Security news29 May 2008
Apple Mac OS X Leopard mega-update includes security fixes Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.3 to enhance security of Mac computers
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.
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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.
