Open malware

I must have the psychic ability to channel Slashdot!

This morning I thought about the possibility of a Mac OS X virus. It occurred to me that a Mac virus could be much more dangerous than a Windows virus -- due to the Mac's Open Firmware. If a virus or worm gained administrative privileges, it could lock you out of your own computer, or (theoretically) overwrite your firmware with a malicious version that keeps track of everything you do. (You wouldn't be able to fix these things with a simple OS reinstall.)

This afternoon I check Slashdot and see that someone considered a similar possibility on PC hard drives. Great minds think alike!