Hours into the release of Safari 3.2, users frenetically started reporting crashes with the browser. The problem was almost instantly isolated and confirmed as incompatibility with third party software. Apple has now issued a new Safari update, for both Mac and Windows users, which delivers “stability improvements,” according to the Cupertino, Calif.-based Mac maker.

On Apple's (redesigned) Support -> Downloads page, Safari 3.2.1. is described as follows:

About Safari 3.2.1 for Leopard

This update includes stability improvements and is recommended for all Safari users.

The changelog looks the same for all three versions of the update (Mac Tiger, Mac Leopard and Windows), while requirements include any Mac running Security Update 2007 and Mac OS X 10.4.11, any Mac running Security Update 007 and Mac OS X 10.5.5 and Windows XP / Vista respectively.

Safari 3.2, released last week, addressed several security issues, including phishing and identification of online businesses. Other changes were included. Apple revealed that Safari 3.2, available for both Leopard and Tiger, as well as for  Windows Vista or XP featured “protection from fraudulent phishing websites and better identification of online businesses.”

Apple added that the update also included “the latest security updates.” The latter concerns JPEG and TIFF image handling, preventing certain malicious files from closing the program or executing an arbitrary code, as well as XML document processing, correcting a heap buffer overflow vulnerability. Bugs addressed on the Windows side included bounds checking and zlib 1.2.2 issues.

A fix for a problem that sometimes allowed form field information to be stored in the page cache, even if the autocomplete function was disabled, was especially noteworthy. Apple learned that this would disclose sensitive information to a local console user, and delivered the fix. However, Apple's patches conflicted (at some point) with existing third party software, resulting in Safari crashing all over the place for most users. Hopefully the new version of the browser will put an end to this. We are waiting for your confirmation that Safari 3.2.1 is a go.

Download Safari 3.2.1 for Tiger (Free)

Download Safari 3.2.1 for Leopard (Free)

Download Safari 3.2.1 for Windows XP / Vista (Free)