Microsoft force-installs Firefox extension

I haven’t worked with Visual Studio and .NET for a while, but in my current project that’s the platform. I downloaded a necessary update, and as it turned out, Microsoft hit a new low…

Background

The update I installed was Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1, and naturally it was needed as an update to Visual Studio.

In that page there’s a long list of the software that will be installed, which are all Visual Studio components.

What happened

What came as a complete surprise to me is that it also installed an extension in Firefox, mentioned nowhere in the documentation and not as an optional install in the installer. Ok, bad and annoying enough, but things were about to get worse…

Trying to uninstall it from the Add-ons menu (Tools > Add-ons in Firefox), the Uninstall button is disabled! Yes, my dear developers, Microsoft has actually and intentionally made it impossible to uninstall it!

Such behavior and thinking goes completely opposite to the nature of the web, and it’s definitely not the stance of any other Firefox extension – or any software whatsoever, actually! No developer in his or her right mind would do this to an end user, so I’m sure it’s some “clever” middle management guy who thought this up…

How to remove it

Against what many people think, though, it can be uninstalled – but by nothing less than hacking the actual registry of Windows! Open your Start Menu and choose Run. Type in regedit and press enter/click OK. Within there, you have to look for something called HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\extensions and delete the key there (for Windows Vista 64-bit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions).

When you have done that, type in about:config in the address bar in Firefox, accept the warning and then remove general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet and microsoft.CLR.clickonce.autolaunch.

And, to finish it off, open Windows Explorer and go to \WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation\DotNetAssistantExtension\ to remove the last remnants of the evil extension.

Instructions thankfully found through Remove the .NET Framework Assistant 1.0 from Firefox.

BAD Microsoft

Microsoft, this is just not how to do things. Just since your own web browser is so hard to extend, don’t mess up good competing products – fix your own shit. And seeing that this problem has been around since last August just makes me even more mad, because Microsoft doesn’t lift a finger to even offer a single option to avoid this.

Microsoft killed Firefox! You BASTARDS!

A picture of Cartman and Kenny from South Park - Cartman, with a Microsoft logo, has killed Kenny, who sports a Firefox logo

Original South Park image taken from How we Wish They’d Kill Kenny!

85 Comments

  • RobertDM says:

    Hi, hi, so now's probaly not the best of times to tell you they just released IE8 RC1… ๐Ÿ˜‰

    link to the evil empire

  • Ants says:

    Just following suit with Apple iTunes quietly installing Outlook add-ins that can't be removed or disabled even if I all have is a lowly iPod Nano.

    ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Robert Nyman says:

    RobertDM,

    Very careful now! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Ants,

    Oh, absolutely, some of Apple's practices with iTunes are also an abomination! This is, in my book, though, worse.

  • Stephen Hill says:

    I'm using Google Chrome ๐Ÿ™‚

    This is a much wider issue that must be addressed. As Ants points out, when you install iTunes or Quicktime, you don't just install the core software, you also install lots of other little software too. Sounds like spyware to me.

    This is one of the reasons why I switched to Chrome because it's fast and it isn't littered with plugins. (Plus it uses Webkit)

    Cheers

    Stephen

  • I agree with you, Robert, that it is ridiculous. It should be pointed out, however, that you can disable the extension simply by clicking "Disable".

  • Mark Ferree says:

    I see this as a part of a wider pattern.

    No one bothers to pay attention to the correct way to do things on the 'other' guys software.

    Apple software is completely intrusive, installing desktop shortcuts and extensions on PC systems with no notification. Microsoft completely ignores mac design conventions when writing software for the mac.

    I feel like this problem fits right in there, maybe the developers just don't know how firefox extensions are meant to work, or are paid not to care.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Stephen,

    Absolutely, it’s almost like spyware. However, I’m utterly convinced that Chrome will have plugin functionality – just give it time. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Scott,

    Yes, good point. It’s just that I’m completely allergic to things which cannot be uninstalled.

