The Nillabyte Perspective: Technology

My software update window popped up last night notifying me of a security update available for my computer. According to Apple, the security update will provide added security for

• Core Foundation (Yes, I want a solid foundation)
• CUPS (I guess the previous cups caused drink leakage or something :p)
• Flash Player Plug-in
• Launch Services (Apparently NASA uses Macs)
• perl
• python (zuh?)
• Quick Look
• ruby (They must be making this stuff up)
• Safari
• Samba (Isn't this a dance?)
• Shockwave Plug-in
• Spin Tracer (Sounds like a campy Batman villain)

Joking aside, Apple does an extremely good job of keeping Mac OS X secure. Without getting too technical, the code of Mac OS X sets the foundation of stellar security and thus, Mac OS X usually only needs a security update once a month. In fact, last night's security update was only the 9th security update this year.

Microsoft's operating systems, XP and Vista, are built on a poor code foundation which opens gaping security holes. It seems like Microsoft releases dozens of security updates every month and they don't even come close to closing all those breeches.