“For several years, Oracle has been bundling the Ask toolbar with its Java software for Windows PCs, often using deceptive methods to convince customers to install the unwanted add-on,” Ed Bott reports for ZDNet.
“With the latest release of Java for the Mac, Oracle has begun bundling the Ask adware with default installations as well, changing homepages in the process,” Bott reports. “The unwelcome Ask extension shows up as part of the installer if a Mac user downloads Java 8 Update 40 for the Mac. In my tests on a Mac running that latest release of OS X, the installer added an app to the current browser, Chrome version 41. (In a separate test, I installed Java using the latest version of Safari, where it behaved in a similar fashion.)”
“As with its Windows counterpart, the Java installer selects the option to install the Ask app by default,” Bott reports. “A casual Mac user who simply clicks through the dialog boxes to complete the installation will find the app installed and enabled in their browser, with the New Tab page changed to one with an Ask search box.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “bugsbunny” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Ugh. Come on, Larry! You know that Steve would roast your nuts on an open fire if you tried this when he was alive.
Don’t use Java and complain vociferously when developers require its use. If you’re forced to use Java, read all installation prompts thoroughly (best practice at all times, for all software anyway)!