Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Hides Firefox Extension In Toolbar Update
Jan writes "As part of its regular Patch Tuesday, Microsoft released an update for its various toolbars, and this update came with more than just documented fixes. The update also installs an add-on for Internet Explorer and an extension for Mozilla Firefox, both without the user's permission."
No. From TFA:
On one of our Windows systems, we had the Windows Live Toolbar installed for Internet Explorer but not for Firefox. Nevertheless, installing this update added the add-on/extension to both browsers without telling us that it would do so. On our second system, we had the Bing Bar installed for Internet Explorer, but it was disabled. Firefox was not installed. This system already had the update in question, so we decided to install Firefox. Not only was the Bing Bar extension present upon Firefox's first launch, but so was the Search Helper Extension.
The stories and info posted here are artistic works of fiction and falsehood.
Only fools would take it as fact.
The difference being that that add-in was arguably useful. It enabled click-once in firefox, iirc, which is a fairly handy experience for running small apps over the web. If I recall, Java does the same thing. The problem then was that firefox had no way to distinguish between a version with a flaw, and a version without a flaw, so they had no choice but to temporarily blacklist it (and there was that issue with not being able to disable it due to permissions).
Browser toolbars, however, never strike me as a nice addition to a product without asking.
The update doesn't install a browser toolbar, it updates the browser toolbar for users that already have it installed. Users who haven't installed it won't see this update.
For once the Slashdot summary actually got this correct, and from the original article: "Additional testing determined that the update is only being offered to those with one of the Microsoft toolbars installed,"
Additional testing determined that the update is only being offered to those with one of the Microsoft toolbars installed
Yes, but irrespective of whether it's installed for IE or Firefox. Just because I have the Live Search Toolbar installed for IE doesn't mean I want it turning up in Firefox unannounced.
no evil? how about deliberatly holding back on the browser hooks and infrastructure to allow for comprehensive robust adblock/scriptblock/etc ad-ons, due to such things being completely against their business model that is based on supplying advertisements?
I suppose that's not "evil", bit it is a pretty damn big roadblock to me adopting chrome over FF.
Additional testing determined that the update is only being offered to those with one of the Microsoft toolbars installed
Yes, but irrespective of whether it's installed for IE or Firefox. Just because my OEM put the Live Search Toolbar on IE doesn't mean I want it turning up in Firefox unannounced.
fix'd
The stories and info posted here are artistic works of fiction and falsehood.
Only fools would take it as fact.
Because you installed the 'ubufox' package (probably by default), by chance? The package even says something about "remove this to have a vanilla firefox."
Slashdot Patriotism: We Support our Dupes!