Apple updates Safari for second time in two weeks

25.11.2008
For the second time in less than two weeks, updated its by issuing version 3.2.1 Monday.

Unlike the Nov. 13 update, which added anti-phishing protection and -- more than two-thirds of them critical -- today's minor upgrade was for unspecified "stability improvements," according to a terse notice on the Apple Web site.

Although the notice included a link to the -- where the company normally provides pointers to security advisories associated with such updates -- there was no listing there for Safari 3.2.1.

A security researcher who in the past has for its unpredictable patching schedule did so again Monday. "It would be too much of an understatement to say 'more of the same'," said , director of security operations at vendor nCircle Network Security Inc., in an instant message. "But in doing so, it also represents the lethargic approach we've come to expect with Apple updates.

"If only they would put some of that creative spirit we love about Apple into their security development life-cycle," Storms added.

Although Apple's scanty information about Safari 3.2.1 made it impossible to know for certain, some people speculated on the company's support forum that the update was aimed at fixing problems users reported with Safari 3.2 since its release. Among the complaints: Frequent crashes, particularly when the new anti-phishing feature was enabled.