.NET Extension Silently Added to Firefox via Service Pack

Washington Post blogger Brian Krebs recently uncovered a “feature” that comes with the .NET service pack from Microsoft. Installing that service pack silently installs an add-on in Firefox called “Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 1.0” and then conveniently disables the “Uninstall” button. You can get more details on it after the jump.

Annoyances.org, which lists various aspects of Windows that are, well, annoying, says "this update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for Web sites to easily and quietly install software on your PC."

Reading the comments section was more informative than the article...

LoL, This ("article" in the WP) clearly brings the anti-MS hysteria into sharp focus.

fire that writer. Surprised that [H] would link to this junk article though.

Originally Posted by RedStarSQD

Surprised that [H] would link to this junk article though.

Judging by that comment, this must be your first visit to [H].

I just like to say hello and welcome to all the [H] newbies!

I am shocked.

Shocked and appalled.

... at something... don't really know what.

Originally Posted by RedStarSQD

fire that writer. Surprised that [H] would link to this junk article though.

Why is it "junk"? Are we supposed to be completely okay with Microsoft reaching into our third-party applications, installing extensions to those applications we don't want, then denying us the ability to uninstall those extensions? That's acceptable practice for an OS vendor, is it?

Nah, I don't think so, bub.

Originally Posted by phide

Why is it "junk"? Are we supposed to be completely okay with Microsoft reaching into our third-party applications, installing extensions to those applications we don't want, then denying us the ability to uninstall those extensions? That's acceptable practice for an OS vendor, is it?

Nah, I don't think so, bub.

RTFA
1) MS aint the only ones
2) the extension wasn't installed via FF, thus FF cannot remove it
3) it can be disabled

Still not right! even a "would you like the FF extension" tickbox during install from MS,Sun and Adobe would be better

Version 1.1 of the extension can be uninstalled. Just did it.

Originally Posted by Quantum

Version 1.1 of the extension can be uninstalled. Just did it.

I was going to mention I had the option to uninstall 1.1 (not greyed out) on my system as well. But then, I'm running Win7 and didn't install a Service Pack. I see all sorts of hysteria about removing it, but I don't see anything on what it's purpose is, or why it can be helpful. I would assume that it provides some level of compatibility between Firefox and various MS apps? I know with Sharepoint, I still have to switch to IE (or IEtab) for full functionality.

Well just how exactly do the we go about uninstalling this .NET extension?

Originally Posted by MrSloppy

Well just how exactly do the we go about uninstalling this .NET extension?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=remove+.net+framework+firefox

This might be a silly question...

Isn't FF open source and governed by the the GPL?
Therefore anybody/group can modify the software as long as they comply with its terms?

The "Disable" button works just fine...

This is old news - this happened like 2-3 months ago. But yes, it's pretty annoying, if you operate with the belief that MS doesn't have a right to touch other vendor's software on your computer.

This probably means that they will add the MSN/Bing search engine to FF at some point, if not a toolbar.

O noes, tighten your tin-foil hats everyone!


...please

I have to say that it's a bad move on Microsoft's part. Whether or not the software actually has a negative effect on security or usability, Microsoft should not be greying out the Uninstall button, and they absolutely need to tell the user, before installing, that they will also agree to install this extension.

I should have underlined the part about complying with it's terms
ie, .net as implemented on FF would now be open source
hehe

Originally Posted by sear

Microsoft should not be greying out the Uninstall button, and they absolutely need to tell the user, before installing, that they will also agree to install this extension.

As mentioned in earlier posts, read the article comments. The extension is enabled by registry keys, like many others, and FF can't uninstall any of that type. MS should have had an opt-in check box for including the extension though.

Originally Posted by phide

Why is it "junk"? Are we supposed to be completely okay with Microsoft reaching into our third-party applications, installing extensions to those applications we don't want, then denying us the ability to uninstall those extensions? That's acceptable practice for an OS vendor, is it?

Nah, I don't think so, bub.

Yeah, let me know when they do that.
See, because Firefox is this much vaunted Open Sores (not a typo,) there's supposed to be these magical gatekeepers who could have told Microsoft "no, you can't add that." Especially when it wasn't Microsoft who did it - it was Firefox.

So of course, the zealots would rather stick their further up where it's at, and ignore those inconvenient facts.

Let's get to the point here.. what is so bad about the .NET extension anyways?

I don't run Firefox so clue me in here.