    Mark,

    Yes, it’s an interesting point. When it’s someone other’s application, it’s their mess, sort of. With this case, I think it must be harder to write something that can’t be uninstalled, actually…

  • mdmadph says:

    Ugh — I was wondering where that darn extension had come from. Thanks for finding this out!

  • mdmadph says:

    @Mark

    Aye, like Robert said, I think Microsoft knew exactly what they were doing, considering they probably had to code extra to make this thing un-uninstallable…

  • […] like it’s not a new problem, with reports of Microsoft violating Firefox since last August, but this is now bundled as part of […]

  • harmonik says:

    Mario, wtf are you talking about?

    C# is becoming very advanced. Just wait ’til the next version comes out.

    But why knock .NET?
    I’m not talking about c++ or visual basic.. C# is probably one of the most popular languages out there, and with Mono it makes it even greater.

    I’d bet money that if you have ever messed with .NET, it was more than 5 years ago, if at all..

    Don’t knock what you don’t know, man ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Mario says:

    And you are still developing for that dieing platform? Isn't it time to move on to something more interesting and leave the sinking ship?

  • SpookyNL says:

    Hi, I'm a nOOb.

    I just had a MS update and the first time I started FF I got a notication that there was a new add-on installed. WTF where my thoughts when I learned it was a MS add-on I hadn't asked for. Thankfully, when I googled the add-on I came to this website!

    I went through all the steps, but when I wanted to delete the two entries in about:config I didn't know how. I googled it and learned something about the "prefs" file. But I can't seem to open it.

    So my question to you guys is, how do I remove the entries in about:config?

  • jj says:

    Dot.NET Framework has been installing this plugin for a while. It allows WPF content to run in the browser, as it is intended to.

    The reason it can't be uninstalled is because it is installed for all users, and Firefox doesn't currently provide functionality to elevate privilege in order to uninstall plugins/extensions installed this way. Offending plugins/extensions can still be disabled, preventing them from loading.

    Microsoft/Dot.NET framework is far from the only thing that does this: currently I see "force-installed extensions" from Adobe, Google, Sun, Apple, Nokia and Skype that "can't be uninstalled".

  • yossarian says:

    you do realize that editing the windows registry can be hardly considered hacking?

  • Shane says:

    This is un-verified. I have VS 2008, I am a c# developer for 7 years.

    I have installed 2008 on many machines, and just recently, to see if your claims can be verified. They can not.

    I love Firefox, I use it 99.9% of the time.

    Please, check your stupid settings and verify your claims before you start spreading the worked that Microsoft is doing something it should not. Its because of people like you that software company's and products have a bad name. You people dont go into the trouble of making sure this is what happened.

    Anyways, thanks for the bad publicity for a great product.

    Good Bloggers VERIFY resources before publishing. If I told you the ocean just evaporated, would you post a breaking news before asking someone else?

    I guess not.

  • Mobius says:

    Hang on – let me see if I've got this right – because you fail to say what this extension does… MS have an FF add-on which allows the launching of ClickOnce apps from Firefox (Something it is not capable of doing otherwise). Is that right?

    You, for some reason, seem to think that they shouldn't do this.

    WHY THE FUCK NOT?

    I admit it is fucking retarded to not ask whether to install it, and almost criminal to not allow it to be uninstalled – but let's get this one thing straight:

    BEING ABLE TO LAUNCH CLICKONCE APPS WITHOUT STARTING IE IS FUCKING BRILLIANT IDEA.

  • TheSoftwareJedi says:

    Oh no! MS installed a firefox extension to make ClickOnce apps work. Just disable it if it really bothers you.

    If it's spyware, different story. This plugin is invisible and sometimes useful. Is it hurting your system?

  • me says:

    Ebil bastards, I've checked my Firefox and yes it's installed and the uninstalled button is grayed out.

    I dont care how great clikonce is, I dont want to run no stinking MS stuff – another vector for spreading virus, malware and what not.

  • Snark says:

    Shane, dear, please re-read the story slowly and ask an adult about any polysyllabic words you encounter.

    You must install Visual Studio 2008 SP1 for this to happen. It does happen.

    JJ explains why it is the way it is – but you should really have the option of not installing the firefox extension rather than it just get blasted in there with no explanation.

