
Make sure that the option to Install system data files and security updates is selected.You can still set your Mac to automatically download and update the operating system is you follow these steps: If you aren’t running Ventura or later then when Apple issues a macOS update with a security component it is important to install it as soon as possible.
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Make sure that the option to Install Security Responses and system files is selected, even if you choose not to select the others (although we recommend you do).Click on the i beside Automatic Updates.This means that the security part of any macOS update can be automatically installed on your Mac without you having to do anything–although we recommend you check the following to ensure it is set up on your Mac: In macOS Ventura Apple introduced a new way to get security updates onto Macs as background updates, so the update to the operating system isn’t required to get the important security component–after all some people delay installing operating system updates. More information here: Hacker ‘could take over any Apple webcam’.Īpple is kept busy patching these security flaws as and when they arise. The vulnerability, which could enable a hacker to gain control of a Mac user’s camera, was identified by Ryan Pickren in July 2021 and fixed by Apple in macOS Monterey 12.0.1 on October 25, 2021.

In 2021, Apple paid a student $100,000 after he discovered a dangerous vulnerability relating to Macs and reported it to Apple. The Guardian reported that Apple confirmed “All Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are no known exploits impacting customers at this time.” The risk was mitigated by updates to the operating system which closed off the areas that were exposed.


Having had no response from Apple within 90 days he went public with details of the vulnerability.īack in 2018, the news was filled with stories about the Meltdown and Spectre flaws that attacked vulnerabilities in Intel and ARM processors. Such vulnerabilities, though rare, could allow an attacker root access to your Mac.Īpple is usually quick to fix, but there have been cases where Apple has been criticised for being slow to respond to the threat once it’s been identified.įor example, in 2019 researcher Filippo Cavallarin found a Gatekeeper vulnerability that he alerted Apple to. When these are identified by security researchers (or friendly hackers) they usually alert Apple to them in the hope that the company will quickly close the vulnerability, quickly – or within zero days – before it is exploited. These vulnerabilities are sometimes referred to as back doors or as a zero day vulnerability. However, from time to time security vulnerabilities are detected that could be used by hackers to exploit Macs.
