Microsoft`s Sneaky Firefox Add-On Installation - The Story
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Apparently, earlier this year Microsoft sent a large bundle of updates, which was referred to as a “service pack,” to the programming platform known as the Microsoft .NET framework. Before this minor, yet annoying debacle, Microsoft’s .NET framework has always proven to be incredibly reliable, as Microsoft itself and countless developers use the framework to run interactive programs on Windows. Like just about every other update, this problematic service pack for the .NET framework was sent to users through the Windows Update site.
At the time Windows Update began offering the service pack for installation, many users had never heard of the platform before. Thankfully, many of the affected users turned to online resources and message boards to find out whether or not the service pack was safe to install. This is perhaps the only time that kind of prudence and caution failed to help. The users were told that the pack had not caused any widespread problems and had not interfered with third party programs, so many of them installed it. Of course, this was beforeit was determined that the program would cause widespread problems and interfere with programs.
Fast forward a couple of weeks. Countless people have installed the service pack, which as previously mentioned, automatically installed its own Firefox add-on.Annoyances.org, a free web resource featuring the most complete collection of information assembled by and for Microsoft Windows users, was unsurprisingly the first to realize that this Firefox add-on wasn’t just a minor problem that could easily be removed. According to the site, the update causes Firefox to suffer from the same super-dangerous vulnerability Internet Explorer users constantly face, which is the ability for websites to quietly (and easily) install software on your PC -- without your permission, of course.
It’s obvious, yet often goes without saying, that some Windows users are using Firefox in the first place because they detest the idea of having to use Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer reportedly has many problems and routinely makes PCs vulnerable to all kinds of unfavorable viruses and spyware. The fact that these users have consciously gone out of their way to avoid the pitfalls commonly associated with Internet Explorer, only to suffer through the same problems with their beloved Firefox, has surely greatly upset those affected by the Firefox add-on. Aside from that, it’s got many long-time Microsoft users wondering what else the company can or will sneakily install on their home computers.
The Danger
So, what’s so dangerous about this measly little add-on? Aside from being annoying and sneaky, removing it is riskier than it seems. Usually when this kind of thing happens, users can just uninstall the add-on using Firefox’s ultra useful add-ons interface. Unfortunately, that won’t work this time around because Microsoft has disabled the usually-present uninstall button on the extension itself.
According to Microsoft blogger Brad Abrams, Microsoft decided to disable the uninstall option because the extension needed "support at the machine level in order to enable the feature for all users on the machine.” At the time this problem originally occurred, Microsoft told users that the only way to get rid of the Firefox add-on was to have a usermodifytheir Windows registry. If, however, this is done incorrectly, it can cause all Windows systems to fail to boot up.
Are Microsoft users stuck with this add-on until all eternity? Until recently, it was looking like it would be that way. Some developments have been made since the initial problem occurred, but Microsoft’s reputation has been hit hard. Users are now wary of security updates and uncomfortable installing them, and perhaps they should be.
Next: Fixing the Problem >>
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