The US. department of computer emergency has alerted Window’s users to uninstall Apple’s QuickTime after the company’s software developer announced two bugs had inserted the program.
QuickTime is a media player that allows users to view videos, listen to music and reproduce movies. The multimedia framework is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.
Apple’s software maker Trend Micro announced in its newsroom on Thursday the discovery of two new bugs in the software available for Windows that could endanger the privacy of users.
No security updates for Window’s users
Trend Micro published a statement guiding users to uninstall the media player on their devices, the software developing company assured the advice will prevent the violation of user’s privacy.
Apple is no longer issuing security updates for the QuickTime version available for Windows Platform, which will make Window’s users more vulnerable to viruses on their devices and possible hacking of their computers.
The company also announced that the Zero Day initiative which monitors computer and software vulnerabilities- has announced a new series of flaws that directly affect QuickTime for Windows.
What does the Zero day initiative mean?
The Zero Day initiative is a previously undisclosed computer-software vulnerability that allows hackers to exploit and affect computer programs, data, and networks.
The initiative gets its name because once the flaw of the program is alerted, the user or author of the program will have zero days to advise any mitigation against exploitation or issuing security patches for the program.
If the company doesn’t create security patches, computers with the program installed will have an open network for hackers on their computer.
Since Apple stopped providing Windows with security updates, the flaws in the program are never going to be patched.
Advice from Homeland Security and Software maker
Authorities have issued an urgent-call-to action, in which users are advised to permanently uninstall QuickTime for Windows.
The program is joining Microsoft Windows XP and Oracle Java 6, who are no longer receiving updates and are subjects to unpatched vulnerabilities.
Both Apple and TrendMicro have created information sites to guide Windows users to a correct removal, the information can be found in both of their websites.
Source: Trend Micro Blog