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Apple security patch takes out 64-bit apps

Joris Evers CNET News

Published: 18 Aug 2005 09:10 BST

Apple's most recent security fixes for Mac OS X break support for 64-bit applications in the operating system, a software maker has warned.

Apple released a large security update for Mac OS X on Monday. Security Update 2005-007 provides fixes for flaws in various parts of Apple's software, including the Safari browser, Bluetooth wireless and various networking tools.

But the update doesn't just fix security bugs; it also breaks support for 64-bit applications in the operating system, according to Wolfram Research, maker of the Mathematica computation software. It's unclear whether applications other than Mathmatica's are affected.

"Due to an error on the part of Apple, this update prevents any 64-bit native application from running," Wolfram told its customers in an email alert on Tuesday. In particular, the problem means that Mathematica 5.2, released in July, will not run on a G5 computer with Mac OS X and Apple's latest security update, according to the e-mail.

Apple is aware of the issue and plans to fix its security update, Ben Wilson, a Wolfram spokesman, said in an interview on Wednesday.

Apple did not immediately return a call and an email seeking comment.

Users of Mathematica 5.2 can still run the application on a patched Mac OS X machine by temporarily disabling 64-bit capabilities.