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428 points coronadisaster | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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jamesgeck0 ◴[] No.23679063[source]
> Web MIDI API - Allows websites to enumerate, manipulate and access MIDI devices.

This API is actually a bit horrifying from a security perspective. In addition to allowing you to use MIDI keyboards as input devices on websites, it also allows websites to send binary firmware updates to MIDI devices. The reason is that it's common to use custom firmware to backup/restore settings and enable neat effects and functionality on MIDI devices.

Mozilla's engineers have reasonably pointed out that an attacker utilizing Web MIDI could use MIDI devices as a stepping stone to launch an attack against the user's PC outside of the web sandbox. One such attack might be by reprogramming the device to appear as a standard USB computer keyboard and "typing" commands to the host.

At least one well known manufacturer has vouched for the technical safety of their musical instruments, noting that they're physically designed in such a way that the MIDI firmware can't alter USB firmware. But there's no way to know that every MIDI device has been similarly well designed.

As neat as Web MIDI is, I think Mozilla and Apple probably made the right security call here.

https://github.com/mozilla/standards-positions/issues/58

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1. searchableguy ◴[] No.23681737[source]
One point not discussed here is by relying so much on app store and apple's walled garden, what do you do when china or other country ask apple to remove certain apps?

Bypassing geo block on websites is easy and there isn't a single source of truth on the web like app store is for the users. Can apple explain why they took down apps on the request of china in HK and how do you think that will play out when no web apps can work reliably on apple devices?

Censorship is a huge problem for app stores. They censor anything sexual but sexuality is part of human nature. They censor anything politically charged but it's part of human nature too. I hope the anti trust fine plays out.

Apple can protect the privacy of people by making it harder for them to be vulnerable by choice. People here point towards stupid users when saying that a normal user won't be able to connect usb and enable a feature. Why can't the same happen with browsers or apps on ios? Why the $99 fee just to side load apps? Why the need for a mac?

Just admit it's for profit seeking reasons. Ads in your app store are a proof of that.