Mac users are seeing something they’ve never, ever seen before: Apple is pushing its first-ever automated security update to Mac computers this week, to address a flaw that could allow attackers to remotely access Mac computers.

Newly identified bugs discovered by security researchers could let hackers take over Mac computers, reports Reuters.

Apple pushed the software yesterday to fix critical security vulnerabilities in OS X’s network time protocol (NTP), says an Apple spokesman. NTP synchronizes clocks on computer systems.

The bugs were brought to light in security bulletins last week by the Department of Homeland Security and the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute, alerting dozens of companies along with Apple that their products might be at risk to attack.

In the past, Apple has issued security patches using its normal software update system that requires users to take action in order to implement it. But this one was pushed automatically because Apple wanted to make sure customers had the right defense as quickly as possible because of how severe the vulnerabilities are. So far, Apple hasn’t been made aware of any cases of vulnerable Macs being targeted by hackers to exploit the bugs yet.

“The update is seamless,” the spokesman said of the update. “It doesn’t even require a restart.”

As one of our observant Twitter followers points out, users must first have auto updates enabled to receive the push.

Apple pushes first ever automated security update to Mac users [Reuters]

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