Microsoft Slips Add-on Into Firefox

Posted by: John The Geek

You may have heard by now that the Microsofties have installed a Firefox add-on along with the .Net 3.5 update distributed some time ago. I was not aware of it until I checked this weekend and found that all my machines have the Microsoft .Net Framework Assistant 1.0 listed in the Add-ons in Firefox.

I’m not quite as bent out of shape about it as others are, but it is annoying that Microsoft took it upon themselves to add something to Firefox that I didn’t request. Even more obnoxious is that the Uninstall button is grayed out and not usable. Worst of all, installing this add-on opens up Firefox and my PC to security vulnerabilities of the .Net framework! See the latest edition of Windows Secrets newsletter for more details on that little bonus.

I keep wondering when Microsoft is going to learn. If you go ahead and do something without giving the user the option, it simply pisses people off. If you give them the option to install and the option to uninstall, many people will be okay with it. The whole key is to allow users to retain control of their PCs, or at least the illusion of control.

I’m not going to add to the general ranting about the arrogance of Microsoft. That’s already well documented. The good news is that there is an update to the .Net update that enables the Uninstall button and allows the Microsoft .Net Framework Assistant to be uninstalled. You can download the fix from Microsoft’s web site.

If you’re a Firefox user, my recommendation is to check your Add-on list to determine whether the Microsoft .Net Framework Assistant is installed. If it is and the Uninstall button works, uninstall it. If the Uninstall button is greyed out, download the update and run it, then Uninstall the add-on.

John The Geek

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