Hackers clear Apple over MacBook attack

Security researchers who demonstrated a so-called vulnerability in an Apple MacBook at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas have cleared Apple's name in security circles.

David Maynor and Jon Ellch, who work for security firm SecureWorks, performed a 60-second hack on a MacBook earlier this month to demonstrate a vulnerability in the device drivers of several wireless cards, including what was thought to be Apple's.

Although the news was widely reported as an attack on Apple's wireless drivers, the researchers have since posted a disclaimer revealing that the attack was performed via third-party software not shipped with the MacBook.

"This video presentation at Black Hat demonstrates vulnerabilities found in wireless device drivers," said SecureWorks.

"Although an Apple MacBook was used as the demo platform it was exploited through a third-party wireless device driver, not the original wireless device driver that ships with the MacBook.

"As part of a responsible disclosure policy, we are not disclosing the name of the third-party wireless device driver until a patch is available."

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