After a year-long respite from QuickTime security issues, Apple has released QuickTime 7.6, which includes a set of potentially significant security fixes for both Mac and Windows. In this case, Apple is being proactive, fixing potential, theoretical security holes before they’re exploited. It’s a great change from a couple years ago, when QuickTime was one of the Mac’s biggest security concerns.

Every fix listed in the security note is essentially the same, with all the fixes beginning “Viewing a maliciously crafted [item] may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution”. If there’s a catch-phrase for Internet security in the 21st century, it’s probably “arbitrary code execution.” Regardless, it’s great to realize that QuickTime hasn’t been in the security news for a while, and that it is now for all the right reasons. Keep up the good job, Apple.