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
123 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
123 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
123 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
123 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
123 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
123 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

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...