Appletell

Version 7.4.5, the new update to Apple’s multimedia framework application, QuickTime, comes with 11 security fixes for your computer, 3 of which are only for Windows.  Why is this update particularly special?  For one, it addresses issues with some Java Applets and no longer allows them to gain elevated access to your machine, saving your data from malicious hackers. Along with this, the update also brings another anti-hacker feature for Windows users: ASLR, or address space layout randomization.  This security system, which can also be found in open-source security platforms such as OpenBSD, randomly changes the position of key data, making it harder for hackers to predict target addresses.  It is also used in Mac OS X Leopard to reduce the amount of exploits available to hackers.

This will definitely help keep your your machine more secure as it should and has already proven itself by getting the attention of QuickTime hackers such as Dai Zovi.  This hacker, who defeated a MacBook Pro via QuickTime at a 2007 security conference says, “QuickTime looks like it may have just gotten more difficult.” However, he also points out that this is a “good thing.” If you haven’t downloaded this, I strongly suggest opening Software Update and getting it on your machine.

Via [eWeek]

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