Just when Mac users thought it was safe...

When talking with Mac fans about the benefits of a Mac, the following statement is invariably stated "of course, the Apple Mac doesn't get any viruses". In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In my computing timeline I have seen viruses progress from Unix to DOS to Windows in direct correlation with their popularity. Now we are seeing Macs being targeted as their popularity rises along with iPhones and similar devices. It is not the operating system that matters - it is simply how great a percentage of the population are using them. Read on the following articles to get a feel for this...

Apple secretly updates Mac malware protection &

Sophos reveals Mac OS X 10.6.4 includes limited protection against Pinhead-B Trojan

Researchers at IT security and data protection firm Sophos have discovered that Apple secretly updated the anti-malware protection built-into Mac OS X when it released a new version earlier this week.Read more

http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2010/06/18/apple-secretly-updates-mac-malware-protection/


Note that this articele is backed up by the US-CERT site:

Apple Releases Security Update 2010-004 and Mac OS X v10.6.4

added June 16, 2010 at 09:54 am

Apple has released Security Update 2010-004 and Mac OS X v10.6.4 to address multiple vulnerabilities that affect a number of applications. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial-of-service condition, operate with elevated privileges, conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, alter configuration settings, or conduct cross-site scripting attacks.

Note that these Apple updates include Adobe Flash Player plugin version 10.0.45.2, which contains vulnerabilities previously identified in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB10-14. The Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) has published a blog entry recommending that Mac OS X users upgrade to the latest version of the Flash Player (version 10.1.53.64) after applying these Apple updates.

US-CERT encourages users and administrators to review Apple Article HT4188 and the Adobe PSIRT blog entry and apply any necessary updates to help mitigate the risks.

Additionally for the iPhone and iPod touch the following statements were published :

Apple Releases iOS 4

added June 23, 2010 at 09:26 am
Apple has released iOS 4 for iPhone 3G and later, and iPod touch (2nd generation) and later, to address multiple vulnerabilities across several packages. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial-of-service condition, disclose sensitive information, bypass security restrictions, or conduct cross-site scripting attacks.

US-CERT encourages users and administrators to review Apple article HT4225 and update to iOS 4 as necessary to help mitigate the risks.

Happy Computing

Roger