Apple fixes Leopard Java flaws

 

Company patches vulnerabilities in Mac OS X 10.5.

Apple has admitted that its Leopard operating system contains an old version of Java that could be an open door for hackers.

The Java flaw could allow a hacker to take control of a user's machine if they visit a malicious web page. The patch can be downloaded from Apple. However, Apple has not provided a patch for the older Tiger operating system.

The patch updates Leopard to Java versions 1.6.0_15, 1.5.0_20, and 1.4.2_22, which Sun Microsystems released on 5 August.

Apple has long been selling its products on the basis that they are more secure than Microsoft's, but that image might soon change.

Apple seems to have rushed to release the latest version of Mac OS X, Snow Leopard, last week in a bid to put a spoiler on the launch of Windows 7. But some important applications failed to work because third-party developers were not ready, and the operating system shipped with known security holes.

For example, Apple shipped Snow Leopard with an old version of Adobe's Flash Player that leaves users vulnerable to software exploits embedded in Flash videos.

Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said in his blog that Mac users who applied security patches did not deserve to have their security downgraded because they upgraded to Snow Leopard.

Copyright ©v3.co.uk


Apple fixes Leopard Java flaws
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
Vito Forte: A CIO for tough times
Fortescue Metals CIO talks vendor management and innovation.
 
Telstra shifts BigPond email to Windows Live
All data to be migrated to Microsoft cloud.
 
Vodafone Australia churn nears half a million for 2011
British joint owners 'not pleased'.
 
Sign up to receive iTnews email bulletins
   FOLLOW US...

Latest VideosSee all videos »

Latest Comments
Polls
Would you be concerned about your business' email data being hosted offshore?

   |   View results
Yes
  85%
 
No
  15%
TOTAL VOTES: 233

Vote