Mozilla’s CEO Has Problem With Apple’s Safari Download

It’s been a few months since Apple has done anything to mark its reputation, so the time is right for a few fireworks. The creator of Safari has (allegedly) decided that it’s perfectly fine to dump its internet browser on Windows users, without their express permission.

When Windows users update their iTunes or QuickTime software, Apple conveniently bundles Safari 3.1 with the download. How jolly nice of them!

Surprisingly, it’s not “Papa Microsoft” that’s griping about the sneaky install, nope. It’s actually Mozilla CEO John Lilly that’s doing the complaining–apparently he feels a threat to Mozilla’s own Firefox browser.

According to Lilly…

The problem here is that it lists Safari for getting an update — and has the “Install” box checked by default — even if you haven’t ever installed Safari on your PC.

Apple has made it incredibly easy — the default, even — for users to install ride along software that they didn’t ask for, and maybe didn’t want. This is wrong, and borders on malware distribution practices.

A competitor complaining about Apple? I’m sure the Apple fans will flock around this story–or will they? If this were Microsoft complaining that it was unfair on IE, then I’d fully expect Mac users to circle the wagons. But, this is Mozilla doing the complaining and, last time I checked, many Mac owners use Firefox over Safari.

A clash between Apple and Mozilla? This could be the browser equivalent of the immovable object against the unstoppable force!

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