  • Robert says:

    I love how this is made out to be this great conspiracy… oooh microsoft is out to get you and eat your babies! Watch out! They installed a clickonce plugin! Gasp!

    Get a clue.

  • I Am Not A Lawyer says:

    But thanks to the DMCA it is a felony in the US to execute or cause to be executed any program without the consent of the computer owner.

    You can be sure that if we did it to Bill Gates, he would press charges.

  • Aardvark68 says:

    Shane, how about you go fuck yourself or at least pull your head out of your ass before posting next time.

  • WhatARevelation says:

    How is this a revelation ?

    Java does the same thing.

    Install the latest jre and you get a firefox add-on for free.

    You can't uninstall it, you can't remove it.

  • Pogi says:

    You were ranting about something you didnt understand. I say thats a mark of a lousy coder.

  • Fabien says:

    Leaving aside Microsoft's actions for a moment (they're nothing new anyway)…

    There's something flawed in Firefox's extension system. What the hell are any extension-related files or settings outside of the Firefox profile? What are all those registry keys doing there, especially for a multi-platform software?

    It seems to me that Firefox should see an extension that it can't uninstall as flawed, and completely ignore it.

    And to those who think that extension is a good idea: contrary to Internet Explorer, Firefox is (originally) based on the idea that security is important. That's why I can use it to surf the web. If the security is lowered, even to improve usability, Firefox is basically rendered useless, since you can't use it anymore on the web.

  • mark says:

    So what do we learn?

    (a) The Mozilla Team should think if they want such behaviour actually

    (b) Both SUN and MS beahave as if they control the PCs of customers/Users.

    SHAME ON THEM!

  • Rick says:

    Skype does the same.

  • chesss says:

    This is why I have, and will always use Opera over Firefox!

    You see the extensionless design of Opera makes it practically impossible for such hijacks.

    and there are planty of features in Opera btw . Features in Opera > extensions in firefox

  • Zak says:

    me> I dont care how great clikonce is, I dont want to run no stinking MS stuff – another vector for spreading virus, malware and what not.

    Oh, really? Then why are you installing Visual Studio? And if you're installing VS, you're almost certainly running Windows. You have a funny way of not "running no stinking MS stuff".

    MS shouldn't install things without asking, but if you're THAT anti-MS, you shouldn't be using their products at all.

  • RealPlayer (tagline: Free Toxic Sludge for your Registry) is another app that does this. I had to download it recently in order to watch some videos on a new client's site. I've had issues with RealPlayer in the past and already loathed it with the intensity of a hundred thousand suns, but I was still astonished to discover that it's actually gotten worse.

    It also force-installs a Firefox plugin and does that same trick of disabling the Uninstall button, whilst also helpfully slowing Firefox to a mind-numbing crawl.

    Grrrrrrrr.

  • parzival52 says:

    I have the Java Quick Starter in Add-ons, and its Uninstall button is similarly grayed out.

  • Mario says:

    I'm talking about the fact that you had to use Visual Studio to develop for Windows. I'm saying isn't it time to ditch primitive tools and OS and move on to better things.

    What has to happen to you MS drones before you say enough is enough?

  • Jimson says:

    "This is, in my book, though, worse"

    How is that?

    You installed DEVELOPMENT tool that in turn installed Firefox plugin needed for testing your clickonce deployment. I don't know why it was surprise for you (I knew that before installation, but I win dev and often read msdn), but it's ok – MS did not annotate this install correctly. Good. BUT. Once again, the target is developers! Aren't they supposed to be, well, not that childish?

    Now, Apple installs its plugin silently, with a CONSUMER product. To children, grandmas and marketing people.

    And by you scale, it's not that evil.

    I am not sarcastic here. I really, really don't understand your logic.

  • Jimson says:

    By the way, if you ask where I knew about this plugin before installation – <a>for example, from here (in ClickOnce section)

  • Fabien says:

    Michael O’Connor Clarke wrote: "RealPlayer"

    Just search "Real alternative" and "Quicktime alternative" on Google.

