Apple has finally released a fix for the Flashback malware that targeted Macs to build a criminal botnet.
The company has come under fire for leaving the initial Java vulnerability unpatched for six weeks after it had been discovered, and then taking too long to provide a removal tool once the Flashback malware was spreading.
Days after security companies released free detection and removal tools for the issue, Apple has also released a solution.
“This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware,” the company said of the update.
“This update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets,! Apple said. !Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application.”
The company said that even if a user turned Java on, the latest version would automatically disable applets if it detected that none had been run “for an extended period of time” in a bid to prevent unnecessary risk in future on machines where Java it rarely used.
The company recommended all Mac users with Java to install the update.
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