Meta's Muse Zips Full Root Filesystem for Download as Intended Cloud-PC Behavior

2 articles · Updated · The Verge · Sep 25

Muse now offers a clickable file browser with root access and will zip up its full filesystem for download, delivering what it calls complete listings with secrets stripped out.
Meta executives framed the access as deliberate design: Nat Friedman called it "intended behavior," while David Singleton said each Muse Secure VM is meant to function as a user's own Linux computer in the cloud.
Yesterday, Muse exposed only a directory tree text file and refused a full root copy on security grounds, making the broader access a sharp shift from its earlier behavior.
Meta had already said users might see changes in how much VM information is available, but it has not explained why Muse previously described filesystem access as a security issue if that access was always intended.