The Security Mentor

If you've run Software Update since May 3, and your computer should have asked you to, then you're covered.

Apple fixed a bucket of problems, the most serious of which would have allowed bad guys to take over your computer if you had your computer look at a cleverly constructed picture in any of several formats.

If you're feeling deja vu, it's because so many security problems fall into this same category. Data formats are complicated, programs that read data have bugs, and if a bug is bad enough to make your computer jump off the tracks then someone may be able to steer it the wrong way instead of just making it crash.

How do you protect yourself? Backups are good. Updating your software before exploits hit the net is good but not always possible. I have a slightly paranoid friend who is going to dedicate one computer to web surfing and email, but do all his bookkeeping and writing on a separate machine that will never be attached to a network. His approach looks less extreme every day.