back to article Have an iPhone? Mac? Just about anything else Apple flogs? Patch now

Apple has issued a huge wad of updates to address dozens of CVE-listed security vulnerabilities in iOS, OS X Yosemite, Safari, and OS X Server. The update includes fixes for security flaws that an attacker could exploit to remotely execute code on one's shiny belongings. For newer iOS devices, Apple is putting out the iOS 8.4 …

  1. CrosscutSaw

    Hope

    Gosh I hope this thread doesn't break out into Apple bashing or Apple apologetics!

    1. Teiwaz
      Alert

      Re: Hope

      "Gosh I hope this thread doesn't break out into Apple bashing or Apple apologetics!"

      When the bashing and apologetics reach 1:1 the thread will cancel itself out and disappear in a puff of logic.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Hope, both.

      I hate Apple but they're doing a fantastic job.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Hope, both.

        I love Apple but they are doing a shit job.

        1. VinceH
          Mushroom

          Re: Hope, both.

          Dagnammit! Those two AC posts are confusing and are going to make my head explode!

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Hope, both.

            I am ambivalent about Apple and I am ambivalent about the job they're doing.

      2. Androgynous Cowherd

        Re: Hope, both.

        Upvote - just to even things out.

        1. Zot
          Meh

          Re: Hope, both.

          I couldn't give a rat's monkeys.

  2. tempemeaty
    Mushroom

    " i " is for Indignant

    Updating to Yosemite will only break most my software. That has happened enough now, so Apple's just screwed me "royally". Being they are the biggest and richest company on the planet, you can't blame failure to secure even one version back on the lack of funds. It just means Apples' Leadership are acting like indignant ass hats. (just my dirty rotten disgruntled 2 cents)

    iMac, iPhone, iPod...because " i " is for indignant.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: " i " is for Indignant

      But if they don't release their yearly service pack pretending to be a new OS they can't as easily force obsolete current well functioning hardware and considering selling hardware is how they make their money we wouldn't want to piss off the shareholders would we? Besides why care about supporting anything for any length of time when people wait in line for their new shiny crap?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: " i " is for Indignant

        they can't as easily force obsolete current well functioning hardware

        I have as yet to find my hardware obsolete in 5 years, which is when I always replace kit because it's properly written off and tech has moved on enough to warrant a change. Yet, when I then upgrade I even get good money back for the old kit (show me any other manufacturer who does that, and they also do this for tablets and mobile phones).

        Any specifics you care to mention or are you just astroturfing?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: " i " is for Indignant

          >Yet, when I then upgrade I even get good money back for the old kit

          So basically Apple gets to hold a security deposit from you in the form of the massive premium they charge for their hardware (some of which you recover later). The funny part is you think that is an advantage. Don't get me wrong I like most of their kit but am very selective about which I buy (usually when their premium is unusually small).

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: " i " is for Indignant

            So basically Apple gets to hold a security deposit from you in the form of the massive premium they charge for their hardware (some of which you recover later).

            I've always used premium gear. When I was using Windows I used Sony VAIOs (also for Linux), and they were roughly the same price as the Apple MBP I bought to test so I'm not really that bothered about the price. The money back thing was a bit unexpected to be honest, but a nice touch. If you can't afford gear, just be honest enough to say so, just say so, but then don't try to find fault with the platform for your inability to buy it.

            I suspect that's what a lot of the bile here is: jealousy of people who would *jump* at the chance to buy Apple gear if they could afford it, but because they cannot it has to be all bad, Apple can do no good and its users are a cult or evil or whatever else feels comfortable. It's OK, I understand. Just know that I'm smiling every time I hear of yet another problem with Windows and Android - I have been there, and I know why I switched to Apple. The fact that some people hate them makes it actually more interesting.

            Now, what's the most offensive car I can rent? Hummers are too impractical. Hmm. Ah, got it: a gold coloured Aston Martin. That will also upset anyone with good taste. Yum. Does it run on squashed baby seal oil?

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: " i " is for Indignant

              >I've always used premium gear. When I was using Windows I used Sony VAIOs (also for Linux), and they were roughly the same price as the Apple MBP I bought to test so I'm not really that bothered about the price.

              Its good because I own a fair amount of Apple stock and count on people like you to keep that gravy train flowing. Apple is better at finding them than most.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: " i " is for Indignant

        "But if they don't release their yearly service pack pretending to be a new OS "

        You really have absolutely no idea what you are talking about do you.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: " i " is for Indignant

      This article says that Apple is providing patches all the way back to Mountain Lion (3 years old). How is that forcing you to upgrade to Yosemite?

