Former OLPC Security Chief to Make Macs Safer?
Apple has snapped up former One Laptop Per Child Foundation security chief Ivan Krstic.
With the sales of Macs increasing, the average Apple user’s fall back claim of, “well, we get fewer viruses” is definitely in danger. The more Macs there are out there, the faster Mac-specific viruses will start cropping up and it looks like Apple, along with the help of Krstic are determined to ensure the Mac’s reputation for being virtually virus-free intact.
According to ZDNet, Krstic designed the OLPC’s Bitfrost system, which he says prevents any program from damaging the computer, stealing files or spying on the user. Instead of blocking specific viruses, Bitfrost isolates every program on the computer in a separate "virtual operating system," preventing any program from damaging the computer, stealing files, or spying on the user. Viruses are left isolated and impotent, unable to execute their code. “This defeats the entire purpose of writing a virus,” says Krstic.
Krstic wrote about the move to Apple on his personal blog but revealed little details about the decision to work for Apple. Ivan explains that he left OLPC a year ago to pursue “a new adventure.” Despite the fact that he was admitted to an MIT graduate program, he did not accept the place at MIT and said he felt a brief update about what he was doing with his life was in order. After brief descriptions about his own research and his roll in this year’s PyCon conference, Krstic finishes the post with the announcement that he has found the new adventure he has sought for the last year.
“But perhaps most importantly, I have — at long last — found my new adventure. After a great deal of deliberation, I moved to California and joined the local fruit vendor.
Today was my first day on the job, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
No word from Apple on the hiring of this bright spark.

Stock prices are as much about how many outstanding shares there are as they are about them "going places."
At this point Apple has no where to go but down and all of their recent hires are to ensure they don't go that direction. They've had one hell of a ride and I dont blame them for wanting to stay on top, even if all they've done is be the "cool" computer to own.
I think this is an indeed a great way forward as one software gets infected, the infection can't spread to other parts. I wish we can do this on the human body without amputating someone as that's basically what we're doing with these viruses. By cutting them off from being able to infect the rest of the system.
Its a good move, imo. Apple could definitely handle increasing the diversity of their approach to things a bit. Simply relying on the idea that hackers ignor macs due to low penetration as they've done in the past is an extremely poor strategy to say the least.
now that apple has all those commercials "claiming" that they dont get viruses ect. (total bullshit)
now they have to put up or shutup
Hopefully Apple and Microsoft will double their attention regarding security issues with their Os's and create better ways to safeguard the end user.
How can they say something that isn't true? Are they running for office?
Justin should go back to dodging rubber balls.
He's more believable as a geek than a cool guy.
Epic fail.
The OLPC’s Bitfrost system seems interesting. I would think that a system like that would eat up resources.
what now?? is it safe or not??
It would be nice if you made sense now and then.
If English is your second language, then I apologize.