Bitcoin’s White Paper Has Been in Every MacOS Version Since 2018

A duplicate of the unique Bitcoin white paper written by Satoshi Nakamoto has been present in each fashionable model of Apple’s Mac computer systems.

A number of Apple customers have disclosed that they found the file whereas utilizing their units for unrelated operations. They discovered the file in numerous Mac variations, from Mojave (10.14.0), launched in 2018, to the present model and the lately launched Ventura (13.3).

Bitcoin White Paper Hidden in MacOS Since 2018

In a current blog post, American technologist Andy Baio recommended that the PDF file has been shipped with each copy of macOS since 2018, because it was not present in older Mac variations like Excessive Sierra (10.13), launched in 2017.

Baio shared that he discovered the file whereas fixing his printer to scan a doc. A tool named “Digital Scanner ||,” which he had by no means seen earlier than popped up, and after just a few extra clicks, he noticed the Bitcoin white paper used as a pattern doc for the machine.

The technologist additionally requested greater than a dozen of his Mac-using pals to verify their computer systems. Utilizing the command: “open/System/Library/ImageCapture/Gadgets/VirtualScanner.app/Contents/Sources/simpledoc.pdf,” all discovered a duplicate of the whitepaper on their units.

The blogger additionally situated one other file named “cowl.jpg” saved within the assets folder, the place he discovered a JPEG picture of an indication taken on Treasure Island within the San Francisco Bay by photographer Thomas Hawk.

Why Bitcoin’s White Paper?

It’s value noting that earlier than Baio’s current discovery, some Apple customers had already shared related findings. In November 2020, designer Joshua Dickens tweeted that he got here throughout each information on his Mac. In April 2021, one other Mac person named bernd178 reported the identical expertise within the MacOS neighborhood discussion board.

“It reveals a photograph by Thomas Hawk. I additionally discovered the machine in /System/Library/Picture Seize/Gadgets. Weirdly, there’s additionally a PDF with the unique Bitcoin white paper from Satoshi Nakamoto within the VirtualScanner.app Bundle Content material. Why is that this in /System? Is that this actually from Apple? What’s it good for?” bernd178 asked.

It stays unclear why Bitcoin’s white paper could be present in Apple’s merchandise. Regardless of stories from a number of customers over the previous two years, the know-how firm is but to touch upon the difficulty, exhibiting no plans to make amends.