Apple Security Updates?

I’m always confused about whether or not to install Apple’s Security Updates as soon as they’re available. Today’s latest release…

Security Update 2004-02-23 delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users. This update includes the following components:

DiskArbitration
IPSec
Point-to-Point-Protocol
tcpdump

Ok, first, I don’t know what any of those things are good for, and why I need them, or why I need them updated… and, on top of that, I haven’t ever gotten a virus or had any security problems with my Macintosh.

Do I really need to install this update?

(If I were notified by Microsoft that there was a security update available through XP’s Windows Update software, I’d install it before I did anything else on that computer, but on a Mac, I always wonder if I even really need to worry about it)


4 Responses to “Apple Security Updates?”  

  1. Gravatar Icon 1 paul

    Why wouldn’t you want to? These are security updates, not features. The listed items are a fraction of what gets installed: I just take ‘em as they become available.

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 Gregg

    Strictly speaking, no, if those things don’t ring any bells, then just wait for the next “roll-up” to install it.

    I use that stuff daily (tcpdump especially), so any updates are important. If you use dialup or VPN you might benefit from PPP updates.

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 Misha
  4. Gravatar Icon 4 hey

    disk arb (??)

    ipsec (encryption, critical)

    ppp (networking protocol, critical for using dsl or dial-up)

    tcpdump (logging tool for one of the most basic networking protocols… as in tcp/ip, the building block of the internet)

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