4 ms·

It absolutely wasn't a mistake. Most legitimate software makes the descriptive text for a checkbox (the label) a trigger for the checkbox. The Ask Toolbar insta

It absolutely wasn't a mistake. Most legitimate software makes the descriptive text for a checkbox (the label) a trigger for the checkbox. The Ask Toolbar installer option, however, disables this, forcing you to specifically target the checkbox itself. It is incredibly scummy, and worse it actually encourages Oracle to create insecure software -- at least in the short term -- because each fix is another spin of the wheel.

iuguy 14y ago
That's weird, I thought Oracle have been making insecure software for decades and this was just business as usual for them.
- hnriot 14y ago
  clearly, you haven't been paying attention.
talmand 14y ago
There are examples of legitimate software failing in this aspect as well. Not to suggest that Oracle does not do this on purpose for nefarious reasons or that other software is being scummy somehow. I don't work at Oracle so I can't say if it's intentional or just part of the problem that's more common then you think.
logic 14y ago
Disabled to make automation (corporate installations) difficult, perhaps? I find it mind-boggling that people actually put up with (or defend) user-unfriendly behavior like this.
- skymt 14y ago
  Oracle explicitly supports automated corporate deployment, albeit in a roundabout way. http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deployment/deployment-guide/install-msi.html http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deploy...
- FredFredrickson 14y ago
  The only reason why anyone would defend these practices is that presumably, if the company did not monetize their software in this way, the software couldn't continue to be developed. In Oracle's case, this seems absurd. The money they make from toolbar installations couldn't possibly be very high, could it?
drzaiusapelord 14y ago
How secure are these toolbars? It seems like end users are getting reamed twice. Once by just using java and again by increasing their vulnerability profile with toolbars.

iuguy 14y ago

That's weird, I thought Oracle have been making insecure software for decades and this was just business as usual for them.

hnriot 14y ago
clearly, you haven't been paying attention.

talmand 14y ago

There are examples of legitimate software failing in this aspect as well. Not to suggest that Oracle does not do this on purpose for nefarious reasons or that other software is being scummy somehow. I don't work at Oracle so I can't say if it's intentional or just part of the problem that's more common then you think.

logic 14y ago

Disabled to make automation (corporate installations) difficult, perhaps? I find it mind-boggling that people actually put up with (or defend) user-unfriendly behavior like this.

skymt 14y ago
Oracle explicitly supports automated corporate deployment, albeit in a roundabout way. http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deployment/deployment-guide/install-msi.html http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deploy...
FredFredrickson 14y ago
The only reason why anyone would defend these practices is that presumably, if the company did not monetize their software in this way, the software couldn't continue to be developed. In Oracle's case, this seems absurd. The money they make from toolbar installations couldn't possibly be very high, could it?

drzaiusapelord 14y ago

How secure are these toolbars? It seems like end users are getting reamed twice. Once by just using java and again by increasing their vulnerability profile with toolbars.