Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
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Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 4:31 PM
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/05/microsoft_update_quietly_insta.html
Quote Microsoft Update Quietly Installs Firefox Extension
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.
http://annoyances.org/exec/show/article08-600
Quote Remove the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant (ClickOnce) Firefox Extension
Intended For
Windows 2000
Windows 7
Windows XP
Windows Vista
The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 update, pushed through the Windows Update service to all recent editions of Windows in February 2009, installs the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant firefox extension without asking your permission.
This update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for websites to easily and quietly install software on your PC. Since this design flaw is one of the reasons you may've originally choosen to abandon IE in favor of a safer browser like Firefox, you may wish to remove this extension with all due haste.
Unfortunately, Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has taken steps to make the removal of this extension particularly difficult - open the Add-ons window in Firefox, and you'll notice the Uninstall button next to their extension is grayed out! Their reasoning, according to Microsoft blogger Brad Abrams, is that the extension needed "support at the machine level in order to enable the feature for all users on the machine," which, of course, is precisely the reason this add-on is bad news for all Firefox users.
Oddly it isn't greyed out in Firefox running under Windows 7
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 4:41 PM
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jim:blue too many smileys so excess removed even though the comment is very valid mod:end
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 6:28 PM
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Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 6:34 PM
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Quote from: Oldjim Oddly it isn't greyed out in Firefox running under Windows 7
As a result of this update?
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 6:41 PM
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Or even never to use MSUpdate, but instead try Autopatcher at http://www.autopatcher.com/
After a bit of a spat with MS, they cause you to download all the updates direct from the MS site, but then present you with a complete list for you to choose what you do with them.
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 6:51 PM
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Looked at the front page of Autopatcher, does it let you check which ones you want?
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
31-05-2009 10:36 PM
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I just turn it all off, and do so when I feel
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
01-06-2009 9:17 AM
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Quote from: pierre_pierre Looked at the front page of Autopatcher, does it let you check which ones you want?
Absolutely yes. You can even uninstall merely by removing the tick from the box on the list it presents you with. Gives you a complete list of all updates, and whether installed or not. It pre-ticks some boxes, mostly the "Critical Updates", but you can undo them with a moment's thought, if you don't want them.
It will download everything, so that you can burn the whole lot to a CD, and then make your choices when updating a newly installed machine before letting it loose on the interwibbles.
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
01-06-2009 9:37 AM
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Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
04-06-2009 11:23 AM
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If it helped click the thumb
If it fixed it click 'This fixed my problem'
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodhy addon to Firefox without asking
04-06-2009 2:00 PM
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Quote from: Waldo
Quote from: Oldjim Oddly it isn't greyed out in Firefox running under Windows 7
As a result of this update?
Excellent! That fix works under XP as well.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler) Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!) Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20) Line rental: Pulse 8 Home Line Rental (£14.40/month) Mobile: iD mobile (£4/month) |
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
04-06-2009 2:02 PM
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Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
04-06-2009 2:03 PM
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jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler) Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!) Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20) Line rental: Pulse 8 Home Line Rental (£14.40/month) Mobile: iD mobile (£4/month) |
Re: Microsoft slide in a dodgy addon to Firefox without asking
04-06-2009 4:53 PM
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Anyway, it has allowed me to uninstall it as you usually do with addons so is that it now?
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