      1. Martin an gof Silver badge
        Unhappy

        Re: " i " is for Indignant

        This article says that Apple is providing patches all the way back to Mountain Lion (3 years old). How is that forcing you to upgrade to Yosemite?

        How about in my case because the Wife has a 32-bit Intel Macmini which cannot take an OS beyond 10.6 Snow Leopard. How the heck am I supposed to keep Safari (or whatever) patched on that?

        Mother has a still-working PPC Macmini, with 10.3 (Panther). While it could update to 10.4 (Tiger) (but no further) a: you can't get the install media and b: what would be the point? As it happens she has a newer machine now, but the PPC hasn't quite been retired yet.

        This is the reason Apple-bashing happens. Whoever decided that 4 or 5 years is a suitable lifespan for computer hardware needs to take a look inside my piggybank and realise that I simply can't afford to buy a new computer every 3 or 4 years when the existing one works perfectly well.

        Personally I not only use generic x86 hardware (with OpenSuse as it happens) which can be upgraded / replaced part-by-part as necessary(*) but I also do very nearly all of my emailling and word processing on a 21-year-old Acorn RiscPC. It "just works".

        Hwyl!

        (*)on which subject, my EeePC has hardware comparable to the 32-bit Intel Macmini, all bar an Atom instead of a Pentium. OpenSuse's 32-bit version runs perfectly well and is still not only receiving security updates but software updates too.

        1. rcp27

          Re: " i " is for Indignant

          "How about in my case because the Wife has a 32-bit Intel Macmini which cannot take an OS beyond 10.6 Snow Leopard."

          Hardware sold between early 2006 and mid 2007 (32 bit intel minis were sold until early 2009, but they could take at least 10.7.x, which was still receiving support up to a year ago).

          "Mother has a still-working PPC Mac Mini, with 10.3 (Panther). While it could update to 10.4 (Tiger) (but no further)"

          All PPC Mac Minis could be upgraded to 10.5.8. Last ones sold early 2006.

          "This is the reason Apple-bashing happens. Whoever decided that 4 or 5 years is a suitable lifespan for computer hardware"

          Certainly not Apple. The security patches have been relesed as far back as Mountain Lion. The youngest hardware that is not supported was sold in early 2009, that is to say already more than 6 years ago.

          If you want to keep running nearly decade old hardware, you are going to have to accept that the original vendor will be unlikely to support it that long.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: " i " is for Indignant

            Don't forget the original iPad only getting iOS upgrades for 2 and half years. Makes me really want to be an early adopter of the iWatch. Apple should be able to support their own hardware at least as long as Microsoft supports their hardware period.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: " i " is for Indignant

              Apple should be able to support their own hardware at least as long as Microsoft supports their hardware period.

              Like the Zune? WinCE? Most of the tablet hardware hasn't even reached that age yet (as MS is as always a late comer), so the jury is out on any hardware that is actually made by MS.

              1. This post has been deleted by its author

              2. This post has been deleted by its author

              3. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: " i " is for Indignant

                >Like the Zune? WinCE?

                Of course not. Microsoft hardware haha good one. No I am saying Microsoft even supports Apple hardware longer than Apple does.

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: " i " is for Indignant

            >Hardware sold between early 2006 and mid 2007 (32 bit intel minis were sold until early 2009, but they could take at least 10.7.x, which was still receiving support up to a year ago).

            Also don't forget the early Mac Pro desktops (2008, 2009) which ran 3 grand plus at time and still with 8 cores run brilliantly today for all software other than newer games. Yeah they haven't received anything but iTunes updates (funny how that software never gets obsoleted) now for at least a year but other than an emergency openssl patch its actually been two plus years. Good thing they are supported by Windows 7 still and FOSS like BSD which is better anyway so security is not an issue.

          3. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: " i " is for Indignant

            If you want to keep running nearly decade old hardware, you are going to have to accept that the original vendor will be unlikely to support it that long.

            Try getting drivers for old hardware for Windows 10, you'll have the same problem.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: " i " is for Indignant

              >Try getting drivers for old hardware for Windows 10, you'll have the same problem.

              You don't have to run windows 10 though to continue to get Windows security updates today. Only Apple forces you to upgrade your "OS" every two years or lose the ability to get security updates (even Linux has 5 yo LTS releases).

