Topic: Apple leads charge as vulnerabilities soar

[Simon]

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