TORONTO – Apple has released a security update to patch an exploit that left a reported 600,000 Mac users infected with the so-called Flashback or FlashFake virus.

Apple says the update removes the most common versions of the Flashback/FlashFake malware, which may have hit as many as 100,000 Apple computers in Canada.

Experts criticized Apple for taking too long to address a security issue with the Java web platform, which was used to launch the virus.

Users infected by the virus could have their computers controlled and watched remotely by hackers and are vulnerable to having personal and banking information stolen.

The update can be downloaded at: http://bit.ly/Hyb3oe.