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: " i " is for Indignant

        >This article says that Apple is providing patches all the way back to Mountain Lion (3 years old)

        Wow so basically Microsoft will support a Mac twice as long as Apple who made the damn thing. With FOSS OSs its even longer than that.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: " i " is for Indignant

      Updating to Yosemite will only break most my software.

      Can you be more specific? I've had no problems whatsoever because my software providers simply provided an upgrade - at no cost. I'd be interested in hearing which companies to avoid.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: " i " is for Indignant

      Whereas upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 will be no problem at all.

    5. Joe 35

      Re: " i " is for Indignant

      My 6 or 7 year old iMac is happily running the very latest OS (well, apart from yesterdays update :-) so you are utterly clueless. I presume you dont actually have a Mac but wish you did so have made up an excuse so its all OK with you not to have one?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: " i " is for Indignant

        >. I presume you dont actually have a Mac

        You presume wrong. Mac Pro desktop and iPhone 6 (and busted iPAD 2 and iPad mini, but kids not Apple) owner.

        >My 6 or 7 year old iMac

        You got lucky and just missed the total POS of EFI32 that Apple and Intel foisted on the world. Avoid any apple line until the third generation (or a few generations after a big architecture change) at least.

  3. msknight
    Coat

    I patched my MacBook Air...

    I put Mint on it.

    1. sabroni Silver badge

      Re: I patched my MacBook Air...

      I keep Refreshers on mine.

    2. Khaptain Silver badge
      Coat

      Re: I patched my MacBook Air...

      I've never tried rubbing my laptops with herbs and spices but if you confirm that it will help with protection..

      1. Arctic fox
        Windows

        @Khaptain Re "I've never tried rubbing my laptops with herbs and spices....."

        If I ever found an MBA at our place I'd be rubbing it with garlic and holy water - you can't be too careful.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: I patched my MacBook Air...

        Just keep Sage far away from it!

    3. This post has been deleted by its author

  4. wolfetone Silver badge
    Coat

    I could bash Apple

    But it's far too early in the morning to be making cider.

    1. hplasm
      Pint

      Re: I could bash Apple

      It's never too early in the morning to be making cider.

      Drinking it, perhaps... just.

  5. Syntax Error

    Unlike Android

    Ah well at least Apple produce security updates which can be installed by customers unlike the world of android where unless you buy a new phone or have a Nexus you own a security problem.

    1. werdsmith Silver badge

      Re: Unlike Android

      Quote the message that comes with the iOS update:

      "This release includes improvments and fixes to Apple Music"

      And if you click on "Learn More" it lists 6 bullet points all concerning Apple Music, none of them security related. There is a link at the bottom that goes off to an Apple hosted web page for information about the security updates in the patch. But that page is just a general policy one that talks about how they manage security updates.

      So, at least on the face of it, with iOS they are not owning up to much.

      1. Mike Bell
      2. Wibble
        WTF?

        Re: Unlike Android

        http://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT1222

        Granted that this really does show a *lot* of security updates, it's sad to see that they only bang on about the Apple music application. Most of those "issues" I "fixed" by installing Ecoute. The Apple music application formerly known as iTunes truly sucks donkey balls.

        iOS 8.4.1

        This release includes improvements and fixes to Apple Music.

        • Resolves issues that could prevent turning on iCloud Music Library

        • Resolves an issue that hides added music because Apple Music was set to show offline music only

        • Provides a way to add songs to a new playlist if there aren't any playlists to choose from

        • Resolves an issue that may show different artwork for an album on other devices

        • Resolves several issues for artists while posting to Connect

        • Fixes an issue where tapping Love doesn't work as expected while listening to Beats 1

        For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

        http://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT1222

  6. Bota

    *raises snout

    "But I have a MBPr and I never get viruses, everyone knows that they just work and are totally secure".

    1. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
      Paris Hilton

      Re: *raises snout

      MBPr

      Some kind of new STD?

      1. Bota

        Re: *raises snout

        All the "cool" kids seem to have it if that's the case. I was just enthusiastic with mockery today, I wouldn't actually ever use Apple products. Rumour has it the new Macbook only has one hole. I'm married so I know exactly how that plays out.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: *raises snout

          I was just enthusiastic with mockery today, I wouldn't actually ever use Apple products

          Ah, so you admit that you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Well, that's refreshingly honest, but it certainly declares your criticism as, well, ignorant. But that was clear already from what you wrote, of course.

