News

Apple Releases First Ever Auto-Update for Mac

For the first time ever, Apple has released an automatic security update for iMacs and Macbooks. The update is designed to patch the recently-discovered security vulnerability CVE-2014-9295, which affects OS X and other Linux and Unix distributions.

Apple spokesperson Bill Evans told Reuters that the update is “seamless” and doesn’t require a system restart.

The security vulnerability was revealed last week by the US Department of Homeland Security and the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute. The bug means hackers could exploit a fault in a system’s Network Time Protocol (NTP) for gain access to a computer remotely.

“Apple’s proactive steps to automatically remediate this particular vulnerability shows the need to quickly patch remotely exploitable vulnerabilities,” according to Tripwire security analyst Ken Westin. “However, the use of Apple’s automatic deployment tool is not without risks, as even the simplest update can cause problems for some systems. In this case the update may have been so minor the risk of affecting other applications and processes was minimal.”

Westin advises anyone worried about the auto-update that “If you have a Mac system where an automatic update might introduce a problem — or you are the paranoid type — it can be disabled by going to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > App Store and unchecking Install system data files and security updates.”

Source: CNET

Ashley Allen

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Gray Zone Warfare Has Sold Half a Million Copies in 4 Days

MADFINER Games is a globally recognised Czech independent game studio that has recently released a…

9 hours ago

NVIDIA GeForce NOW Gets Improved Support for Steam Deck and 25 New Games

Are you a fan of GeForce NOW? Well, if you are, or if you're still…

9 hours ago

Upcoming Helldivers Warbond Is Filled With Lots of Fun Gear

The next Helldivers 2 warbond is coming and recently Arrow Head Studios have revealed what…

9 hours ago

Varmilo VEA109 Moonlight Gaming Keyboard, MX-Red, White-LED

110% mechanical keyboard with 109 keys in a UK ISO layout V-silk PBT keycaps with…

11 hours ago

HGC Osmi 3.1 Aluminium Mini-ITX Case – Black

Recent years have seen Small Form Factor (SFF) PCs become increasingly popular. Obviously they are…

11 hours ago

Next Level Racing Go Kart Cockpit Racing Simulator

Introducing the Next Level Racing® Go Kart Plus cockpit, designed for the whole family to…

11 hours ago