Beware Apple Updaters Bearing “Gifts”
The Apple iTunes Updater– I’m sorry, the Apple Software Updater– I’m sorry, the Apple Software Installer– is now distributing Safari to unwitting Windows users.
Maybe, like me, you’re lazy and install those auto-updaters on purpose. Hey, who doesn’t like updates? Or maybe you installed iTunes while drunk and ended up with the Apple Updater on your machine after forgetting to click that checkbox (I once got the Yahoo Toolbar that way. Talk about a rough morning after).
In this case, though, you may end up with quite possibly the worst mainstream browser on the planet: Apple Safari. It’s not Safari’s fault it’s terrible. Nobody cares about poor old Safari, with its itty bitty market share. Tiny companies with names like “Google” can’t be bothered to make sure their pages work with Safari, and Apple can’t be counted on to implement every single IE quirk.
Fault is irrelevant, though. The only person who would ever want to run Safari is a web developer who needs to test their pages. If that’s not you, keep a wary eye out for the Apple Software Updater. (And don’t drink and download.)
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 am
“iTunes”, is that some new flavor of virus?
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 am
More or less. It identifies your music collection, and then randomly rearranges the files so that you can’t find them. It sends your credit card information to an undisclosed third party, and fills your hard drive with files that claim to be music, but which will not actually play. (The program will pop up a dialog claiming it will play the “music” if you “authorize” it by entering your password.) It also consumes an inordinate amount of CPU for a simple virus. Fortunately, it’s easy to remove: it bizarrely adds itself to your windows installed programs list.