Mac OS X, IOS 7, Windows is about to support automatic Updates

(NIU Network map)

Lead: Apple iOS, OS x, and Microsoft Windows will be upgraded automatically this fall, another big step in simplifying user operations. If this function is really implemented, it will be the user from the manual upgrade application of the cumbersome process of liberation, so that users better experience the intelligent operating system.

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This fall, Apple and Microsoft will follow Google's footsteps, and apps for mobile and desktop platforms will be automatically updated. Andrew Stomes, senior director of development and operations at Cloudpassage, San Francisco, said: "In the last decade, automatic application upgrades have been the best security improvements we've seen." ”

"Historically, we have relied on the end-user to renew themselves and pray for them to do so," he said. Automatic Updates means that when a new version is released, most users have the safest installed code available. ”

Mac OS X, IOS 7, Windows is about to support automatic Updates

Google's Android and Chrome OS operating systems support the automatic updating of installed applications, which are based on Chrome, and these two platforms are silently implemented in the background without disturbing the user.

Later this year, Apple and Microsoft will imitate Google, Apple's new version of Mac OS X and iOS 7 operating system applications can be automatically updated, Microsoft is also committed to the application update function, the feature will be released this fall in Windows 8.1.

Google "Stop" Automatic Updates

To improve the security of the Google Play App Store, Google has adjusted its store policy. After adjustment, the application cannot bypass the store to automatically upgrade to the new version. Google's new policy says: "In addition to the update mechanism through Google Play, apps downloaded from Google Play are not allowed to modify, replace or upgrade their apk binaries in any other way." ”

This means that applications can no longer be automatically updated, and each release of the new version is subject to Google's official approval channel. Some malicious applications may initially look normal, but will then be secretly updated to violate user privacy or commit malicious acts. This policy adjustment is effective for such applications.

As we have reported earlier, a group of malware has been implanted in Google Play's official App Store, and has been downloaded 9 million times, the attack was able to circumvent the Google App Store's defense, is the first to submit to the Play store is harmless applications, and these applications through their own automatic upgrade, but become a malicious application.

Partial Application Automatic Updates

In Windows and OS X systems, new application updates are available for some software ecosystems, and only Windows store applications-known as "Xiandai" and others as "Metro" applications-will get automatic Updates. Traditional Windows desktop applications that run on older desktop windows are not automatically updated.

OS X Mavericks and windows have similar scenarios in which applications downloaded and installed via the Mac App Store can be automatically updated, and software downloaded from other channels, such as applications downloaded directly from the developer, will still be manually updated by the user.

Although older applications in Windows and OS X are excluded from Automatic updates, many applications themselves provide updates to Third-party patch managers developed for businesses and consumers-the latter such as Windows Secunia's Personal Software Inspector (PSI) can fill vacancies in this area.

"The problem is how many applications can be automated and, frankly, the more application automation is better for users, because we can't update all of the application patches automatically," says Morten Morten Stengard, chief technology officer at Secunia. ”

This fall, the introduction of Windows, OS X and iOS 7 operating systems that support the application of Automatic Updates is only one step in a series of initiatives-eliminating the weak links between user and application equations over the years.

"What we're seeing is operating system manufacturers betting and going all the way, which is the best path they have to go through," says storms. ”

Operating systems, such as Android, Chrome OS, iOS, OS x, and windows have always been partially available (IOS and OS X) or fully available (Android, Chrome OS, Windows) automatic patch updates, The Chrome and Firefox browsers have gone into full Automatic Updates, and Microsoft has also implemented Automatic updates for its IE browsers, as well as the most popular plugins or accessories in Adobe Flash and Oracle Java, and has shifted to manual update mode.

Future trends

At present, not everyone is optimistic about Automatic updates, over the years, some people complain that Automatic updates are out of control, they believe that they have hardware, should also have the final decision on hardware applications.

"Users who do not support automatic Updates still dominate, and most users want to control their own devices," Morten said. "In most cases, applications that include Windows 8.1 and OS X are automatically updated by default, and users will choose to disable them."

Looking to the future, Motten wants to see Microsoft take on more responsibility for its role in applying Automatic Updates. "If Microsoft is not fully responsible for updating all of the content on the operating system within 3-5 years, I would be very surprised," he said. "This is the right direction for Microsoft in the future and, of course, the most anticipated." "he added.