A Curious Discovery in macOS
In a peculiar find, the Bitcoin whitepaper has been discovered hidden within macOS Catalina and newer versions. Although numerous hidden files exist on macOS, they typically only appear when users perform specific functions or tests and are not meant for the average user to stumble upon. However, blogger Andy Baio, well-known in the tech community, shared his intriguing discovery on his blog Waxy.
According to Baio, the Bitcoin whitepaper can be found on any Mac running recent versions of macOS. Users can uncover it either by using a simple Terminal command or navigating through Finder. The presence of the Bitcoin whitepaper raises questions about its purpose and origin within the macOS system.
Accessing the Hidden Whitepaper
For users running macOS Catalina or later, entering the following command into Terminal will reveal the hidden Bitcoin whitepaper:
open /System/Library/Image\ Capture/Devices/VirtualScanner.app/Contents/Resources/simpledoc.pdf
This command will open the Bitcoin whitepaper in Preview. It has been confirmed to work on devices with macOS Catalina and newer, though it is possible that older operating systems may also contain the file.
To locate the file via Finder, users need to follow this path: Macintosh HD -> System -> Library -> Image Capture -> Devices. After control-clicking on VirtualScanner.app and selecting "Show Package Contents," users can open Contents -> Resources folder -> simpledoc.pdf.
The Mystery of Virtual Scanner II
Baio's investigation revealed that the Bitcoin whitepaper serves as a sample document for a device called "Virtual Scanner II." This device is hidden for some users or not installed by default. However, it appears that Baio was not the first to uncover the hidden scanner or Bitcoin document.
In 2021, an Apple Community post inquired about the mysterious Virtual Scanner II app and its connection to the Bitcoin whitepaper. Additionally, a peculiar photo taken on Treasure Island was found within the app. Despite these discoveries, no one has come forward with any information or explanation about the purpose of Virtual Scanner II or why the Bitcoin whitepaper is included within it.
Verification and Ongoing Mystery
AppleInsider independently verified that both the Virtual Scanner II app and Bitcoin whitepaper appear in macOS Ventura. However, no one from Apple or outside the company has offered any insight into the purpose behind these files or their inclusion in macOS. As it stands, the presence of the Bitcoin whitepaper and the mysterious Virtual Scanner II app remain an enigma waiting to be solved.