    Jimson wrote: "Once again, the target is developers!"

    Yeah, i.e. guys who know how to install a Firefox extension should they need it.

  • Jimson says:

    Hey, is it possible to make a normal link here?

    Yey, it's possible!

  • Jimson says:

    Fabien wrote "Yeah, i.e. guys who know how to install a Firefox extension should they need it."

    Make sense. Let's say on my scale it still less evil, but I see logic here.

  • Jimson says:

    Fabien wrote “Yeah, i.e. guys who know how to install a Firefox extension should they need it.â€ย

    Makes sense. Let’s say on my scale it still less evil, but I see logic here.

  • davidT says:

    It seems to be so unbelievable that windows update pushes a firefox extension, that's sound more like a fantasy than anything else …

    Anyways, if you don't like the behaviour of this plateform (MS-windows) you have at least 3 or 4 other plateforms (yes among them, there's linux – since nobody so far had to courage to say it) to choose from. Oh and you will be able to use firefox safely too with them.

  • Bart says:

    I had it, and I do not have, nor have I ever had any copy of Visual Studio.
    As far as I can tell, it comes with the .NET framework runtime. Hurrah.
    Some people don’t want scripts run in their browser. Some people block Java. Flash. Whatever else.
    And then comes Microsoft, and installs this, which allows to run ClickOnce applications to be run in your browser. Without telling you.
    Just… WTF??

  • Jason says:

    Jimson, Zak, Mobius, Shane…

    I just installed the .NET 3.5 SP1 update, and this plugin was installed. It has nothing to do with VS 2008, it has nothing to do with developing and testing Click Once applications.

    The fact that the EULA agreement stated nothing about modifying my Firefox, or any other 3rd Party software is what people are upset about, myself included.

    And shame on Firefox for allowing a 3rd party plugin to be installed without receiving permission from the user. Hope they get this patched.

  • T Man says:

    Dramatic much? When an outside application installs an add-on, it is very common that it can not be uninstalled. I've seen this plenty of times. As someone else said, it is because of the way they set up the user model. How about when iTunes installs Safari? Or Google doesn't allow you to remove exceptions to the problem reporter? Or Chrome installs in a totally crazy user area? Yeah, this stuff happens.

    It should be in the release notes though.

  • Suits says:

    I hate paying for a piece of software that installs crap into your computer. Windows is a program that is hard to uninstall and is loaded with crap!

  • yawn says:

    Attention whore much? Blaming crappy FF session management on MS is a new low for trolls like you. Seriously stfu and write code instead of bitching on the blog.

  • David Cognito says:

    > …shame on Firefox for allowing a 3rd party plugin to be installed without receiving permission from the user. Hope they get this patched.

    That's the key point here. It's no great surprise that M$ treat us like idiots, but Mozilla should not allow it to happen.

  • Lokitoth says:

    This is getting silly. If you all are running Firefox on a machine that can run the Microsoft flavour of the .NET framework (rather than Mono), you are running Windows. If there is a permissions issue – which is why the extension is greyed out – odds are either (a) Firefox has a severe issue with how it handles add-ons, but luckily it is open source, so all of you clever developers can fix it, or (b) you can just context-menu > Run As Administrator, which should give Firefox any permissions it needs to play with the registry.

    Microsoft seems to, for once, actually be paying attention to the user not running their stack; while a great many of you know how to install an extension for all users on a system, Joe Public probably does not. "Where do I drive to find this Registry?" However, Joe Public probably wants to run those nifty applications without worrying about opening a different browser. This is a solution for Joe Public.

    Finally, @IANAL, given that you installed .NET on your machine – and presumably gave consent somehow, e.g. "Automatically install updates for me," or "I agree" at the installer, you gave consent for all of the components of the .NET runtime to be installed – which includes this little extension to Firefox.

  • abuser says:

    For all those MS apologists, please explain why the user agent needs to be modified so that every web site I visit after update force feeds this extension on me knows about a new vector of attack they can make on my machine?

    After that explain why, when the extension is disabled, is the user agent still advertising it?

