- More than half of Macs and cell phones are installed with outdated software
- Attacks on macOS are increasing as Mac shipments increase, compounding the problem
- Software updates are designed to patch vulnerabilities
Vulnerable apps and outdated apps can be a major security concern across Mac and mobile environments, says new research from Jamf.
The firm found that more than half of organizations (53%) have mobile devices with severely outdated applications, and even more (58%) are running outdated macOS devices.
As for the apps themselves, almost all (95%) of the mobile apps tested had at least one medium-sized vulnerability – combined with poorly protected operating systems, this could put sensitive company data at risk.
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macOS and mobile are the biggest culprits for booting OSes
Three in five mobile apps (62%) also ask for potentially dangerous permissions, with one in five (21%) showing “privacy-affecting behavior.”
While the operating system or application itself may not be enough to send a company down, these vulnerabilities combined with human risks can spell disaster – a quarter of surveyed organizations have fallen due to phishing links that give attackers access to the system.
Those weaknesses then enable coordinated movements within the company’s systems, amplifying the effects of the attack.
Jamf also affects the evolution of threats, with many attacks now using zero-click, browser-based or encrypted attacks that do not require the active participation of the victim.
When it comes to Macs themselves, Apple has seen a 16.4% increase in shipments between 2024 and 2025 (via Omdia) – the biggest growth of any brand including Lenovo, HP, Dell and Asus. At the same time, more than 26,000 samples of macOS malware were found in 2025. According to the company’s research, nearly three-quarters (73%) of Macs now have at least one vulnerable operating system.
“Our goal with this study is to spread awareness among security leaders about the risks affecting their organizations,” wrote Portfolio Strategy VP Michael Covington, “so they can ensure that threat detection, law enforcement and response capabilities are compatible with their Mac and mobile devices.”
Although Jamf’s research centers around macOS and mobile, other operating systems (including Windows) are not immune to similar attacks, but thankfully one simple, trivial action can prevent a large number of attacks.
Keeping apps and operating systems up to date isn’t just about handling bugs and introducing new features – it’s also removing vulnerabilities and bugs to increase security.
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