          1. Bota

            Re: *raises snout

            I deal with people every day who seem bereft of the knowledge that Apple are slow on security fixes, sometimes ignoring them all together if you're running older hardware. Yosemite is hardly "stable" and their build quality is getting lax, never mind the "take what you're given slaves" Apple-tude of Tim Cook and "thin and light" obsessed Englishman Ives who just stole his design aesthetic from Braun. I enjoyed your slight against my technical knowledge, but shouldn't you be ironing your turtle-neck for a weekend of Jobs keynote re-runs?

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: *raises snout

              I enjoyed your slight against my technical knowledge, but shouldn't you be ironing your turtle-neck for a weekend of Jobs keynote re-runs?

              Ah, but I would indeed have time for that if I was partial to turtle necks. If you're running Windows you'll spend that weekend patching, cursing at failed patches, restoring from backup and then trying to stop it from patching again and so end up in the loop of failure that is Microsoft. I'll stop now, I don't want to give Trevor Pott flashbacks :).

              If you were running Linux, of course, you'd be in a similar situation to OSX users. The occasional patch and away you go. Occasionally we bounce boxes in the maintenance window to test their recovery and to clean up any dead wood, but it's more luxury than need.

              As for slow on fixes, I work a lot with OSX and I have not come across much in the way of exploited zero days. I also known that the Shellshock (bash) bug was dealt with in a few days, but with a patch that actually *worked*. To achieve the latter (patches that do the job) it does indeed take some time, but they get it right most of the time. Could the patches come faster? Sure. Have I experienced any exposure? Nope.

              We use OSX because it's quicker to secure and more efficient to use than Windows yet still allows us to use commercial specialist software (servers are Linux). We don't seem to have problems with Yosemite other than that Apple's implementation of webdav seriously sucks, but that has been an issue for longer than just Yosemite.

              For the most part, it really just does the job.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: *raises snout

      I would also hope that if I was a member of the hardworking and honourable "Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable" that I wouldn't get viruses either.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: *raises snout

      But I have a MBPr

      First rule of astro turfing: get to know your topic a bit, which includes terminology and TLAs.

      You failed miserably and will now be relegated to clean the toilets with a toothbrush, no, let's make that *your* toothbrush, for a week.

      1. Bota

        Re: *raises snout

        "you failed" the battle cry of the fanboi. Don't cry for me Argentina, it was a joke not a c0ck. Don't take it so hard.

  7. Dan 55 Silver badge

    Better late than never...

    It's got a fix for that root escalation bug found a couple of weeks ago.

  8. Kibble 2
    Unhappy

    OMG!

    Given the size of the d/l and sheer number of fixes to upgrade to 10.10.5, one might consider this a service pack. Some of the updates appear to go back as far as 2012. O.o

  9. hatti

    Fruit monster

    That's one big green cute rubber maggot

    1. macjules

      Re: Fruit monster

      This is not just any maggot.This is an iMaggot (©2015 Apple Computer, Inc)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Fruit monster

        and it looks as though it's getting ready to hump that apple...

  10. macjules
    WTF?

    Class case of What Would Steve Say.

    'You, you, you and you - get the f**k out of my company right now"

  11. oscar0

    What do iphone 4s ipod's etc . with 7.1.2 and below do , and there are millions of them, most of them won't buy a new device, I suppose its the same for millions of android users who can't upgrade either. Are hacks common place ? because we don't hear about them ?

    1. chr0m4t1c

      If you draw a Venn diagram containing "People with money" and "People running 4+ year old iOS devices", I'd bet the intersection is quite small.

      So while those older devices are vulnerable, it's increasing less likely that anyone would bother targeting them.

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Well, installed without *any* problems.

    iOS update on iPhone: worked.

    iOS update on slightly older iPad: worked

    OSX update on MBP: worked

    Applications working after OSX update: all seem to work so far.

    Sorry, no excitement to report. I'm all set for the weekend :).

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    OMG, Apple is not perfect in every possible way! The world has turned upside down...

  14. Truth4u
    Unhappy

    filthy type people

    I am writing this on an iMac but my desk is only useful because I have a PC next to it. When people tell me all their stuff at home is Apple I suddenly feel a bit dirty, like someone just got done masturbating in the lavatory and then tried to shake my hand. Do you have an disease? Why can't you use other computers?

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