    Face it, that other companies do the same is no excuse for MS. Convicted monopolists have special responsibilities regardless.

  • […] “auto-installation” was reported since last August. You can hack to uninstall this stealthy add-on by following the instruction from […]

  • FF User says:

    Hey chesss, what are the Opera plugins that do the same things as AdBlock Plus, No Script, Flash Got, and Aptana debugger? Not saying they don't exist, I just couldn't find them….

  • sunrun176 says:

    Abuser: "..that other companies do the same is no excuse for MS."

    Right on! If you've been ticketed for speeding, even if others near you were obviously speeding (maybe even more than you were), you're still liable for your own actions in the eyes of the law.

    Speaking of which, there oughtta be a law against this kind of thing.

  • NH says:

    What I really have against this plugin is that I was never asked if I wanted it from the beginning. I don't want a contamination of my computer this way.

    And can I be sure that this isn't causing me any trouble? Interaction with other plugins, potential new attack vector for malware?

    Just notice – at least some of us are running Firefox for a reason!

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Lots of mature comments here: listen, if you use the word "fuck" because you think it renders your arguments more strength or validity, you are unfortunately incorrect.

    Let's summarize all this:

    – The discussion is not whether the installed extension brings something helpful or not, it's in the manner it was installed and handled.

    – Microsoft installs something in a competing products without even asking for or offering a way to remove it. This is morally, ethically and, most likely, in some countries even legally wrong.

    – Anyone else doing this, like Apple, Java etc are doing a thing just as bad. This post is about the behavior in question, not that Microsoft did it.

    Given the current low level of the discussion, this ends it. Period.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Comments re-opened, to see if people can stay sane.

  • Lupus says:

    I have something to add to completely remove this crappy Firefox addon from MS.

    Delete this reg key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMozillaPlugins@microsoft.com/WPF,version=3.5

    Thx for your tip, now my Firefox is proper! Bye.

  • IJ says:

    A thought or two about Java and Skype based on my own experience:

    I halfway expect the Java installer to put something into my setup, including possibly my extensions. I mean, that's one big reason I download the JRE in the first place. I imagine the extension in Firefox (along with the plugin) gets removed should I remove the JRE (though I haven't yet had reason to remove a JRE).

    As for Skype, I've added and removed it on several occasions, and it even asks you if you want to add the extension to your browser. I answered in the affirmative. And when I uninstall it, the extension also gets uninstalled.

    This is fine. I can handle these.

    The topic of debate here is not the usefulness or even the merits of the .NET Assistant. It's the fact that it managed to get onto our systems with neither our knowledge nor consent.

    What Microsoft did was reprehensible. Not once did I see something that said, "We're going to install this extension into Firefox," nor did I see anything that said, "You can remove this extension by doing this" or "You can choose whether or not to add this extension." This happened when I installed .NET 3.5 on an XP machine and ran Windows Update on my Vista laptop. Had I been asked, I MIGHT have said "yes". Going into it unenlightened and without a request for my consent, not providing an uninstaller adds insult to injury.

    Furthermore, "automatic updates" should not mean "new features". It should mean just what it means. This was not an update. This was a new feature, which we should be told about when this gets installed, like whenever I install a service pack into Windows.

    Summary:

    I install the JRE because I want the Java plugin and having the extension there. So I installed it with the expectation of having stuff put in my browser. That is OK because I wanted it and as such, it was expected. If anything, I'd be more upset if it was NOT registering in my browser.

    I install Skype which gives me the option of installing an extension to the browser. As such, I reward Skype for asking my consent by granting it. And it uninstalls when the main application is uninstalled. This is OK because it asked me for consent and removes itself when the main application is removed.

    I install .NET 3.5 and any updates. The .NET assistant gets installed with no indication during this process. Neither am I asked whether I want it. About the only "orthodox" way to remove this is to uninstall .NET 3.5 on an XP machine. This is not an option on a Vista machine. So we have to resort to this procedure this site's owner has graciously documented for the public at large. This is NOT OK because the user is neither informed about nor asked whether he wants the extension installed and gives no formal way to remove just the extension without removing the underlying framework if it gets installed.

