“As Apple has increased its share of the computer market, hackers have become more interested in developing exploits for its software vulnerabilities. Like Microsoft, Apple must issue security patches from time to time, but the two companies have very different distribution approaches for their security fixes,” Jim Offner reports for MacNewsWorld.

“‘Software update’ is common parlance among regular computer users,” Offner reports. “More than likely, an ‘update’ is a ‘patch’ — a code modification designed to protect against the latest virus, worm or other security threat.”

Offner reports, “Patches are all in a day’s work for Microsoft and Apple engineers. Indeed, the second Tuesday of every month has become known in tech circles as ‘Patch Tuesday.’ That’s when Microsoft issues its latest updates for its operating systems and applications.”

“Apple disseminates patches on a less-predictable schedule,” Offner reports. “Does Apple need to adopt a more regular routine as its platform becomes more popular among consumers, or is Patch Tuesday more about enterprise users — an area in which Apple’s business has not grown as substantially? Or is a more flexible, whenever-it’s-needed strategy a better idea, regardless of who’s using the OS?”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Judge Bork" for the heads up.]