Apple updates core OS security

Following Apple's security gaffe last week, the firm has taken some advice on board and beefed up security at the core of its operating system.

It was crunch time last week when security experts warned that the lack of authentication in the Mac OS X automatic software update system made it a doddle for hackers to introduce bogus software to Apple users.

The company was said to be looking into a solution and announced a more secure software update function over the weekend.

A message posted on the Apple security site on Saturday informed users that Apple had "increased the security of the Software Update process for systems with Software Update client 1.4.5 or earlier.

"Packages presented via the Software Update mechanism are now cryptographically signed, and the new Software Update client 1.4.6 checks for a valid signature before installing new packages."

Security experts had warned that the lack of a digital signature on update files meant that they could not verify whether a file was legitimate, while a hacker could spoof the update server and introduce malicious software.

But the company's efforts over the weekend appear to have addressed all the issues raised, and the announcement was welcomed by security experts and Mac users alike.