* knowing it.

>
> The reason I say rightfully is that PC users have been inundated with
> viruses exactly like this for years, where an innocent looking .exe
> file is actually gathered user data and sending it without the user
> knowledge. I think you'd at least appreciate the attempt to keep the
> user informed that an attachment they clicked on may actually do
> something they don't want to have happen.

Totally different case, since thanks to VBA and OLE, you could send email
without a user interface or visible application instance. If Apple is *that*
worried, then you should reconsider this whole sendmail/unix/curl thing, you
can do a LOT more damage with that.

>
> Clearly there's a better way to pull this off without interfering with
> automation, but there is a reason for it to be there in the first place.

If it did any good, sure. But it's a false security measure that does no
good at all.

john

--
I don't mind being called tough, since I find in this racket it's the tough
guys who lead the survivors.
- Colonel Curtis LeMay
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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: OS 10.2 & Mail scripting has introduced a new wrinkle
      • From: cricket <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Re: OS 10.2 & Mail scripting has introduced a new wrinkle (From: cricket <email@hidden>)

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