Top 12 Most Vulnerable Apps Ranked By Bit9 (PICTURES)

Internet security company Bit9 has ranked the year's most vulnerable apps, based on the vulnerability database developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The applications found on this year's list were ranked by the number of "high severity" vulnerabilities reported. The list includes some of the most popular Web browsers and desktop software applications. Apple and Adobe, for example, have the most products on this year's list, according to Bit9.

Harry Sverdlove, CTO of Bit9, issued the following warning along with the company's official report: "The reality is every enterprise, including our own, is likely using at least one of the applications, and unpatched vulnerabilities are often used as the access point for the targeted enterprise attacks making headlines these days." Bit9 advises consumers that the best way to eliminate these vulnerabilities is by performing regular maintenance and patching exploits when necessary.

View our slideshow of 2010's top 12 most vulnerable apps (below). Which results surprised you most? Do you use any of the apps on this Dirty Dozen list? Let us know in the comments. Then, check out the 9 riskiest places to surf the Internet.