J-Walk & Associates, Inc.

No Wonder People Hate Microsoft

Like most users, I hate it when software is installed on my system without my permission. It seems that Microsoft has now joined the ranks of the scummy stealth installers: Microsoft Update Quietly Installs Firefox Extension.

That's right. Microsoft is now mucking around with software from their competitors -- and doing it without even telling you.

A routine security update for a Microsoft Windows component installed on tens of millions of computers has quietly installed an extra add-on for an untold number of users surfing the Web with Mozilla's Firefox Web browser.

Earlier this year, Microsoft shipped a bundle of updates known as a "service pack" for a programming platform called the Microsoft .NET Framework, which Microsoft and plenty of third-party developers use to run a variety of interactive programs on Windows.

I'm here to report a small side effect from installing this service pack that I was not aware of until just a few days ago: Apparently, the .NET update automatically installs its own Firefox add-on that is difficult -- if not dangerous -- to remove, once installed.

Annoyances.org, which lists various aspects of Windows that are, well, annoying, says "this update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for Web sites to easily and quietly install software on your PC."

I just checked and, sure enough, this unwanted add-on is installed on my system.

Notice that I can disable it, but the Uninstall button is disabled. Uninstalling this add-on requires a registry edit, and a few other actions. Microsoft doesn't ask your permission to install it, but they are kind enough to tell you How to manually remove the .NET Framework Assistant for Firefox.

I don't know how long this add-in has been installed on my system, but I didn't notice it until I read the article.

Microsoft must have an entire department that does nothing but think of ways to annoy their customers.

- Reader Comments -

Following are comments in response to this item.
The most recent comment is at the bottom.

1. By Jon Peltier. Comment posted 30 May, 2009 4:47pm

   Phew, I just checked and I don't have this one yet. Of all the annoying things for them to install, the dot net flamework.
   
   I'm blaming the Office 2007 interface (not just ribbon, but also new dialogs) on the Microsoft Annoyance Department.
2. By chip. Comment posted 30 May, 2009 8:37pm

   Interesting...I don't have this either, but the unwelcome software install is a concern. A new version of Yahoo Messenger installed itself yesterday and immediately got in a fight with a google app about which would be the default search engine. It also installed Yahoo toolbar (now uninstalled) and changed the default home page to yahoo on explorer (which I only use for some pages that won't open in firefox.) I found the default search checker and uninstalled that. We use the Yahoo app to communicate in the office but may need to find another one.
3. By david. Comment posted 02 June, 2009 3:02pm

   Thanks for the heads-up, this installed on mine and I wasn't aware. This is very annoying b/c presumably it takes up resorces too - David
4. By opus. Comment posted 07 June, 2009 11:59pm

   This has to be one of silliest posts I've read in a while. How old are you, 12? Do your homework before posting.
5. By Marty. Comment posted 19 August, 2009 10:22am

   John, thank you for the heads-up on this! I use Firefox and indeed this sinister add-on is present.
   
   The good news is that Firefox 3.5.2 is apparently aware of Microsoft's evil designs: my add-on dialog shows all buttons "grayed out" and message to the effect: "not compatible with version 3.5.2"
   
   Shame on MS.
   
   Thanks again for the alert!