4 ms·

Exactly how can it use the new password to become super-user? You can't assume that everyone runs only the default admin user on their OS X system.

• keeperofdakeys 15y ago
  The file includes all password hashes, including root. So crack that, then you have superuser.
  • ryannielsen 15y ago
    By default, Mac OS X disables the root user: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528 http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528 That said, reset or crack any admin's password and you can go to town with sudo.
    • hmottestad 15y ago
      Default user can use sudo with it's password. That's all you really need.
• jfriedly 15y ago
  If sudo works the same way on Mac's as it does on Linux, then anyone in the sudoers file could give a rogue application root access.
  • hackermom 15y ago
    It does, and, the only user there, by default, is the first user of the system - the administrator. Not all people use this as their main user.
    • mahyarm 15y ago
      By default, most do, and what happens by default is what matters to virus writers.
• ZipCordManiac 15y ago
  Not everyone, but I'd reckon MOST people do.