diff --git a/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/security/security.functions b/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/security/security.functions
--- a/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/security/security.functions
+++ b/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/security/security.functions
@@ -68,11 +68,11 @@
     cp ${tmpf} ${LOG}/${label}.today || rc=3
   fi
 
-  if ! cmp -s ${LOG}/${label}.today ${tmpf} >/dev/null; then
+  if ! diff -qqb ${LOG}/${label}.today ${tmpf} >/dev/null; then
     [ $rc -lt 1 ] && rc=1
     echo ""
     echo "${msg}"
-    diff ${security_status_diff_flags} ${LOG}/${label}.today \
+    diff -b ${security_status_diff_flags} ${LOG}/${label}.today \
 	${tmpf} | eval "${filter}"
     mv ${LOG}/${label}.today ${LOG}/${label}.yesterday || rc=3
     mv ${tmpf} ${LOG}/${label}.today || rc=3