bdash
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bdash.net.nz
bdash
@bdash.net.nz
74 followers 27 following 17 posts
Pinball, pinball, pinball.

And some computer security nonsense too.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by bdash
silverlyne.bsky.social
Details about the new hardened-process entitlements. (bsd/kern/kern_exec.c)
May 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
bdash.net.nz
Crazy thought… what if your decompiled Objective-C code looked like Objective-C code?

Today's journey: implementing an Objective-C “pseudo-language” view for Binary Ninja.

#binaryninja #reverseengineering #objectivec
Before: Decompilation of Objective-C code with minimal language-specific analysis After: Decompiled Objective-C code with language-specific analysis and transformations applied, displayed as pseudo-Objective-C
May 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
bdash.net.nz
I've been experimenting with improving Binary Ninja's analysis of Objective-C. By hiding reference counting calls and applying types based on [super init] and objc_alloc_init calls, the structure of the decompiled code becomes clearer.

github.com/bdash/bn-obj...

#binaryninja #reverseengineering
Before: decompilation of an Objective-C class initializer showing the results given by Binary Ninja out of the box. Retain / release calls clutter the function and the lifted code that initializes instance variables does not make any sense due to missing type information. After: Decompilation of the same function, but with retain / release calls removed and the type of [super init] propagated to the local variable. As a result, access to instance variables are correctly recognized and field names are displayed. Before: decompilation of an Objective-C function showing the results given by Binary Ninja out of the box. Reference counting function calls clutter the code so much that it’s hard to see the actual structure of the code. After: The same Objective-C function but with reference counting function calls hidden. The structure of the function is clear!
May 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
bdash.net.nz
My fun hack this week: running Doom II on the Spike 2 platform used in Stern #pinball machines.

The main processor is an ARM Cortex A9 running an ancient version of Linux. Switches, including the flipper buttons, are handled by microcontrollers in the cabinet talking over a proprietary "node bus”.
January 13, 2025 at 3:45 AM
bdash.net.nz
Pinball got you down? Why not play 1994’s hit video game DOOM II… on your pinball machine!

www.youtube.com/shorts/Nf8uI...

#pinball #sternpinball
Doom II running on an Avengers Infinity Quest pinball machine
YouTube video by bdash
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Reposted by bdash
pinballmap.com
Cool article! arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/...
Meet the man keeping hope, and 70-year-old pinball machines, alive
Steve Young’s passion built a business that keeps historic tables running.
arstechnica.com
January 6, 2025 at 3:32 PM
bdash.net.nz
Happy new Stern Pinball reveal day to all who celebrate!

Dungeons and Dragons: Tyrant's Eye, featuring a gelatinous cube, animatronic dragon, and saved campaign progress. Looks interesting from the software / rules side of things.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lsz...

#pinball #dnd
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Tyrant's Eye Pinball Presented by Stern Pinball
YouTube video by Stern Pinball
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
bdash.net.nz
Main tournament area at Pincinnati is looking good for tomorrow. A fun mix of games from all eras, including the traditional whacky Gottlieb's like Diamond Lady and Bad Girls.

Not in photo: Cheetah and most of Big Game. Panorama mode wasn't interested in those ones 🤷🏼‍♂️

#pinball #pincinnati
December 6, 2024 at 5:21 AM
bdash.net.nz
Flew into Cincinnati today. Getting hyped for Pincinnati and its tournaments coming up this weekend! #pinball #pincinnati
December 5, 2024 at 3:28 AM
bdash.net.nz
New blog post time! I dug into an overlooked part of how TCC works on macOS: how the platform sandbox policy triggers TCC prompts from within the kernel. The post looks at the sandbox features behind this and provides examples of some of the responsible policies.

bdash.net.nz/posts/tcc-an...
TCC and the macOS Platform Sandbox Policy // Mark Rowe
How some macOS privacy prompts are triggered from within the kernel via sandbox policies
bdash.net.nz
December 2, 2024 at 4:29 AM