schadenfreude

So I decided to update to the latest version of Firefox. Not that I ever use it right now; my preferred browser is Safari because it doesn't look like a refugee from XWindows.

Started it up, it did the usual thing of checking the extensions of the existing install and offering to update 'em. Got its updates, and started to launch. Then it crashed.

Hitting the 'restart' button in its crash reporter soon brought up another crash reporter window. So much for Firefox 3.0.

I did not really start snickering until the first crash reporter stopped showing the progress bar and said 'There was a problem submitting your crash report', then silently vanished.

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And then I tried deleting my existing Firefox prefs and starting it. It offered to import my data from Safari, ground on that for a while... and brought up another crash reporter window. Good job, guys!

beetiger posted this morning asking why she should upgrade, and I think my experience clearly shows that she should - look at all the fun you're missing out on!

so, yeah, if you actually use firefox as your primary browser and want to update it, if i were you i'd back up the old version and all your settings first. it might just be barfing because I haven't gotten around to upgrading to the latest version of the Mac OS, but, um, it's not as if they tell you what the required OS version is anywhere near the big happy download button. if you want to live on the bleeding edge i suggest the nightlies of webkit.

edit: Oh, okay, it runs if I disable Shapeshifter for it. Bleh. And then when I quit it, it dies with 'This application quit unexpectedly'.

join the club

At long last, someone's discovered a way to get root on OSX. So now you can smack any mindless Mac fanboy who insists it's completely secure. (On the other hand it did take a damn long time.)

I tried this and it does seem to be working. I think I also found a quick fix: log in as an admin user, go to a terminal and do

sudo mv /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/notARDAgent.app

The system will ask for your password; provide it. I'd also suggest not renaming it to 'notARDAgent.App' - mix it up, do something unlikely like putting your mother's maiden name in the middle of it. This will mean that you can't control this machine via Apple Remote Desktop any more but so what?

edit: Okay, to address the objections people are raising: one, this applescript-a-program-that-runs-as-root trick does not ask for a password; sudo does. And no, it's not a remote exploit, but I think the amount of crap you get in email full of Windows trojans shows that this isn't important as long as you can get someone to run your trojan...