A new report from security software provider Secunia shows that despite considerable security investments, the software industry at large is unable to produce software with substantially fewer vulnerabilities.

The latest data shows that Apple has surpassed Oracle and even Microsoft with accounting for the most software vulnerabilities, though the No. 1 ranking is related only to the number of vulnerabilities–not to how risky they are or how fast they get patched.

This analysis also supports the general perception that a high market share correlates with a high number of vulnerabilities–with Apple (maker of iTunes and QuickTime), Microsoft (Windows, Internet Explorer), and Oracle’s Sun Microsystems (Java) consistently occupying the top ranks during the last five years, along with Adobe Systems (Acrobat Reader, Flash), which joined the group in 2008.

Mac OS has remained relatively untouched by major viruses and hacking efforts in the past, as most ne’er-do-wells may have considered the operating system’s market share and thus potential for private information less enticing than those of Microsoft’s Windows. With the rise of Mac market share and the popularity of the iPhone, however, there is little doubt that Apple platforms will become major malware targets in the near future.

Secunia offers a FREE security tool (Personal Software Inspector) designed to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs and plug-ins which expose your PC to attacks.

It’s a good program… I use it.