    We can only hope that Microsoft gets a clue. In the US for its monopolistic activities, it's getting little more than a slap on the wrist, while it's looking more like a pillorying in Europe, if not worse.

    –IJ

  • Dave Hulbert says:

    Although this is bad of Microsoft, I witsh Mozilla would put something in Firefox that makes so each addon has to be confirmed by the user. That would stop loads of badware. Though with Firefox being open source I'm not sure how they could do this. Any ideas?

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Lupus,

    Thanks for sharing!

    IJ,

    I pretty much feel exactly like you.

    Dave,

    I agree, it would be great to have the option whether to accept installed extension, at least those that aren't already installed within Firefox (because in that case, you do confirm the installs), but rather those installed through other means.

  • x says:

    when you install Java, it silently and secretively installs a Java Console extension into Firefox. the extension doesn't even appear in Firefox's list of extensions. they disable its uninstallation as well. you can show and uninstall it by closing Firefox, then editing the appropriate install.rdf file, and changing the value of "Hidden" in there from "true" to "false".

    there's a similar and easier way to remove the .NET extension as well, but i'm sick of typing.

  • Turns out the Wired guys, and Will Shipley are also unhappy about software that just get installed on your machine, without asking your permission.

    http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/why-google

  • blastoise says:

    DAMN even first-parties are installing stuff without our permission!

  • reisio says:

    "I’m using Google Chrome :)"

    Google isn't your friend, either.

    After installing Google Chrome, try going to google.com/chrome and hitting the download link, whereupon you will see GoogleUpdate.exe do whatever it likes to your computer, including installing anything it wants to install. Now, sure, ATM it will probably just check for Google Chrome and not install anything else, but there's no stopping Google from doing anything nefarious in the future… and that isn't the only concern — the right kind of security fowl up and the entire GoogleUpdate system could be someone's gateway into your box; and Google is no stranger to big-time fowl ups, either.

  • kolapd says:

    Here a blog post from Microsoft about this issue:

    msdn.com/saurabh

  • shadow says:

    Good news people, MS is working on a solution which will allow each user on the PC to uninstall the extension for themselves. Basically, it sounds like they are going to enable to Uninstall button in the Add-ons window in FF.

    http://blogs.msdn.com/brada/archive/2009/02/27/un

  • Onysius says:

    All of the defenders here in favor of the forced update sound as though they probably are paid henchmen or more correctly drones of MS trying to do a little damage control.

  • DanTheMan says:

    I think you should not blame MS developers but rather Firefox developers.

    Something is wrong in the Firefox extension system if a extension can only removed by hacking the registry. Nevertheless Firefox developers won’t fix this.

    Check this out: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=446139

  • Butros Gali says:

    You can always use the Portable version of Firefox – it doesn't use the registry, it is contained in one folder and supports all known extensions – IF you want to install them.

    http://www.portableapps.com

    And no, I'm in no way connected with the above website – just a very, very satisfied user…

  • mike says:

    Micro$0f7 at it again huh.

    We all know that their software is Insecure is oh so many dirty ways.

    But What duos this Mean?

    We all know that every advanced user Will not use M$ browser unless forced to.

    But what dous this really mean?!.

    It means M$ is going after the WEEK users who don't know how to defend themselves.

    so M$ wants to cash in on the WHOLE cut of the spying to advertise you market all while hitting its main competition Mozilla Firefox Browser with its security flaws while releasing its new browser?!!! WTF?!?! I don't think M$ paid enough to the EU every time it was sued, Charging them 10 times more should put a stop to this, This should have them rethink of all the individuals they are really hurting.

    Microsoft has a long history of patent infringement and trampling its competition all over the world, so who's it gonna be? you gona issue me a refund?! because If I cant maintain my own security then I should trust M$?!?!?! pff pleaase I WANT A REFUND.

