MobileMe malware?

 

Well I’d never really thought of it as malware but that’s what one comment on my blog said about Apple sneaking MobileMe on to Windows via the iTunes 7.7 update.

 

Thor, the difference between Apple installing a MobileMe control panel and Symantec or nVidia doing it is they don't do it for software you don't actually have.

The MobileMe ad gets installed in your Control Panel even if you have no possible interest in Mobile Me. And that's pretty much the definition of Malware.

Many people are comparing this to the stealth installation of Safari with a QuickTime update which Apple hastily revised after strong criticism. Is a similar turnaround ahead?

Personally I’m not sure I’d really call it malware but it is pretty stealthy and very similar to the Safari/QuickTime thing. I’m surprised more than annoyed and will be interested to see if the same criticism is levelled at Apple.

Comments

• Anonymous
  July 21, 2008
  While it's frustrating that Apple’s default installation (update) for QuickTime can include Safari and iTunes. I wish that Apple was the only culprit. JAVA: A few months ago, Java's default installation included a game "Puzzle Pirates" -- now Java tries to install Sun's Open Office with their Java installation / updates. ADOBE: The Acrobat Reader's default installation includes the Google Toolbar. REALAUDIO: The media player's default installation includes BOTH the Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search. All of these company's installations include “additional” software that is not necessary for the program the end-user is downloading. Additionally, the installation require that the end-user to UNSELECT these default options. So is it Malware? Not as long as the company can point to some text that says "We told you!" Is it Sneaky? Yep! Blake Handler Microsoft MVP "The Road to Know Where"

• Anonymous
  July 22, 2008
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  July 22, 2008
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  July 22, 2008
  Steve, Its malware without a question! Call them on it publicly. Spend some of that $300 million in advertising and say "Hi I'm a PC and my friend Mac here just gave me some malware to chew on". What's fair for the goose is fair for the gander! Jeff

• Anonymous
  July 22, 2008
  i hear you jeff but I'd rather not sink to the same level :)