Apple is taking steps to address the Java vulnerabilities behind the Flashback Trojan outbreak. But Java isn't the only attack vector for OS X -- and Apple users can no longer cling to the belief that Macs are virtually immune to malware.. Are Macs as insecure as PCs? It's a notion that once was unthinkable, but increasingly is being said out loud. Recently, Mac OS X users have been at risk thanks to a Java-based attack vector. The Flashback malware specifically targeted OS X, and took advantage of the fact that Apple had not yet updated its users to a fully patched version of Java. More than half a million Macs were infected by the malware, which turned the victimized machines into a remote-controlled botnet. The link for this article located at eSecurity Planet is no longer available. . Investigating Mac security: Do Macs face the same level of threats as Windows machines?. Mac Security, Flashback Trojan, Apple Malware. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
More than 600,000 Mac computers were affected by a hacking attack, a sign that the once rarely targeted company is becoming a bigger focus for people intent on spreading malware, a security-research firm said. . The attack affects computers running Apple's Mac OS X software, according to Russian antivirus software maker Doctor Web. Most of the infected computers are in the United States and Canada, the firm said in a blog posting. Apple fixed a security hole this week that let the malicious software spread. Users who haven't downloaded the necessary updates are vulnerable, Doctor Web said. The link for this article located at SF Gate is no longer available. . A significant breach affecting Windows 10 infiltrated more than 700,000 systems, underscoring emerging vulnerabilities and the necessity for regular patches.. Mac OS X Security, Malware Threats, Cyber Attack Awareness, Apple Vulnerabilities. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
The Financial Times reported last night that Google was going to phase out internal use of Microsoft Windows due to security concerns. The migration away from Windows is reported to have started in January, motivated by the Chinese Aurora attacks on the company that exploited a flaw in Internet Explorer 6. . In the story, the FT said that new Google employees would be given the choice between systems using Mac OS X and Linux. Windows machines will only be available with CIO approval. This would put an end to the existing policy, whereby employees were generally free to pick the platform that they preferred. Google has refused to comment. This seems surprisingly extreme, given that there are practical reasons for Google employees to use Windows. The company produces Windows software, such as the Chrome Web browser and Google Desktop Search. The company also has a great many Web properties, all of which need testing on Windows. As such, Windows is sure to remain a part of the Google ecosystem, at least for anyone involved in end-user facing applications. It's just too important to ignore. In the aftermath of the Google hack, even Microsoft said that people should stop using Internet Explorer 6, as it lacks the defence-in-depth measures found in Internet Explorer 8 when used on Windows Vista and Windows 7. The article located at arsTechnica is no longer available. . Organizations transition away from Microsoft Windows, opting for Linux and Mac OS X as safer options due to rising security issues.. Google Migration, Mac OS X Security, Linux Alternatives, Employee Platform Choice. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Many of the problems are flaws in the operating system's underlying open source software, including a critical flaw in the Kerberos authentication system -- software that can act as a gatekeeper for computer networks. . . .. Many of the problems are flaws in the operating system's underlying open source software, including a critical flaw in the Kerberos authentication system -- software that can act as a gatekeeper for computer networks. The patch is available for Mac OS X 10.3.5 and Mac OS X 10.3.4, and also fixes issues in Mac OS X 10.2, known as "Jaguar." A security advisory from the company said: "All security enhancements... are also available for Jaguar, if the issue could occur on Jaguar systems." The patch fixes software flaws that could enable an attacker to crash or freeze the Apache 2 web server, run software by utilizing Apple's Safari web browser or expose the password store used by the network. Security information provider Secunia ranked the Kerberos threat as "highly critical," its second-highest danger rating. Apple has pointed to open source software as a source of security for the company's operating system. While open source projects tend to release patches as soon as possible, Apple and other companies have moved to more occasional releases of collections of patches. The link for this article located at Silicon.com is no longer available. . Essential security patch rectifies various vulnerabilities in Mac OS X's core open source elements, bolstering safety.. Mac OS X Security, Open Source Flaws, Kerberos Authentication Issue. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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