Five years later, Apple removes the Bitcoin White Paper from Mac computers

by James · April 28, 2023

Five years since it was first inserted into Apple computers, and three years since it was first discovered, the Bitcoin White paper is being removed from MacBooks in the latest OS upgrade.

The white paper was hidden on 2018 macOS Mojave and later versions under the title “simpledoc.pdf” and could be accessed via a Terminal command. It was first noticed in 2020 by a Mac user who shared his discovery on Twitter to little fanfare. A few weeks ago, tech journalist and ex-Kickstater CTO Andy Baio revived the news on Twitter, sparking widespread interest and many misplaced conspiracy theories, including Steve Jobs as Satoshi Nakamoto.

Apple is now removing the white paper. Users running macOS Ventura 13.4 beta report that alongside the white paper, the company has also removed the Virtual Scanner II app, which contained the PDF document. The app allowed Apple engineers to simulate scanning and exporting documents with the Image Capture app without the need for a scanner.

While there has been speculation that the white paper’s inclusion was deeply symbolic, or that there was a Bitcoin enthusiast among Apple’s top executives, it is more likely that the engineers included the document for testing purposes and that it was never intended to be found by ordinary Mac users. users.

By including the white paper on its computers, Apple also risked copyright infringement. Dr. Craig Wright even confirmed the breach on Twitter, but has not indicated whether he intends to take further action.

I think that Apple might be infringing copyright. What do you say @Dr_CSWright

— NAW (@nawBitbot) 6 April 2023

Steve Jobs is just the latest tech guru to be labeled Satoshi by the tiniest link to the tiniest facet of Bitcoin. For Jobs, all it took to be awarded the title of Satoshi was to place the white paper on MacBooks, which was done seven years after his death.

It is taken even less for others. Do you remember Dorian Nakamoto? Newsweek was quick to label him as Satoshi, even though he had never heard of Bitcoin before the outlet went after him. There are other Faketoshis you can read about here.

All along the world has ignored the obvious truth; that Dr. Craig Wright is Satoshi. The evidence is overwhelming, but since he does not fit the utopian godly figure many expect Satoshi to be, Dr. Wright remains the target of attack.

CoinGeek Talks with Dr. Craig Wright: The very beginning of Bitcoin

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