Earlier today, Softpedia reported the availability of GarageBand 5.1, a highly recommended update for users of GarageBand '09 (iLife '09). Besides addressing general compatibility issues, while improving the stability of the software, Apple has also disclosed (in a detailed Support piece), that the GarageBand 5.1 update also contains a security fix.

On the Support section of its website, Apple reveals that GarageBand 5.1 “addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and fixes a number of other minor issues.” According to Apple, those include: GarageBand track effects and Audio Units can now be added to a guitar track; improved support for Apogee audio interfaces; faster switching to full screen in Magic GarageBand and improved access to audio-monitoring settings.

Apple then takes visitors of its website to another page, where the security content of GarageBand 5.1 is disclosed. There, the Mac maker reveals that GarageBand '09 has a hole that hackers may try to exploit. Available solely for Mac OS X v10.5.7 users, “web activity may be tracked by third parties and advertisers [when GarageBand is opened],” Apple warns. The flaw’s full description follows below.

Description: When GarageBand is opened, Safari's preferences are changed to always accept cookies. The default preference is to accept cookies only for the sites being visited. The altered setting may allow third parties and advertisers to track a user's web activity. This update addresses the issue by not changing the preference setting. Users who have run previous versions of GarageBand should confirm that their Safari preferences are set as desired.

Mac owners can use the Software Update mechanism typical to Mac OS X (Apple Menu -> Software Update), in order to update GarageBand '09 to the latest version. They just need to choose GarageBand 5.1 from the list of available updates, followed by a click on the Install button. Alternately, fans of GarageBand can apply the update manually by downloading the GarageBand 5.1 standalone installer (available for free download using the link below).

Download GarageBand 5.1 (Free)