Mountain Lion Security

Question

Hi, I am a PGA/LGA certified hardware engineer who worked R&D for decades.
One of the processes in R&D is the Verification of design function within complex designs that both do and do not use computers and or software.
In the case of a design where software is used, a simple process of verification takes place and ALWAYS takes place.
This simple process applies to the Mac Pro using Mountain Lion and directly references computer security.
The simple process is this.
The software engineer designs a graphic that pops on to the computer screen with buttons or check boxes that the user selects to make the hardware perform a certain function or function in a certain state.
Once this computer graphic and its selections are designed, the Hardware Engineer tests each portion of the hardware to verify that the software is controlling the hardware as the software graphic indicates.
The idea and process is quite simplistic.
Just because there is a graphic on the computer display telling the user that a certain hardware condition is set, there is no proof or verification that the hardware condition is actually set unless the hardware is tested and verified.
This verification cannot be performed by software, it must be performed by tests equipment not associated with the hardware or software under test.
In simple terms, it does not matter what your computer display tells you because the display can be false due to a software program error.
This procedure has been applied to the Mac Pro running Mountain Lion.
The test was to verify Network Settings and its network transceiver circuits. These tranceivers are, Ethernet, Firewire, USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
The technical engineering truth is.... there is no such thing as a computer that cannot be hacked, UNLESS, the computer is not attached to any network, OR, all network tranceiver circuits are disabled.
Trust me, that is a technical fact.
If you wish to produce copyright, patent, or any form of sensitive material on a desktop workstation, the first step is to deny ALL hackers ANY access.
The Mac Pro or similar desktop workstation (including PC's) with built in network (wired and wireless) tranceiver hardware must be tested and verified as capable of controlling all network transceivers REGARDLESS if you need or require perfect computer security.
Here are the test and verification results.
These tests were performed on:
1. PowerPC running Tiger and Leopard.
2. Mac Pro running Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion.
Do the PPC and MP operating system have hardware control over network transceivers?
Yes, this is verified.
Network transceivers are disabled under Energy Saver Options by deselecting "Wake for Ethernet Administrator access" in Tiger and Leopard, deselecting "wake for network access" in Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion and in Network by setting ALL "Configure IPv4" to "Off" and individually selecting each transceiver and applying "Make Service Inactive" under the tool wheel.
This is where things get confusing and flawed and the reason this post has been made.
This post is for those who use a computer workstation as a workstation and are rightfully concerned about protecting intellectual property produced on a computer workstation.
Does the computer operating system maintain these network transceiver settings if placed in sleep mode, woke up from sleep mode and or restarted?
In the case of the PPC running Tiger or Leopard the answer is Yes.
In the case of the MP running Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion, the answer is NO.
The Snow Leopard operating system DOES maintain these settings if placed into sleep mode.
The Mountain Lion operating system DOES NOT maintain these network settings if placed into sleep mode.
BOTH Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion DO NOT maintain these network settings if woke up from sleep mode or restarted.
Since this does not happen in Tiger or Leopard and the conditions are different between Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion, the problem is SOFTWARE.
This flawed function is a software bug by technical verification.
The computer graphic on the display indicates to the user that the network transceivers are disabled, when in fact they are enabled.
Summary:
The SL and ML operating systems can and do control network transceiver hardware via software command but ONLY if the computer never sleeps, is never woke up from sleep or is never restarted.
Neither operating system reads Network settings when woke up or restarted and yet.... reports that these network settings are set.
The software is not correctly or accurately reporting computer hardware conditions and is not applying software control.
These are the conditions required to define a Software Bug.
SL and ML FAIL to establish full network security.
The computer hacker is presented with an open door, an open door created by failing to disable the network transceiver Hardware in all modes.
If the user requires full computer security, the user must revisit and reset all above mentioned settings manually and never allow the computer to sleep in the case of ML and never be woke up or restarted in the case of both SL and ML.
Computer security in SL and ML has FAILED to pass hardware verification due to flawed software control for users who require complete security.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND!
This software bug is of very little concern to those who do not use a computer workstation as a computer workstation.
If you use the Mac Pro workstation as your internet, web, or social site device, then feel free to ignore this software flaw.
If you are a professional using the Mac Pro as a computer workstation to produce any form of intellectual property such as copyright, patent, CAD, or even software development, then you should be very concerned and follow the security directions given.
POSTSCRIPT:
The average person will seek debate, argument, conflict, or disrespect by attempting to establish a network link with the settings described above.
With the settings defined, no link can be established by the user.
HOWEVER.... a link can be established by a malicious hacker without the user ever knowing.
Proper Computer Security requires that software NOT be responsible for security via any active software process.
Security is established by disconnecting ALL hardware and or disabling ALL network hardware.
Failure to establish a link with network settings defined is NOT a valid verification test and is.... the fox guarding the henhouse.
Verification can only be performed on the network hardware.
COMIC RELIEF:
Yes, I reported this to Apple and senior advisor Brian told me that Apple's operating system cannot control the computer's network hardware and that software that controls hardware is "impossible".
Brian suggested I seek third party software but failed to explain how third party software is going to disable network transceivers while the computer is sleeping, woke up from sleep, or restarted and.... by suggesting third party software, verified that software can control hardware. (comedy)
If what Brian says is true fact.... the computer could not exist. (hilarious)
So much for the technical competence of Brian.
As we see so often these days, Brian was merely an Apple Support Customer assassin seeking to make the customer shut up.... especially if the issue was valid and verifiable and technically proven by a professional customer.

Answer 1

Test results using your suggestion FAILED.
Mountain Lion re-enabled network transceivers upon sleep mode, wake from sleep and restart.
The most convenient way to deal with this verified Software Bug is to create a new Location that has all settings I defined and manually switch between one Location and another and Apply.
This forces the operating system to revisit and apply the network settings.
Failure to do this each and very time in Snow Leopard re-enables the network transceivers.
It makes no difference if you do this in Mountain Lion, the network transceivers are all re-enabled upon entering sleep mode.
This is not proper operating system behavior and is a serious software bug that applies to professionals using Mountain Lion.
The operating system should automatically revisit and refresh network settings upon wake up or restart and should not re-enable network transceivers when entering sleep mode.
Thank you for help in further verifying this software bug.
PS
Psychology does not have any place in technical discussions but for the record.
Any user who seeks computer security MUST by default accept that system updates and similar require manual network settings.
This is no excuse for an operating system that fails to maintain and insure selected network settings and FORCES the user (if using Snow Leopard) to re-apply these settings every time the computer sleeps, is woke up, or restarted.
In the case of Mountain Lion.... the computer can never be allowed to enter sleep mode.
In the case of Mountain Lion users, the computer must be shut off after each use and network settings manually re-applied upon each restart.
This places undo strain on all computer componentry due to surge currents. (technical fact)
There is no competent person who would not define this as a software bug except Brian.