[NewsPoster]

[Updated with claims about Thunderstrike fix] Apple has seeded a new beta of OS X 10.10.2 to its workers -- build 14C109 -- that includes release notes explaining the update's major changes. The most significant may be the addition of iCloud Drive browsing within Time Machine, which should let people track related changes and find items that were previously stored in the cloud. Apple has also made a number of fixes though, most notably solving a Spotlight vulnerability that automatically loaded remote content in Mail messages.

Other problems reportedly solved include Wi-Fi disconnections, slow webpage loading, and poor audio and video sync when using Bluetooth headphones. VoiceOver should have better speech performance, for instance dropping an echo triggered when entering text on webpages. The update will further fix random input language switches, and miscellaneous security and stability flaws in Safari.

Several betas of v10.10.2 have been provided to developers already. Given this and the internal availability of release notes, the finished version of the update could be pushed out soon.

Update: The software should also remedy the Thunderstrike vulnerability uncovered last year, sources say. New code allegedly blocks a Mac's boot ROM from being replaced, or even rolled back, completely blocking an attack. The threat wasn't considered too serious in the first place, since it required physical access to a Mac, but beyond that requirement proved to be a difficult-to-protect attack vector.

[vintagegeek]

Integrating iCloud Drive into TimeMachine. That sounds REALLY dicely.

[bobolicious]

...so if everything iCloud is already on all machines, and presumably backed up, how does this help...?

...could this be yet another potential security risk - a hook into backups for those inclined or empowered, legally or otherwise...?

Is it even possible to set up a current full featured (software updated) mac now without Apple getting access to name, credit card (and perhaps history) & serial number...?

Originally Posted by NewsPoster 

Update: The software should also remedy the Thunderstrike vulnerability uncovered last year, sources say. New code allegedly blocks a Mac's boot ROM from being replaced, or even rolled back, completely blocking an attack. The threat wasn't considered too serious in the first place, since it required physical access to a Mac.

Oh yay, so Apple would rather deal with these issues (which no consumer has ever involuntarily experienced) than fix the enormous plethora of really obvious and annoying bugs in Yosemite.

[just a poster]

I used to make fun of Windows for being insecure, but Apple seems to create holes intentionally.

[equitek]

For the iCloud backup, I guess I just assumed they're taking the data already on our computers that is synch'ed with iCloud and backing that up in a way that can be easily recovered. I had an issue with lost notes in the cloud, and I got them back through some digging and prodding in my Time Machine backups that took my almost an entire night.