According to Apple (News - Alert), there is a new security update for Leopard, “the first in quite awhile.” 

The same version of the OS also has a Flashback removal tool. The security update is a solution to the problem of malware that older versions of which Adobe (News - Alert) Flash Player is susceptible. The malware problem has affected one percent of users, and has been pinpointed as being mostly prevalent in the CF5 version of Photoshop.

Adobe’s proposed solution was dubiously received, while Apple is commended for their dedication in upgrading all of their products – even older ones like Leopard.

The Leopard Security Update 2012-003 disables older versions of Flash Player, and the Flashback removal tool removes common Flash malware. The tool notifies the user through a dialog box when the job’s done.

“In some cases, the update may need to restart your computer in order to completely remove the Flashback malware," Apple warned. “Leopard users can check their security status by following the guide found here.”

Last week, Apple released Safari 5.1.7 for OS X Lion, OS X Snow Leopard. Apple enthusiasts are commending the company for their devotion in keeping all products regularly updated, including older ones like Leopard.

This is more than people can say for Adobe. The last announcement for a major update for Leopard was last July, before Apple’s release of Lion. Apple has steadily maintained Lion updates since its release.

Apparently, the OS X Mountain Lion will be Apple’s next major release available this summer, which demonstrates that Apple continues to innovate despite their focus on improving older software.

According to some reports, Adobe’s Flashback malware has affected one percent of all Macs. Adobe, in response, encouraged users to upgrade from CS5 to CS6 instead of cleaning up the existing CS5 problem.

This move, which Mac enthusiasts call “sketchy,” has earned Adobe some serious flak. The vulnerability was found in Adobe’s CS5 version of Photoshop. After many voiced their opposition for having to pay to correct this mistake, Adobe promised to work on patching it up. The same guide that walks users through the update process provides a direct link to the newest Adobe upgrade.