OS X Yosemitie via Wikimedia Commons
Consumer tech giant Apple has said most users of its OS X operating system are safe from the Linux bug known as Bash that has put fear into companies across the world.
The bug, discovered by a team of security experts, made news yesterday, even though it has existed for more than 25 years. Bash could potentially be more of a security concern than the Heartbleed bug discovered earlier this year, because of its use in nearly all forms of software.
The bug exists in the Bash shell within the Linux operating system, something which has been used as the basis for software packages for nearly a quarter of a century. With a piece of malicious code being routed through the operating system, it could lead to breaches of private data and allow hackers to take control of systems.
Now, according to iMore, Apple has eased some customers’ fears by confirming it is aware of the bug, also called Shellshock, and most OS X users are safe from any potential threat.
However, Apple has confirmed that for more advanced UNIX users, a patch will soon be coming.
In a response to iMore, Apple said, “With OS X, systems are safe by default and not exposed to remote exploits of Bash unless users configure advanced UNIX services. We are working to quickly provide a software update for our advanced UNIX users.”
