Another calendar week , another pair of security warning from Microsoft and Adobe .
Microsoft bat lead - off with abulletinthat revealed “ eight privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office . The vulnerabilities could allow for outside computer code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file . An assaulter who successfully exploited any of these exposure could gain ground the same drug user right as the log - on user . ” The likely peril move Microsoft Office for Mac 2004 , 2008 , and 2011 . The resolution is to instal the in style updates to these software package packages . A Macworld article has more details .
Next up to bat : Adobe ( less than two weeks from their anterior tripper to this dubious plate ) . Theirlatest bulletinwarns : “ A critical vulnerability has been identified in Adobe Flash Player 10.3.181.23 and earlier versions . This memory degeneracy exposure could cause a smash and potentially allow an assailant to take control of the affected system . There are reports that this vulnerability is being exploited in the wild in targeted attacks via malicious Web pages . ” Their commend solution is to update to Adobe Flash Player 10.3.181.26 ( at least until Adobe find out a new critical exposure with this recent version ) . There are also relatedupdated versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat . Again , aMacworld articlehas more item .
I have a few lollygag questions :
What is it with all these recently exposed ways to gain unauthorized control of a computer ? Have hackers calculate out some new core techniques that are just now being exploit — again and again ? Or is it a coincidence that this preceding year has seen a regular flow of new addition to this aggregation of uncongenial coup d’etat ? Or is it all just a misperception ? Are things really no worse now than in late years ?
If this is some unexampled development , can anything be done to turn off the spigot ? Or must we resign ourselves to a stiff drip - drip of frequent threat and updatesad infinitum ?
While there is normally no downside to protecting yourself from a potential danger by updating to novel software , I have to wonder whether this stream of bulletins are lay down us more uneasy overall than is justify by the grade of risk of exposure . In that gaze , let me need the residential district of Macworld readers : Have you ever been at the wrong end of any of these security measure vulnerabilities ? Has any of your information ever been compromise as a result ? If so , email me ( bugs@macworld.com ) to get me know . I ’ll describe back later with the resultant role .
