Homeland security issues warning about QuickTime for Windows

Apple is no longer compatible with video playback software, so it is vulnerable to zero-day attacks.

Because Apple is no longer compatible with QuickTime for Windows, users are encouraged to uninstall the program immediately. The warning from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) comes on the heels of a warning from the antivirus vendor Trend Micro software video playback is vulnerable to a pair of zero-day attacks.

Apple has not updated the Windows version of QuickTime 7 since January and apparently has no plans to release any more security patches to fix exploits. Trend Micro said that although Apple recommends users of Windows uninstall the player. QuickTime for Mac is not affected and is still supported by Apple.

Trend Micro said it was not aware of active attacks against these vulnerabilities, but "the only way to protect your Windows systems possible attacks on these or other vulnerabilities in Apple QuickTime is now uninstall."

The DHS warning is pretty basic and to the point about QuickTime no longer supported, and cites the results of Trend Micro. DHS does not usually issue these alerts, so it's quite serious when it does. Three years ago, users are recommended to uninstall Java completely, leaving Oracle with a little red-faced by the condition of poor quality of the language he inherited when it acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010.

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