Apple releases security patches for Mac OS X
Apple released a set of security patches for its Mac OS X operating system.
The update was released on Thursday, fixes flaws in about 20 Mac OS X operating system services, including the Mac's AirPort driver software, Help Viewer, and Installer application.
There have been a lot of patches and a lot of pressure put on Apple in the last year," Rob Ayoub, a senior analyst at Frost & Sullivan , told MacNewsWorld. "It show a couple of things. One, the increased popularity of Apple [computers]. And, two that they have taken a much more serious stance on security and they are addressing a lot of bugs."
The most critical flaws could enable an attacker to take complete control of an unpatched Mac, according to the security advisory. Three of the patches scored between a seven and an eight on the CVSS (common vulnerability scoring system) scale, a recognized tool used to measure the severity of vulnerabilities.
Apple patches tend to receive less publicity than those from archrival Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) , Cluley explained, possibly because hackers are much more likely to target Windows users than Apple users. It is inevitable that the more actively and widely attacked Windows will steal more of the headlines.
"No operating system is 100 percent secure," Cluley said. "And this is a salutary reminder to Mac users that -- although Windows gets attacked more often by malware -- they are not invulnerable themselves."
Apple recommends that all users install the update, called 2007-04, which can be found on Apple's download site.
Comments