Symantec has issued a warning to Mac owners about a new malware software that exploits a vulnerability in the "launchD" service. The software could let an attacker get administrator or root access on any Macintosh system running OS X version 10.4.6 or earlier. Apple released a patch in version 10.4.7 this Wednesday.

Symantec has initially called the program a trojan horse, but the code hasn't yet been seen spreading in the wild. Kevin Finisterre, a security researcher at Digital Munition, created and released the code. Earlier this year, he also released the Inqtana worm which also targets Mac OS X.

News source: TG Daily

Microsoft has released a new version of its instant-messaging software for Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system, the software giant said Tuesday. The free software, Messenger for Mac 5.0, will be available in eight languages from Microsoft's Mactopia Web site starting sometime Tuesday, Microsoft said.

The new version will let people simultaneously access corporate and personal instant messages. That is, people will able to send instant messages from behind a corporate firewall, if they are running Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005, in addition to being able to hit a tab to send and receive personal IMs.

News Source: c|net

Apple released its first update to Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger earlier this week.

Version 10.4.1 addresses various issues within the new operating system, including a problem where Apple's Safari Web browser quit when right clicking on certain types of graphics or PDF files.

Noticeably missing from the update, however, is a fix for a security hole within Dashboard. Users of Safari can automatically install Dashboard widgets straight from the browser, which some have criticized as a way for malicious code to make its way onto the Mac. A full list of the changes included in 10.4.1 can be found on Apple's support site.

Apple Computer has retaliated against the publisher of an upcoming unauthorized biography about chief executive Steve Jobs by removing dozens of other technology books sold by the publisher from Apple stores around the world.

Apple removed the books last week from all 104 of its stores after failing in a monthlong attempt to persuade John Wiley & Sons not to release "iCon Steve Jobs: The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business," which is to go on sale within the next six weeks, the publisher said.

The book-spurning is only the latest attempt by Apple executives to crack down on writers who publish or distribute unauthorized or secret information about the computer maker. It's a strategy that experts in brand management say is likely to backfire, only adding to the notoriety of Apple's critics and encouraging sales in countless other bookstores.

"Pulling books off the shelf is a little draconian," said Rob Frankel, a brand consultant. "It reeks of repression."

Apple sued a college grad who distributed a beta version of its latest operating system release. The man was treated fairly, but it proves that violating an NDA can be hazardous to your career

Apple Computer recently discovered unauthorized beta distributions of its forthcoming OS release, and the resulting actions were swift and fair. Doug Steigerwald, a 22-year-old college grad, obtained the beta software through his membership in the Apple Developer Connection and sent out copies over the Internet. Apple tracked down the leaker and dragged him to court. Apple ultimately settled for an undisclosed sum, publicly admitting that "thousands of unauthorized copies" were distributed.

This case teaches several lessons. First, don't violate NDAs--they're legally binding. Second, don't violate Apple's NDAs, because it will hunt you down. Third, be wary of friends with P2P. One of the benefits--and greatest dangers--of digital data is that dissemination is easy. In the old days, making a copy of a floppy disk for a friend wasn't that big a deal; it was software piracy, but very hard to track. Nowadays, someone may send copies to a few friends--but if just one of those friends places a copy in a P2P shared folder for a few minutes, distribution can grow to millions.

Apple isn't pushing for the leaker to do jail time, though the company would be within its rights to do so. Steigerwald made a huge error, and he'll pay for it: Employers don't look favorably on NDA breakers, and this one may have a tough time getting a job in the immediate future. But he's lucky that Apple will not add criminal charges to his résumé.

Full Story (By Mike DeMaria): Network Computing

Following pressure and allegations from the open source developer community that it had stolen code from a similar product, Hawaii-based software developer Maui-X Stream has announced it will release its Cherry OS Mac OS X emulator for Windows next month as free, open source software.

In a short note on its Web site, the company confirmed rumors by saying "Due to Overwhelming Demand Cherry Open Source Project Launches 5.1.2005." The company provided no further explanation for the decision and provided no additional links.

Company president Jim Kartes has not returned repeated phone calls and e-mail from The Mac Observer requesting additional comment on the company's decision.

Confirming reports from last week, sources say Mac OS X 10.4, known as "Tiger," has reached final candidate stage. Developers who received the latest bits, build 8A425, say Tiger has dropped its "pre-release" tags and only two known issues remain, which pertain to nVidia graphics cards and the Japanese character set.

Final candidate means the build is under consideration for being declared gold, although its likely that more candidates will be released. Mac enthusiast site AppleInsider first reported on the final candidate and cited a report for rumor site Think Secret that said Mac OS X 10.4 may be announced as early as Friday.

Microsoft plans to all but end its stint as an Internet service provider to Mac users, discontinuing its MSN for Mac OS X software.

The company plans to notify customers this month and discontinue the service as of May 31, a Microsoft representative said in an e-mail. Microsoft announced plans to get into the market in 2002 and began offering the service in the United States the following year.

"Beginning May 31, Microsoft will make changes and no longer support the MSN for Mac OS X Internet Software client," the representative said. A Microsoft representative declined to say how many people subscribe to MSN for the Mac, but said it is "a small number."

This update addresses several issues with Microsoft Office 2004.

Applies to: The English and Japanese versions of Microsoft Office 2004 Standard Edition, Office 2004 Version Upgrade, Office 2004 Student and Teacher Edition, Office 2004 Professional Edition, Word 2004, Excel 2004, and PowerPoint 2004. Microsoft is currently developing French, German, Italian and Swedish versions of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.1.1 Update.

Released: 3/7/2005

News Source: Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac 11.1.1 Update

It's ironic that a company as innovative as Apple Computer could have such a regressive view of the changing world of American media.

The company, led by Chief Executive Steve Jobs, won a round in its quest to force three Apple enthusiast Web sites to disclose their sources on articles they published regarding unannounced Apple products. In court filings the company argued that the Web sites were not protected by free speech because they are not legitimate members of the press.

The ruling, if it stands, will have a chilling and potentially devastating effect on not only blogs, which are growing in stature and prominence, but online media in general.

We've admittedly gotten a little obsessed with all the minutiae of Apple's various legal actions against bloggers and news sites over product leaks, but now it’s their turn (again) to be on the receving end of the litigation.

A Lake Forest, IL-based company called Advanced Audio Devices has just filed patent infringement suit against them, alleging that the iPod violates their patent for a "Music Jukebox".

The Chicago Tribune's report on the suit is painfully thin on all the juicy details we crave (like what exactly it is about the iPod that violates Advanced Audio Device's patent), but a quick search of the USPTO's database reveals that AAD were indeed granted a patent on July 1st of 2003 for a "music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein" that "includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals." (Which sounds like a pretty broad patent.) Apple has yet to issue a response.