According to UK IT magazine PC Pro the Mozilla CEO has accused Apple of coming close to using malware tactics to install the Safari browser on Windows PCs via the iTunes updater.

“Apple has made it incredibly easy—the default, even—for users to install ride along software that they didn’t ask for, and maybe didn’t want. This is wrong, and borders on mal ware distribution practices”.

“It’s wrong because it undermines the trust that we’re all trying to build with users. Because it means that an update isn’t just an update, but is maybe something more. Because it ultimately undermines the safety of users on the Web by eroding that relationship. It’s a bad practice and should stop”. Mozilla CEO John Lilly said.

The accusation isn’t focusing on Apple’s use of its Software Update application to deliver Safari to end users. At issue is Apple’s placement of the Safari update next to an iTunes update with a check box pre-checked, and then offering up both a Safari download as well as as the iTunes update as a single, clickable install.