Apple's Mac OS X 10.5.3 includes a number of important security
fixes.
Experts at Sophos have reminded businesses of the importance of
updating computers with the latest security patches, as Apple
releases an update to its operating system Mac OS X Leopard.
According to Apple, the Mac OS X 10.5.3 update includes a number
of fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of
Mac computers, and recommends that users of Mac OS X Leopard
install it at their earliest convenience.
Included in the update are a series of security fixes designed
to prevent hackers from taking advantage of vulnerabilities in
Apple's software and open source packages that the company provides
in its Mac OS X operating system.
Security fixes included in the update include patches to prevent
hackers running malicious code on vulnerable computers through
specially crafted movie files and Flash web-based content.
Apple's website confirms that upgrading to Mac OS X 10.5.3 also
updates Adobe Flash to version 9.0.124.0 - avoiding malware seen
exploiting a vulnerability in earlier
versions.
"Even if you have been keeping up-to-date with the latest
patches on your Apple Mac, this update to Mac OS X 10.5.3 can still
mean an eye-watering 420MB download per computer," said Graham Cluley, senior
technology consultant for Sophos. "However, businesses and home
users would be wise to upgrade their Mac systems to avoid leaving
themselves open to potential hack attacks in the future."
More detailed information on the various security fixes included
in the Mac OS X 10.5.3 update are documented on Apple's
website.
Further information on the Adobe Flash flaw, which can affect
other operating systems such as Windows and UNIX as well as Mac OS
X, can be found on Adobe's
website.
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.