Apple lags MS in security response[->] 2008-03-31 06:01 Computershack
Submitted
by
Computershack
on Monday March 31, @06:01AM
Computershack writes "http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/31/apple_security_response_pants/
Apple is trailing way behind Microsoft in security patch responsiveness, according to a study by security researchers from IBM.
Stefan Frei and Bernard Tellenback of IBM's X-Force security division analysed several years of vulnerability disclosures and patching processes from various vendors.
They found that Apple is getting worse at dealing with security problems while Microsoft is improving. Apple is experiencing more vulnerabilities, longer patching times, and more attacks on unpatched vulnerabilities, according to the duo.
Frei and Tellenback presented their findings at a presentation entitled 0-day Patch — Exposing Vendors (In)Security Performance at last week's Black Hat conference in Amsterdam.
Colleagues of the duo reckon Apple's antagonistic attitude with security researchers is one of the reasons for its poor response.
"While I think that there are quite a few reasons why this is probably so, I'd be inclined to say that Apple's biggest problem appears to be that they treat every new vulnerability as a potential PR disaster rather than an opportunity to visibly reinforce their work in securing their customers," writes Gunter Ollman of IBM's X-Force.
"In recent times this has most critically been reflected in the way Apple works with security researchers.""
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/31/apple_security_response_pants/
Apple is trailing way behind Microsoft in security patch responsiveness, according to a study by security researchers from IBM.
Stefan Frei and Bernard Tellenback of IBM's X-Force security division analysed several years of vulnerability disclosures and patching processes from various vendors.
They found that Apple is getting worse at dealing with security problems while Microsoft is improving. Apple is experiencing more vulnerabilities, longer patching times, and more attacks on unpatched vulnerabilities, according to the duo.
Frei and Tellenback presented their findings at a presentation entitled 0-day Patch — Exposing Vendors (In)Security Performance at last week's Black Hat conference in Amsterdam.
Colleagues of the duo reckon Apple's antagonistic attitude with security researchers is one of the reasons for its poor response.
"While I think that there are quite a few reasons why this is probably so, I'd be inclined to say that Apple's biggest problem appears to be that they treat every new vulnerability as a potential PR disaster rather than an opportunity to visibly reinforce their work in securing their customers," writes Gunter Ollman of IBM's X-Force.
"In recent times this has most critically been reflected in the way Apple works with security researchers.""
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/31/apple_security_response_pants/
