Why Oracle bundles a toolbar with Java at all remains a mystery but the good news is it can be suppressed in future installations.

Java is a language that is loved by some, hated by some. It didn't start out that way; first released in 1995 by Sun Microsystems Java was to be a modern language for the new Internet age. By virtue of the Java run-time applications could be written once and run anywhere. Users could run your app on Windows, MacOS and UNIX systems equally well.

Such was the potential and hype of Java that Sun released JavaStations - thin-client devices which essentially just ran Java apps, but which did not see significant adoption.

Small fractures began when the "write once, run everywhere" mantra was found to not be so practical. Developers lamented it had turned into "write once, test everywhere" as inconsistencies across different operating systems and browsers were found.

Larger fractures began when Microsoft released Visual J++, a language which was allegedly Java but which did not implement certain features, and which implemented non-standard Microsoft Windows only extensions. The upshot was Java programmers writing Java apps that only ran on Microsoft Windows. The further upshot was legal action from Sun Microsystems and the subsequent cancellation of Microsoft's Java license.

Still, Java survived and is the language used by the ever-popular Minecraft game, as well as many enterprise applications worldwide, not to mention the underlying language for many smartphones.

To run Java apps on your computer you need a Java runtime, which you download from Java. Yet, Oracle, presumably strapped for cash and needing sponsorship deals, has long bundled the Ask toolbar with Java. Many an unwary user - following the next/next/next installation process - has inadvertantly left this checkbox checked, resulting in the addition of unwanted software and a change in web browser search engine.

Some people feel so strongly about this issue that there is a petition on change.org to request Oracle stop bundling the Ask toolbar with Java. To date, Oracle has made no comment and most certainly has not stopped bundling the toolbar.

Nevertheless, there appears to be a small breakthrough. Just this week Oracle released Java updates 7u65 and 8u11 which, among other features, for the first time ever allows disabling of third party software installation prompts. The catch is you need Java installed first - so the unwary may already have the toolbar - but at least you can suppress the prompt in future.

To do this, go to the Java Control Panel, click the Advanced tab, then select "Suppress sponsor offers when installing or updating Java" and ensure this is checked.

An alternate method is also available for systems administrators, using the command line option SPONSORS=0.

This is an improvement, and a welcome one, though the question still remains why Oracle bundles such third-party offers with Java at all.