Beware of Apple crapware

Aegis · 24 Dec 2009 at 09:50

Weird - all of Apple's software (iTunes, QuickTime, Safari, AirPort and yes, Bonjour) is running flawlessly on my PC - Bonjour is quite essential to Apple apps so removing it will cause all sorts of issues.

There's even some 3rd party apps that I use (Luxology's modo 3D software) that need Bonjour installed (it's for configuration-free networking for those that don't know what Bonjour does) and 'cause I'm hooked up to a Time Capsule for backup and wireless networking, Bonjour is also needed to connect my PC to the remote printer (which again, works flawlessly).

Then again, I've never tried to uninstall any of this stuff (haven't needed to) - normally if I have to remove major things that are gonna screw with my PC I start with a fresh reinstall

rickyt · 24 Dec 2009 at 12:30

Another thumbs down for Apple crap .I've just had to look at a PC for someone who gets NO internet browser working .It's connected and getting updates but something is blocking the browser [IE8].I installed Firefox ,same thing.............a mesage on the screen saying the website is valid but the browser cannot be opened. Looking on the PC I saw Safari ..............no one in the household knew what it was or what it did. I opened it and the internet home page for Apple appeared. They use an ipod ,so this Safari has been installed somehow.They now have the internet but they cannot use IE or Firefox .Safari settings seem to be blocking all other browsers.I have NEVER seen this happen before with any other browsers .Just what is installed with Safari that blocks all other connections ?

theheyes · 24 Dec 2009 at 14:21

rickyt said:
Another thumbs down for Apple crap .I've just had to look at a PC for someone who gets NO internet browser working .It's connected and getting updates but something is blocking the browser [IE8].I installed Firefox ,same thing.............a mesage on the screen saying the website is valid but the browser cannot be opened. Looking on the PC I saw Safari ..............no one in the household knew what it was or what it did. I opened it and the internet home page for Apple appeared. They use an ipod ,so this Safari has been installed somehow.They now have the internet but they cannot use IE or Firefox .Safari settings seem to be blocking all other browsers.I have NEVER seen this happen before with any other browsers .Just what is installed with Safari that blocks all other connections ?

Safari was probably installed as part of an Apple software update, which is checked by default iirc. As for the Internet problem I wouldn't be pointing the finger at Safari - it's more likely to be a symptom than the cause. I'd be thinking possible malware and I would check the proxy settings of IE and FF.

Aegis · 24 Dec 2009 at 14:22

When you install iTunes the Apple Software Update tool gets installed too and runs in the background - it'll have offered Safari as a download when it offered to update iTunes - somebody must've selected and downloaded it with an iTunes update.

Shouldn't be causing any issues though - got Safari running alongside IE and Opera here with no problems. Uninstalling Safari should get rid of it but AFAIK iTunes needs Bonjour so I wouldn't recommend trying to get rid of that...

rickyt · 25 Dec 2009 at 10:45

I admit I never seen this sort of thing on any PC or laptop .Always been able to use multiple browsers ie .IE and Firefox .even at the same time .So,the Apple software must be causing it . It's going to get deleted next week and hopefully that will be the end of the problem .
cheers and have a Merry Christmas ,everyone