OS X El Capitan LogoApple today released Security Update 2016-001 for OS X El Capitan users, introducing important security fixes to the operating system. Apple has also also introduced Security Update 2016-005 for OS X Yosemite users.

The Security Updates are available to all OS X Yosemite and El Capitan users and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. Apple recommends all users install the update, and a full list of what's fixed can be found in the accompanying support document.

Most security updates are generally built into OS X updates as they are released, with separate security-only updates only being introduced when standard updates to the operating system are not expected. The release of a Security Update for OS X El Capitan suggests we may not see any new versions of the operating system ahead of the launch of macOS Sierra.

Update: Today’s security update fixes a series of critical kernel vulnerabilities that were recently patched in iOS with the release of iOS 9.3.5. On iOS devices, the vulnerabilities were part of a sophisticated jailbreak and malware attack that gave access to all of the functionality of an iPhone or iPad.

Citizen Lab and Lookout, who discovered the vulnerabilities on OS X and iOS, are credited with the fix.

Update 2: There's also a Safari 9.1.3 update to fix vulnerabilities in the Safari browser.

Top Rated Comments

tywebb13 Avatar
113 months ago
400 MB. Serious ****.
There are three parts to it. If you want to install the El Capitan one manually do it in this order:

Full Bundle Update:
http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/35/031-75159/4vr88oyevm1r0p30oz6tx3ygo689whk1f4/FullBundleUpdate.pkg (18.8MB)

Firmware Update:
http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/35/031-75159/4vr88oyevm1r0p30oz6tx3ygo689whk1f4/FirmwareUpdate.pkg (130.1MB)

Security Update 2016-001 10.11.6: http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/50/35/031-75159/4vr88oyevm1r0p30oz6tx3ygo689whk1f4/SecUpd2016-001ElCapitan.pkg (265.2MB)

Last one requires a restart.

Here are the Yosemite ones:

Firmware Update http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/31/50/031-74572/d6rg3uuihx9tfvsavc7i4vk1ay6q15hvmt/FirmwareUpdate.pkg (115.5MB)

Security Update 2016-005 10.10.5 http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/31/50/031-74572/d6rg3uuihx9tfvsavc7i4vk1ay6q15hvmt/SecUpd2016-005Yosemite.pkg (352.1MB)

(no Full Bundle Update)

The Yosemite one is actually bigger than the El Capitan one.

Alternative links:

Security Update 2016-001 10.11.6: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1891?locale=en_US

Security Update 2016-005 10.10.5 https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1890?locale=en_US

Notice that there ISN'T one for mavericks. So that's the end of mavericks as far as security is concerned. But they DID release a new safari for mavericks (and yosemite). Here they are respectively:

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/47/05/031-75479/smgdhqybff3jofycbq8uuciu5td7co45am/Safari9.1.3Mavericks.pkg

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/62/05/031-75481/c10gu5qoz8bbbk1jczzzvxm9ih4fupo0wz/Safari9.1.3Yosemite.pkg
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrfr Avatar
113 months ago
The actual release notes for this update are here: https://support.apple.com/HT207130
This patches the vulnerabilities just patched in iOS 9.3.5.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S.B.G Avatar
113 months ago
introducing important security fixes to the operating system
I wish Apple would give more details on the "important security fixes" they deploy.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KALLT Avatar
113 months ago
I wish Apple would give more details on the "important security fixes" they deploy.
They do in a separate note, always. It will appear here: https://support.apple.com/HT201222.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LogicalVue Avatar
113 months ago
Be wary if you're using a Mac Pro with the Nvidia web drivers. This broke the current Nvidia driver (346.03.15f02) so no more nice 4K retina display until the Nvidia update is posted.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Quu Avatar
113 months ago
I wish Apple would give more details on the "important security fixes" they deploy.
Here are the release notes for this specific update. [S]https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205731[/S]

EDIT:// It would appear these are actually not the correct release notes, why Apple reuses the same name for different security updates is beyond me.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...