For all the hubbub swirling around the blogosphere, you’d think Apple just instituted a policy to kill your first-born child when you download iTunes. Instead, what Apple has actually done is make it so that when Windows users update their version of iTunes, a tiny box is automatically checked that will place Apple’s web browser, Safari, on your computer as well. The horror!

This is kind of sneaky, but it’s no worse than any number of companies have been doing for years — including Apple. Over the years, how many people have had QuickTime installed on their machines simply by downloading iTunes? Apparently, now you can’t even refuse to install QuickTime if you want the music management software that iPod owners must use. (This is undoubtedly so you can play video files from iTunes but why not just build it into iTunes?)

There are two solutions here:

1) Apple can automatically check the “install” box only if you have that specific software already installed on your computer.

2) If you don’t want to install Safari, UNCHECK THE BOX. It takes one second.