by Over the last couple of days you may have heard of the looming danger of “Shellshock” to Mac users. This new tech scare centers on Bash, a behind-the-scenes tool that’s been used for many years now on Unix- and Linux-powered machines. Essentially, the root of the problem is an exploit that allows outside users to run code on your machine without your consent, and it could thus has devastating consequences if tackled by unscrupulous individuals. But the good news is that even though OS X runs on Unix, Apple itself says the bulk of us don’t have to worry about it.
Specifically, in a statement to Engadget, Apple claimed that “the vast majority of OS X users are not at risk…With OS X, systems are safe by default and not exposed to remote exploits of bash unless users configure advanced Unix services.” In other words, if you’re not even sure what all this talk of Unix and Bash means, you shouldn’t be in danger.
Source: Robert Graham
Still, Apple said in another statement to iMore that it’s creating a patch to help those who might still be affected by it. You’re reportedly not in danger if you’re using OS X Yosemite, but you might be at risk if you’re still using Mavericks.
Cult of Mac also provided a handy method of checking to see if your OS X unit is at risk. Simply open your terminal, and copy and paste the following command into the interface:
env x=’() { :;}; echo vulnerable’ bash -c ‘echo hello’
If you’re not at risk, the Terminal should reply with:
bash: warning: x: ignoring function definition attempt bash: error importing function definition for `x’ hello
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