Security experts warn Windows PC users to uninstall QuickTime
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is warning Windows PC users to uninstall QuickTime because the system is vulnerable to exploitation by hackers.
Security software firm Trend Micro wrote in a blog post Thursday that Apple will no longer be providing security updates for QuickTime for Windows because its lifecycle has expired. However, critical bugs have been found in the software.
The bugs only affect Windows, not Mac users.
"We're not aware of any active attacks against these vulnerabilities currently," Christopher Budd from Trend Micro wrote in the blog post. "But the only way to protect your Windows systems from potential attacks against these or other vulnerabilities in Apple QuickTime now is to uninstall it."
Two advisories (ZDI-16-241 and ZDI-16-242) regarding the new bugs were posted on Zero Day Initiative, a program that rewards security researchers for disclosing vulnerabilities.
To uninstall QuickTime from your PC, simply click on "Uninstall QuickTime 7" from your computer's Control Panel. Detailed steps for the process are also available on Apple's website.