Apple megapatch plugs 45 security holes

[Nomad559]

http://news.com.com/2100-1002_3-6166971.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news

Apple on Tuesday issued a security update for its Mac OS X to plug 45 security holes, including several zero-day vulnerabilities.

The megapatch is the seventh Apple security patch release in three months. It deals with vulnerabilities in Apple's own software, as well as third-party components such as Adobe Systems' Flash Player, OpenSSH and MySQL. Sixteen of the vulnerabilities addressed by the update were previously released as part of two high-profile bug-hunting campaigns.

The vulnerabilities pose varying risks to Macs. Several of the flaws could be exploited to gain full control over a Mac running the vulnerable component, according to Apple's advisory. Other holes are limited and could only be exploited to crash a Mac or used by somebody who already has access to a machine to elevate privileges, for example.

[swag]

1. Gee. A fundamental problem there?

[LeftCoast]

2. I count 31

:shrug:

[Stuckinthebush]

3. Wait a minute!

Those "I'm a Mac" commercials and Apple fans tell me that there are no security holes in Macs!!!!

Well, damn. ;-)

[Tyrone Slothrop]

4. I thought Macs were impervious to ANYTHING

That's what Mac-Heads are always telling me, anyway...

[TommyO]

5. Not impervious, but far more secure

in it's default configuration.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

6. Nope

That's not what they tell me.

They always say that it is impossible for a Mac to get any sort of virus or malware or spyware.

[SusanaMontana41]

7. I've used Macs for a long time and never heard that.

:)

But a good friend who is a Mac tech says OSX has more security gaps than OS9. Am very happy to learn about the patch.

[roseBudd]

9. Virus creators don't like to create for the smaller market share that is Mac, it limits

their glory.

I'm a Flash, Photoshop, web development guru who uses a PC. You don't do web development for a 3% audience.

IMHO price does matter. And proprietary HW matters. I've built 2 PCs. I don't recall hearing Mac users upgrading or building anything.

[HannibalBarca]

8. Mac invulnerability

is a marketing ploy pure and simple, no computer connected to the net is 100% secure and this just simply proves that there are several vulnerabilities with macs and I suspect that as they gain popularity many more will appear.
Lesson to everyone, doesn't matter if you're a diehard mac fanatic or the windows equivalent, use a virus scanner/firewall and keep a watchful eye over the sites you visit.