Apple leads charge as vulnerabilities soar

Simon · Jul 12, 2010, 19:28:03

Software manufacturers are increasingly leaving vulnerabilities in their products, with Apple currently the worst offender, according to a report by vulnerability detection specialist Secunia.

In its half year report, the company predicted the number of vulnerabilities detected this year would double compared with 2009, calling it "an alarming trend for end users".

During the first six months of 2010, 380 vulnerabilities had already been detected, representing 89% of all potential new problems found last year, the figures showed.

"With Apple, it is up there at the moment and one reason for that is that it has become more popular so is more of a target," Secunia chief security officer Thomas Kristensen told PC Pro. "The other is that they use a lot of open source software within their code and whenever there is a flaw in that code they have to patch as well."

Apple was followed by Oracle, Microsoft and HP. "Given that Microsoft has raised the bar in terms of vulnerabilities and finding exploits, people have moved on to other systems," he said. "Other developers need to get better, but it takes time because the programs are so vast."

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/359383/apple-leads-charge-as-vulnerabilities-soar

Steve · Jul 12, 2010, 19:45:36

It's the third party programs that seem to cause most damage.MS has done very well recently in securing it's OS which will of course make other OS vulnerable as attention is focused on them. Countering this though is the location of these machines, businesses use PCs and that will be where the hackers will make there financial gains

pctech · Jul 12, 2010, 20:45:48

So the only reason the Apple platform has seemed to be more secure than Windows historically is because few used it.

MS suddenly doesn't look so bad after all.

I know all of the Mac people on here are nice folks but this amuses the hell out of me after some of the stuff Mac fans have said to me over the years.

gizmo71 · Jul 12, 2010, 21:11:10

If it's the detection rate that's doubling users will be safer than ever...

pctech · Jul 12, 2010, 22:57:14

I just find it amusing that the drum Mac fans have banged for years about Apple software being secure by design has just had a hammer put through it.

Gary · Jul 12, 2010, 23:44:02

Quote from: pctech on Jul 12, 2010, 22:57:14
I just find it amusing that the drum Mac fans have banged for years about Apple software being secure by design has just had a hammer put through it.

I bought an Apple because I wanted a change, not because of any perceived security haven, as far as a drum being banged, the only one i can see is your own in my view no offence meant but your views on Apple are hardly a secret. And I don't think any metaphorical hammers have been smashed through anything, people with common sense know that obscurity means you get gets overlooked. That's why Opera is safe, not because its built better but its safe via obscurity, Microsoft have had to pull their pants up after XP, because Windows is the most popular OS. Now Apple has to do the same, so what the time had to come.

Simon · Jul 12, 2010, 23:59:41

It's not just Apple:

Quote from: PC Pro http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/359383/apple-leads-charge-as-vulnerabilities-soar#ixzz0tVme07BQThe overall conclusion of the report was that "despite considerable security investments, the software industry at large still proves unable to produce software with substantially less vulnerabilities".

It doesn't really look like any platform is totally secure.

pctech · Jul 13, 2010, 00:25:30

Until programmers produce error free code which is unlikely to happen anytime soon no platform will be totally secure but the way some Mac users (not anyone here as I've said) go on you'd think the Mac was the work of the Devine.

Gary · Jul 13, 2010, 00:53:35

Quote from: Simon on Jul 12, 2010, 23:59:41
It's not just Apple:

It doesn't really look like any platform is totally secure.

I think MS is the safest right now, the rest due to popularity are playing catch up, I wonder how long before we use that dumb terminal for safety

With OSX a decent security protection system needs to be made, most are for Windows viruses, Kaspersy is not good, Intego is bloated, ClamXav is slow and does not scan in real time, Eset are working on one

, there is still time with not much malware about still, 10.6.4 updated OSX to find the latest Trojan in downloads but work needs to be done. Hopefully with Windows Snyder on-board things will speed up, she did great things for Mozilla before she left, I do wonder what way security will turn as signatures and heuristics are not the answer i tend to ahve a few programs as possible so patching is not so difficult, but my friend next door did not even realise flash was vulnerable a while back, education must be part of the answer, or things will get very rough

Gary · Jul 13, 2010, 00:55:59

Quote from: pctech on Jul 13, 2010, 00:25:30
Until programmers produce error free code which is unlikely to happen anytime soon no platform will be totally secure but the way some Mac users (not anyone here as I've said) go on you'd think the Mac was the work of the Devine.

There are just as many Mozilla fanbois and Opera and MS ones the list goes on who sadly all think their system is invulnerable, not just Mac users. Complacency is the worst evil

pctech · Jul 13, 2010, 18:52:58

If Windows was as good as Microsoft tries to convince the world it is I'd be out of a job.