Cupertino (CA) - Apple yesterday rolled out a total of 52 patches, 41 of which tackled vulnerabilities in the Mac OS X operating system.

Of the 41 OS X patches, 15 fell under the "critical" category because they could lead to significant damages to the computer through what Apple calls "arbitrary code execution".

The other 26 updates to Apple's most popular operating system dealt with vulnerabilities ranging from enabling malicious Web code downloads to crashing certain applications to enabling hackers to remotely download local files on the hard drive.

Ncircle director of security, Andrew Storms, noted that most of the patches weren't directly dealing with Apple software.  Most of them "dealt primarily with third-party applications shipped with Apple's operating systems," he was quoted as saying in a Computerworld story.

Releasing 41 patches simultaneously for one platform makes it one of the biggest in Apple's history, and certainly the most notable so far this year.

In addition to fixing Mac OS X, Apple put out a lone update to Leopard, its newly released successor to OS X.  This update involved iPhoto, patching only minor cosmetic bugs.

The rest of yesterday's 10 updates are attributed to Safar For Windows, the cross-platform version of Apple's Web browser.  Most of these were described as "cross-site scripting" vulnerabilities, which include tools that hackers use to gain access to sensitive information like passwords.  One update, however, was classified as critical because it could allow remote code execution.

Lies!!!!!!! All lies!!!!!

Nov 15, 2007 11:35     

This is obviously a completely made up story. Apple's software is perfect and without flaw, I heard Steve Jobs say that himself.
System48 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Third party software

Nov 15, 2007 11:35     

This is a good reason why Apple does not want people to hack their systems. So make sure to only purchase Apple produced software. The question if this is truly third party problems why patch the OS? The patch will only lead other parties to write bad software that will require more patches then soon you have bloat-ware to take care of all the poorly wrote code. If I was Apple I would delete the bad software from the machines until the third party made the required fixes to make it perfect.

RichR report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Why is Apple releasing .....

Nov 15, 2007 11:53     

Why is Apple releasing patches for PC? Isn't PC their primary competitor and the only platform vulnerable to security risks?
Pei report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

vulnerabilities in the Mac OS X operating system

Nov 15, 2007 11:54     

What!!! This is lie!!! Blasphemy!!! Tom's you must cleans yourself with Jobs' greatness!!! YOU KNOW MAC's Don't have vulnerabilities!!!! Don't ever speak of this again!!! Seriously where are the crazy mac fanboy comments.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I'm sorry

Nov 15, 2007 11:56     

I can't help but think of the recent mac commercial with the PR lady. Looks like Vista isn't the only thing experiencing "minor issues." Honestly, apple wouldn't have so many haters if they weren't so smug.
karson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I thought OS X was perfect?????

Nov 15, 2007 13:11     

it didn't have no bugs and never crashes...????, wha happened? (sarcasm)
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i agree

Nov 15, 2007 13:35     

I agree with Karson. Most of us know OSX is a better OS and Mac is more stable. But the "holier than thou" mac ads does not help. Spend those ad $$$$$$ on real world PR campaigning by showing it to the folks is a much better way to spread the words. BTW, vista blows.
Jerry report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Windows Haters

Nov 15, 2007 14:59     

Where are all the Apple users/Vista haters who go on about how many updates Windows requires? I don't recall Microsoft ever releasing 50 updates/fixes in one day!
subpopz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Vastly superior?

Nov 15, 2007 15:26     

I guess now all the Mac guys are realizing the only advantage a Mac has over a PC is its "vastly superior" interface, considering it is running on Intel PC based hardware (thought the Power PC was supposed to be better?), and is being plagued with security issues (the commercial says it doesn't get sick...?). /sarcasm I am so happy that the Macs are gaining popularity. Now, the die-hard Mac fans may actually realize that problems scale inline with proliferation.

Philstuf report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Just goes to prove...

Nov 15, 2007 15:28     

That Apple products are just as buggy and insecure as Microsoft. Security through obscurity will only get you so far. I think the 'Month of Apple Bugs' also helped prove that. But here we are almost a year after Vista was released, and what am I still running? Windows XP. What am I still recommending to our PC customers? Beg borrow and steal a way to get your manufacturer to install XP on your new system, stay away from Vista for another year. But on the OSX side? Yeah, there's been some serious upgrade issues, heck, it won't even run on my well upgraded old Mac G4 Cube (1GB Ram, 160GB hd, Fan, upgraded GPU, etc). But for the most part Mac users have been converting to OSX 10.5 in droves and won't be avoiding it like the plague^h^h^h^h^h^hVista...

Dozer report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Mac has always been vulnerable...

Nov 15, 2007 16:20     

Mac has been vulnerable for years now, this is nothing new at all. The trick is that when your company only have some 5% of the market then it makes you a rather small target. Also mac users are a bit more educated than the average PC user (that isnt to say they know more about their computers, but that they are more inteligent in general because they needed a better job to afford to have the mac in the first place) and so they are generally smarter about giving out personal information making them even less of a target. If I was a hacker I could think really easially... hey, why not attack windows people? Their OS is simple, plenty of 3rd party software, plenty of nertowrking flaws left over from Win NT, and gererally a better sampeling of people in general. But now there are 'cheap' macs, they are becoming popular, and now the vulnerabilities that have always been there are slowly becoming a problem. Cant wait to find out that vista is actuially more secure than the new OSX

Caeden Vintori report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Apple Patches

Nov 15, 2007 22:06     

Perhaps Apple will start a more regular series of patch distribution ... let us call it "Patch Thursday"
Joseph L. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I had to reinstall Vista on my new Dell.....!

Nov 16, 2007 02:18     

well, i bought a dell for my wife, and we ended having to run a complete hardware test and then completely reinstall W. Vista, this only took about 4 night from 10pm to 3am. I don't see myself doing that on a Mac. You be the judge!! Read my google review of Dell from google maps: dell, round rock, tx.
ed report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

LOL

Nov 16, 2007 14:14     

Welcome to the party Mac OS X. Don't be blue, you can always play some itunes on your iphone while you watch some video on your ipod... so it's not the end of the world. Cheer up apple.
pip_seeker report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re: i had to

Nov 16, 2007 19:58     

4 night? I reinstalled with driver hunting on a new laptop way back at the beginning of this year... took me 3 hours (mostly waiting for the dvd to copy stuff) and it was all done. I'd never even met vista before that so had NO experiance. Dunno what you were doing that it took 4 night. That said, I'm still an XP fan and will be til they get their transperancy effects worked out that the window in mouse focus is not the background window!

Allan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

iLife

Nov 18, 2007 23:43     

We all make mistakes, heck the constitution of the united states even planned for future changes with the amendment system. It is not an error of Mac and Windows they they should update themselves, it is good that they are fixing their problems, unforeseen or ignored. I personally prefer windows for no other reason that its the best operating system you can install on a custom built pc. I think PC's should be able to run all operating systems, any they can if apple would just not be stubborn enough to allow it. When that day comes i will have a dual or tri boot between any windows and mac, and use each with the benefits each brings to the table.

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