Apple Inc is under fire from industry experts for it’s actions in the delivery of their new web browser for Windows, Safari 3.1. Why all the fuss, they used the auto update functions of iTunes and QuickTime to install the software without the knowledge of users. This is criticized as a practice that borders on malware and should be avoided at all costs. Users must be informed of what and when updates are to be installed however the minimal effects it could have on a user’s computer system. Let’s call it full disclosure as this post in the IT Security Blog points out, software developers do this as a standard practice maybe because they’re ashamed to admit they have made such an elementary error for such a long standing and respected developer. The auto update feature of most software is placed there to facilitate the updating and patching of software without the need for user intervention which can be quite annoying if there were a lot of software products installed on your computer. The risk is highlighted by this incident which I’m sure is not the only incidence of such activities.