Apple Tells Windows Users to Uninstall QuickTime-Truth!

Apple Tells Windows Users to Uninstall QuickTime-Truth!

Summary of eRumor:
Warnings that Apple has urged Windows users to uninstall QuickTime have gone viral.
The Truth:
It’s true that Apple recommended that Windows users uninstall QuickTime from their computers because of security concerns.
Apple released a warning in April 2016 stating that it would no longer provide security updates for QuickTime, which leaves the software vulnerable to hackers and security threats. As such, Apple has suggested that Windows users delete QuickTime from their computers, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team reports:

Computer systems running unsupported software are exposed to elevated cybersecurity dangers, such as increased risks of malicious attacks or electronic data loss. Exploitation of QuickTime for Windows vulnerabilities could allow remote attackers to take control of affected systems.

Computers running QuickTime for Windows will continue to work after support ends. However, using unsupported software may increase the risks from viruses and other security threats. Potential negative consequences include loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data, as well as damage to system resources or business assets. The only mitigation available is to uninstall QuickTime for Windows.

If run Windows on an Apple computer, click here for step-by-step instructions on how to uninstall QuickTime.
Warnings about QuickTime security issues on Apple computers were sparked by a Trend Micro blog post that appeared under the headline, “Urgent Call to Action: Uninstall QuickTime for Windows Today,” that reported:

We’re not aware of any active attacks against these vulnerabilities currently. 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. In this regard, QuickTime for Windows now joins Microsoft Windows XP and Oracle Java 6 as software that is no longer being updated to fix vulnerabilities and subject to ever increasing risk as more and more unpatched vulnerabilities are found affecting it.

So, warnings urging Apple users running Windows to uninstall QuickTime due to security vulnerabilities are true. However, we aren’t aware of any specific threats or viruses that are affecting computers as a result of this — yet.