    FUMS

  • BigWaveAlex says:

    As IT manager for large org I install FF on the images because I want my users to run a web browser that can't install software. In the past I've defended MS but with this they have lost what trust they had with me. Truly disappointing, I would have expected this from MS circa 1990, I thought they were changing, guess not. I haven't cheered the large EU settlements against MS but I hope they screw them on this one. And no it's not ok that Sun and Apple do the same thing but pointing out other's bad behavior doesn't excuse yours.

  • Arno Teigseth says:

    AutoCAD 2010: Also got this installed. I disabled it immediately. This is very serious, as I did not agree to install the add-on!

  • andrew says:

    I got this junk from Windows after a fresh install of Vista and installing "high priority UPDATES"

    Since when do UPDATES (patches, security fixes, whatever you call them) add features? Microsoft will never learn… such as the "critical update" on Windows XP called Genuine Advantage Notifications. How is that a high-priority security fix?

  • Keith L. Fretz says:

    So if someone uses that addon to install software that checks Microsoft for updates every say, minute, that's cool, right? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • pedro says:

    Dear Microsoft,

    Thanks for making up my mind whether to go with Windows 7 or Linux.

  • […] altsรฅ deaktiveres men รธnskes udvidelsen helt vรฆk er her en gennemgang af […]

  • Matt says:

    A lot of people contributing to this thread are asking why they should disable .NET Framework Assistant? What harm is it causing Firefox. Well here is a possible answer. And Firefox today automatically disabled .NFA and WPF!

    Battle of the Softwares: Microsoft vs Mozilla Firefox!

  • Glenn says:

    I'm not a programmer nor do I work for Microslop. I am just a help desk support tech (20 years) and I totally agree with the author.

    It doesn't matter if it's dangerous, useful or what ever. It wasn't asked for. There was no option NOT to add it. And greying out the disable button is just typical Microshaft.

    What they think is best, is what they do, like it or not.

    That is why I stopped using IE many years ago and I have never, ever been hit with a virus or spyware. This is a perfect example of Microsoft thinking for the customer.

    They really make we wary about all the crap they seem to force on us. I would like to know why they thing messenger MUST run.

    Even when it's manually disabled, the next update re-enables it.

    Then there's unplug-n-pray.

    What's up with them? Until MS learns to stop thinking they know what's best for us, they will always have a bad rep.

    Their crap is full of holes. I recall NT4. The service packs were bigger than the damn OS! And it hasn't changed.

    Firefox all the way!

  • Wendell says:

    Guess What??? They also installed a GUID generator when I installed Visual Studio. There was no place in the installer that said it was going to do that. OH NOOOO. Now I got another free piece of software that I will use all the time. Quit Crying and thank Microsoft for giving you something extra . It's not spyware.

    It is a part of the .NET Framework. You downloaded and installed the .NET Framework or a product that you knew included the .NET Framework (VS). Is the installation supposed to ask you about every one of the thousands of files installed.

  • WAP-Tek says:

    so Microsoft installs a plug in , into

    there number one browser competitor,

    doesn't tell the user, and makes it non removable

    and also , it reduces the browsers security

    BIG surprise

    so i suppose this is not an obvious case of sandbagging?

    BULL SHIT!

  • andy says:

    "Paranoia" or better "MS Paranoia", I call this disease.

    Come to think of it, "MS Paranoia" could also be a ship.

    A ship of fools? ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • ByteM3 says:

    For most people, the whole point of installing Java is to be able to run Java on Web sites. We want those extensions in our browsers.

    MS installs this crap via Updates on every machine I work on with FF, none of which have VS 2008 or any other dev. tools installed. And who wants it? When I need to interact with the evil overlord or one of its affiliates I will use IE… better yet I will find their competition instead and keep using FF.

    Not asking to install is pure rubbish, and several MS products and Apple products do these kinds of things. I think they can both go stuff themselves!

    PS Even trying to trick noobs into installing “toolbars” is pure horse manure. Aka Avast, Java, iTunes, Flash, Shockwave… ETC ETC ETC!

    And they wonder what’s wrong with the youth of today… I say what the hell is/was wrong with our parents for the world to be this way???

  • They can’t beat the train… but then will implicating themselves help issue. I beginning to dislike Microsoft for his illicit act.

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