Do not uninstall Quicktime.
In 2017, several chickens started running around with their tech-heads cut off about Quicktime. Quicktime has sinced fixed its security problem. You need Quicktime installed on your PC to run software programs that were made to use it, like many of ours!
Here’s what we wrote back then…
Do not heed the dire and ill-informed warnings to “immediately uninstall Quicktime from your computer.” Instead, update it, and be sure your web browser is also up to date.
If you uninstall Quicktime, then many of our software programs will no longer work, and there is no Quicktime alternative when it comes to running our software. In fact, our customers need to install the very latest version of Quicktime for Window (QT 7.7.9) so that our software will run on Windows 7, 8, and 10.
IN FACT: The latest version of Quicktime for Windows and most web browsers will no longer run the Quicktime browser plug-in that created all the chicken-little security articles in the first place.
In Brief:
You do not need to worry about the tech-fear that was spread about Quicktime IF you have the latest version of Quicktime 7.7.9, and the latest version of your favorite web browser. Apple has already dis-abled the potential problem in their latest version of Quicktime. The Quicktime browser plug-in that had the security hole no longer installs or runs. And most web browsers have been updated to disable the problematic browser plug-in. Apple continues to offer the download and does not recommend uninstalling Quicktime unless you don’t need it.
The security flaw in Quicktime does not apply to our software. Our software has ZERO to do with the Quicktime web plug-in. It uses other components of Quicktime to play menus and videos within our software. If you have Windows 7, 8, or 10, you will need to download the newest available version of Quicktime. Go to https://support.apple.com/kb/DL837 or search for Quicktime for Windows 7.7.
In Detail:
The over-heated warnings started to appear on the internet in March of 2016. They originated from security company “TrendMicro.” They apply ONLY to “potentially” infected web videos which may try to infect your computer through your browser’s Quicktime plugin. As of March 2016, TrendMicro said they have not found any such infected videos, but said it “could” happen, –now that Apple has announced they will no longer issue security updates for Quicktime for Windows. The US Govt “Zero Day” anti-hacker initiative did issue a bulletin recommending people uninstall Quicktime because they want to suppress virus attacks and security breaches. No infected content was reported, however.
As of May 2016, Apple continues to offer Quicktime 7.7.9, their latest and last version of Quicktime for Windows. Apple says to only remove it if you no longer need it on your PC, and our customers definitely need it for a lot of our software. In version 7.7.9, Apple has disabled the browser plug-in which was the potential security hole. That version also disables all previous installed Quicktime browser plug-ins, while still allowing Quicktime media to run on your PC if it’s coming from within the computer and not the browser.
If you uninstall Quicktime it will also disable any trusted software that has Quicktime-enabled content.
Content installed from a commercial CD, such as Kid Pix CD or the Ten Commandments CD is safe, and does not contain infected videos. The potential threat is only from possible future Quicktime content (videos) your BROWSER may try to open while you’re on the web or may have downloaded from the web -IF you were using a version of QT that did not have the browser plug-in disabled.
Make sure you have the latest version of your web browser installed. By default, new browsers are disabling the Quicktime plug-in so that it cannot run Quicktime videos found while surfing websites. This plug-in has nothing to do with our software. Our software uses different Quicktime resources that need to be installed in your operating system.
Many of our older CDs comes with older versions of Quicktime on the CD. If you have Windows 7, 8, or 10, you need to download Quicktime 7.7.9. If your system doesn’t have the newer version of QT, many of our CDs will prompt you to install the older version stored on the CD. You do not want to do this. You will need the newest version.
Why did Apple stop updating Quicktime?
Because Quicktime is no longer the defacto standard for video and animated development on the web or in software, and Apple doesn’t make any money off of it. Thus, they are stopping its development and security updates.
However, MANY multi-media software programs were designed to run with Quicktime resources, and thus, you still need Quicktime installed.
Questions? Email neil@sundaysoftware.com