With so much of our lives consumed online, the issue of security is one we need to pay attention to daily. One of the most recent security risks is the Department of Homeland Security’s alert to uninstall QuickTime now from Microsoft Windows.
Why Uninstall QuickTime?
The government advisory comes from the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT). The alert occurs because QuickTime is no longer being updated by Apple, so it is vulnerable to breaches of security. No updates are being done because the marketplace is saturated with competing video players and QuickTime simply can’t compete with them.
Security Issues with QuickTime
While Apple will continue to offer QuickTime, there will be no new developments to it. There are two particular vulnerabilities for QuickTime for Windows users. They are ZDI-16-241 and ZDI-16-242; what they share in common is that remote attackers can take advantage of the flaws in QuickTime.
Also, the simple fact that there will no longer be support offered for QuickTime means that it will be at increased risk of hacking or electronic data loss. Apple will no longer offer patches, despite the current vulnerabilities, which puts your Windows system at risk.
Likely, if a security issue were to happen, it would be through a social engineering plan that urges the user to download a video and open it using QuickTime. The download strategy only applies to people who still have the program installed.
How to Uninstall QuickTime on Windows
In your Windows system, you can uninstall QuickTime by following these steps. Firstly, go to the Control Panel and select Programs. Located QuickTime there and right click to uninstall it.
Removal instructions to help prevent active attacks can also be found on Apple’s website. An important note is that this security issue is only a threat for users who have Apple QuickTime on Windows, not on Mac OS X.
Uninstall QuickTime Now Videos
References: