THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

A translation to a person in charge of patch management.

A Translation of "Apple's Windows Invasion" - Vox:
http://blech.vox.com/library/post/windows-invasion-translation.html

If the desktop has admin rights (many of us still do)

If the desktop has Quicktime (we're not talking Itunes sir, merely Quicktime needed for some Enterprise-y web broadcasts)

Person sitting at said computer, with Quicktime, with Admin rights, gets system tray updater. 

Being the end user trained to install security patches they install updates to Quicktime. 

Then in time they get offered iTunes that they don't need.

Then in time the get Safari that they don't need.

Unwanted software puts security holes/issues on a workstation. 

I don't care if MSN IM started it first, or Google doesn't precheck boxes, or Sun Java only advertises Open Office ... none of these make any justification for what Apple (or any vendor for that matter) has done.

KNOCK IT OFF.

http://blech.vox.com/library/post/further-thoughts-on-a-translation.html

Let me say this again, I DON'T CARE which vendor started it, all of you KNOCK IT OFF.

Just give me software that I asked for, update software that I only installed, and stop shoving crud on my clients, and anyone else that hasn't seen the light of Least Privilege and gotten their desktops under control.

People weren't asked if they wanted Safari, they were prompted for an update to a program they didn't have.

Saying "Microsoft does it with MSN IM" doesn't justify this behavior.  Apple crossed the boundary because they placed it in a position of trust. The security update User Interface.

Give me the software that I ask for and otherwise, KNOCK IT OFF all of you.

Microsoft Watch - Web Services & Browser - Apple Software Update is Ripe, Not Rotten:
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/web_services_browser/apple_software_update_is_ripe_not_rotten.html

I'm sorry Joe.. go run a network.

"Apple's Safari distribution tactic is sheer brilliance. Apple is co-opting Microsoft's monopoly product. Other developers shipping updaters should follow Apple's approach. "

Let's not encourage them Joe.  Every piece of software on a computer is a security risk.  The home user base is one big fat security risk right now.  We have enough insecurity with IE, we don't need to add another browser on a user base that didn't even realize they were installing it in the first place.  When people install Firefox, they make a choice.  When people just installed Safari, they had no clue.

"Enterprises should be concerned about rogue software updaters from a management and even security perspective. But in the larger context of competition, Apple has done something clever and competitively right. "

Prechecking that install box crossed the line Joe.  Saying something is appropriate in the larger context of competition doesn't justify what this or any vendor that tries this.  Don't applaud them or encourage them. 

Go run a network Joe, then tell me what you think about this "competition".  They don't have my best interests at heart for sure, Steve Jobs and Steve Ballmer can duke it out in a corner and leave me alone please.  This isn't competition, this is adding to the problem of rogue, unknown, possibly unpatched software.

(final edit)

P.S. Steve Ballmer?  Do me a favor and stop trying to install Silverlight on me when I visit the Microsoft download site as well.  When I want it to watch a video I'll get it then.  Otherwise all of you software vendors... knock it off...