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Total Crash - The Test

It takes everything with it.


Safari 2.0.3 on 10.4.6 cannot only fall ingloriously, it can also bring down the entire operating system, a feat of considerable prowess considering OS X is supposed to be using protected memory.

If you're going to perform a test on Yannick's POC, it's best if you prepare first. Best is to reboot your system, first disabling any startup items you normally use: you want as little as possible running when the system comes back up so you minimise disk corruption if you have to force reboot.

Then start both Terminal and Safari - and make sure Terminal is visible (clickable) outside Safari's window. Bring this page back up in Safari and in Terminal write in the following command.

sudo killall -9 Safari

When the system prompts you for your password, enter it - but don't hit Enter. Wait with that until you need it.

Now click on the following link. If your system is still up after that; if you don't get the spinning beach ball; then you're all right. If your system goes berserk, then you're vulnerable: either wait for the CPU to peak out or force a reboot (⌃⌘-power) and hold down ⌘S to enter single user mode. When there, follow the instructions for using fsck and keep using fsck until it says your hard drive is 'OK', then issue the reboot command to bring your system back up as normal again.

Alternately, if you see Safari go nuts, try to click on your Terminal window and just hit Enter. If Safari is 'killt' then you should be all right.

OK, ready? Now click on the link below.

Click here.

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