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Uninstall QuickTime for Windows now says US-CERT, Trend Micro

by Mark Tyson on 15 April 2016, 12:31

Tags: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Trend Micro, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Windows 7, Windows 10

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qacz7q

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Apple will no longer be supporting QuickTime for Windows. The Cupertino-based firm has depreciated QuickTime for Microsoft Windows so will no longer be providing security updates. QuickTime for Mac OS X is still supported by Apple.

Compounding the above bad news, there are currently two known critical vulnerabilities affecting QuickTime for Windows, that haven't been patched by Apple. While the likes of Trend Micro aren't aware of attacks or malware designed to exploit the vulnerabilities, they will be now open for malware writers to exploit, at their leisure. Trend Micro has therefore urged readers of its blog to "uninstall QuickTime for Windows today". It says that Apple is also recommending that users, some who have paid out for Apple QuickTime Pro, uninstall the software "as soon as possible".

If the above advisories aren't weighty enough, the US Department of Homeland Security has issued an alert, with background information about QuickTime vulnerabilities and links to instructions to remove the software from Windows. Warning of possible impacts US-CERT says that "Computer systems running unsupported software are exposed to elevated cybersecurity dangers, such as increased risks of malicious attacks or electronic data loss. Exploitation of QuickTime for Windows vulnerabilities could allow remote attackers to take control of affected systems."

So if you have QuickTime installed should you really hurry to uninstall it straight away? Of course it depends upon what you need to do with your computer system. For me, I often use Serif's MoviePlus X6 video editing software that requires Apple QuickTime to import/export and preview various files, and there doesn't seem to be a way around that requirement at this time. Also please note that Apple's January update to QuickTime for Windows removed the browser plugin for QuickTime. "As a result, there's little chance QuickTime vulnerabilities could be harnessed into a drive-by download exploit. Instead, exploits would have to rely on social engineering that convinces a user to download a video and open it in QuickTime," notes Ars Technica.

If you do wish to go ahead and completely remove Apple QuickTime from your PC simply follow the official removal instructions here.



HEXUS Forums :: 18 Comments

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I didn't even know that quicktime was still around ! that and real player always used to annoy me immensely.
Is it still 1998?

Anyone who still has it installed should probably also remove WinZip, RealPlayer & Netscape Navigator while they're at it.
A few of my older CD's have Quicktime requirement for the video content, you can get Quicktime Alternative (also Realmedia Alternative) which is literally a codec for Windows Media Player if you are still wanting to use it.
spacein_vader
Is it still 1998?

Anyone who still has it installed should probably also remove WinZip, RealPlayer & Netscape Navigator while they're at it.

WinZip can still split a package better than 7zip (5MB vs 10MB), thank you very much!
That said, WinZip has been living its lifetime.
I am surprised it is still around, always hated it and could never understand the need for installing it in the first place.