Apple vs. Microsoft, The Weekly Vulnerability Index

One of the most common public misconceptions about Apple's computer systems is that they don't suffer the weaknesses and vulnerabilities that a Windows computer does. In fact, they share many weaknesses and vulnerabilities — and they have a set of problems all their own.

On this page we will keep track of the @RISK Consensus Security Alert issued by the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security or SANS Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Established in 1989, the SANS Institute is the most trusted and by far the largest source for information security training and certification in the world.

The summary on this page distinguishes between Microsoft and "Non-Microsoft" Windows products. We also note what are "Cross Platform" vulnerabilities that may affect both Microsoft and Apple. See the LEGEND below for further explanation.

Click on the dates to view the full @RISK Bulletin at the SANS Institute's web site.  The links will open a new window.

Aug. 28, 2008: Microsoft 1, Apple 0, Both 13

• Microsoft: 1 (includes Windows Media Services)
• Non-Microsoft: 6 (includes Novell iPrint, HP OpenVMS)
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 13 (includes Opera 9.51 browser, OpenOffice.org, and VLC Media Player)

Aug. 21, 2008: Microsoft 1, Apple 0, Both 15

• Microsoft: 1 (includes Visual Studio)
• Non-Microsoft: 5 (includes Symantec Veritas and WS FTP Client)
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 15 (includes Opera browser)

Aug. 14, 2008: Microsoft 24, Apple 0, Both 11

• Microsoft: 24 (includes Office 2007 and Vista)
• Non-Microsoft: 6
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 11

Aug. 7, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 5, Both 27

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 8
• Apple: 5 (multiple Mac OS X vulnerabilities)
• Cross-Platform: 27 (includes Firefox)

Aug. 1, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 0, Both 13

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 11 (includes Real Player, Trend Micro's OfficeScan, AVG Anti-Virus, and Cool Player.)
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 13 (includes Real Player, and EMC Retrospect backup software)

July 24, 2008: Microsoft 1, (Non-) Apple 1, Both 10

• Microsoft: 1 (Vista shutdown button)
• Non-Microsoft: 4
• (Non-) Apple: 1 (Mozilla Firefox for Mac. Not an Apple product, but it specifically affects Macs.)
• Cross-Platform: 10 (includes Mozilla Firefox, HP Select Connector, F-PROT antivirus)

July 17, 2008: Microsoft 1, Apple 2, Both 22

• Microsoft: 1
• Non-Microsoft: 6 (includes RIM Blackberry)
• Apple: 2 (iPhone and iPod Touch)
• Cross-Platform: 22 (includes Mozilla Firefox)

July 10, 2008: Microsoft 4, Apple 0, Both 8

• Microsoft: 4 (includes Access, Word 2002 SP3)
• Non-Microsoft: 2
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 8 (includes Outlook Web Access, Opera web browser)

July 3, 2008: Microsoft 3, Apple 1, Both 17

• Microsoft: 3
• Non-Microsoft: 4
• Apple: 1 (affects both Safari and Mail)
• Cross-Platform: 17 (includes Firefox, & Opera (browsers))

June 26, 2008: Microsoft 1, Apple 1, Both 17

• Microsoft: 1 (Visual Basic Enterprise Ed. 6)
• Non-Microsoft: 4
• Apple: 1
• Cross-Platform: 17 (including Acrobat, Firefox 3, Safari)

June 17, 2008: Microsoft 1, Apple 0, Both 22

• Microsoft: 1 (Word)
• Non-Microsoft: 4
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 22 (includes Firefox, Opera, Quicktime)

June 12, 2008: Microsoft 6, Apple 6, Both 25

• Microsoft: 6 (5 affecting Windows)
• Non-Microsoft: 17
• Apple: 6 (including Quicktime)
• Cross-Platform: 25 (including Quicktime)

June 5, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 13, Both 7

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 2
• Apple: 13 (Mac OS)
• Cross-Platform: 7 (includes Adobe Acrobat, Apple Safari for PC and Mac)

May 29, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 1, Both 5

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 3
• Apple: 1
• Cross-Platform: 5 (includes Adobe Flash)

May 22, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 0, Both 15

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 8
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 15

May 15, 2008: Microsoft 10, Apple 0, Both 15

• Microsoft: 10 (includes Word for PC and Mac)
• Non-Microsoft: 2
• Apple: 0
• Cross-Platform: 15

May 8, 2008: Microsoft 0, Apple 3, Both 19

• Microsoft: 0
• Non-Microsoft: 5 (includes Yahoo! Assistant)
• Apple: 3 (Mac OS)
• Cross-Platform: 19 (includes Quicktime, Apple Safari for PC and Mac)