Apple fixes 40 security holes

Apple released an update last Wednesday for it's Mac OS X operating system and other software that fixes 40 different security holes.

Protect your MacBook.

The patch updates the Mac version of the Flash Player up to the most recent 9.0.124.0 version, which fixes a vulnerability that can be exploited by websites to install malicious software on computers with older Flash Players. Although this security hole is currently only abused to attack the Windows version of the Flash Player, it could be modified to target Mac computers as well.

Also included is a patch for the most serious of three iCal security holes that had been disclosed last week by Core Security Technologies. The hole made it possible to install malicious software on a Mac computer, if the user opened a specially prepared calendar file. It is still unclear if an when the other two issues are going to be fixed.

Several of the other security patches in Apple's update fix flaws in image file formats that could be exploited if a Mac user clicked on a specifically prepared link or opened a tainted image file.

Mac users can download the security update from the Apple site, or with the Mac OS X's update service.