Still feeling listless and unfulfilled because there's something missing in your life? Do you have a gnawing sense that your computing experience is woefully incomplete? When you're out with friends and they all start commiserating about their massive security problems with Windows, do you feel like an utter outcast, unable to bond properly with those in your own social circle? (Of course, if you're out with Wintel users, there may be a bigger issue at hand, but let's let that slide for now.) Clearly what you need is a system vulnerability-- something that lets you stand up and proudly proclaim, "I, too, have security problems with my computer! Accept me! LOVE ME!!"

Actually, you might leave off the last bit. It comes across as a little needy.

But rejoice, folks, for now Mac users can indeed join the throngs of Wintel drones who deal with critical security flaws on an hourly basis! According to ComputerWeekly, Apple was kind enough to include a vulnerability in QuickTime that one security firm has classified as "high severity," both because it exists when the software is installed with default settings and because it reportedly allows Evil People to run Evil Code on your Mac (or your QuickTime-enabled Wintel, for that matter) without your knowledge or say-so. See? You can be just as vulnerable as your Wintel brethren! Finally, something to talk about at the next cocktail party!

Hungry for details? Well, you may have to wait a while, because eEye Digital Security (whose site has the words "Welcome to SECURITY" inscribed in large, friendly letters on its pages-- Douglas Adams would be proud) merely states that there's "a vulnerability in default installations of the affected software that allows malicious code to be executed with little user interaction." Scary without being helpful; excellent! Of course, the lack of detail is entirely necessary, since Apple has not yet fixed the problem, and "under no circumstances does eEye disclose any information to third parties until the manufacturer releases an advisory or patch." Otherwise the aforementioned Evil People would figure out how to compromise your system, dig?

Apple was only notified of the flaw 17 days ago and is reportedly hard at work on a fix, but in the meantime, the only protection for the truly paranoid is presumably to disable QuickTime-- an easy enough task under Mac OS 9 and earlier, but probably somewhat more hazardous under Mac OS X. We recommend instead that you just hide under your desk until the patch is released. It may be a while; eEye figures 30 days is a good reaction time, and anything up to 60 is acceptable. In the meantime, you can amuse yourself by taking quick peeks at the other vulnerabilities listed on eEye's Upcoming Advisories page.

Goodness goshness gracious, just look at all the Microsoft flaws. And look how many are well past eEye's 60-day deadline for fixes. 118 days overdue? Clearly Apple has a lot of work to do on its slacking before it gets to play in the big leagues. Reach for those stars, guys!