Chris Cason <del### [at] deletethistoopovrayorg> wrote:
> I found this article after searching on the subject of an extension that had
> appeared in my Vista firefox install - one that I had not installed, nor been
> asked permission to install. I checked my work PC (XP) and it, also, had the
> extension. I'm surprised there's not more fireworks going off about this, as
> it's precisely the sort of thing that makes IE so much of a trundling disaster
> waiting for a place to happen.
>
>   http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article08-600
>
> Bonus: the extension installed by Microsoft has the 'uninstall' option disabled.
>
> -- Chris

Thanks for the warning! (I'm using Windows XP SP3 and Firefox 3.0.5--I don't
think I've yet downloaded the newest FF version.) I have Auto-Updates active
(but to 'show me first before installing'--I hope!)

I took a look at the website link, followed the instructions to find this
extension (looking at Tools/Add-Ons/Extensions in Firefox), and I didn't see
the extension there. In fact, there's nothing at all there. Looking under
Plugins, I didn't see it either, and all the plugins have an active 'disable'
button.

If I've followed the instructions correctly, I haven't yet been hit by this. But
I guess I can assume that this bizarre extension *will* be coming my way soon?

Ken W.

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On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:42:25 +1100, Chris Cason wrote:

> I expect that the Windows Update and WGA terms allow Microsoft to do
> more or less whatever they like.

I dunno, mucking about with other companies' software?  I would think 
that there are parts of the world (particularly the EU) where that 
wouldn't hold up.

Jim

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scott wrote:
> If I try the same without the MS FF extension installed, I just have to
> save the file somewhere (there is no "Run ClickOnce app" button) then run
> it (with a warning), then the ClickOnce app installs and runs.

Which is how Java WebStart apps work. You download a .jnlp file, which opens
with javaws.exe, and then downloads and runs the actual app. Firefox does
show "Open with Java WebStart" when you click the link (which it doesn't do
for .exe files).

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Jim Henderson wrote:
> I dunno, mucking about with other companies' software?  

Installing an extension in a documented way is "mucking about with other 
companie's software"?

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   My fortune cookie said, "You will soon be
   unable to read this, even at arm's length."

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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Jim Henderson wrote:
> > I dunno, mucking about with other companies' software?  

> Installing an extension in a documented way is "mucking about with other 
> companie's software"?

  EU laws probably forbid the kind of action described here. "You
accepted our EULA" is not an excuse if the EULA in question is illegal.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:13:23 -0800, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> I dunno, mucking about with other companies' software?
> 
> Installing an extension in a documented way is "mucking about with other
> companie's software"?

I was commenting on Chris' comment about Windows Update and WGA Terms 
letting Microsoft do "more or less whatever they like".

Jim

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Warp wrote:
> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> Jim Henderson wrote:
>>> I dunno, mucking about with other companies' software?  
> 
>> Installing an extension in a documented way is "mucking about with other 
>> companie's software"?
> 
>   EU laws probably forbid the kind of action described here. "You
> accepted our EULA" is not an excuse if the EULA in question is illegal.

Um, OK. So how does a virus cleaner work with the EU laws?

I don't know about you, but I got told when MS was adding the extension to 
firefox. Maybe I just didn't click thru the notices everyone else did, or 
maybe they changed it by the time I installed it, or something.

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   My fortune cookie said, "You will soon be
   unable to read this, even at arm's length."

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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> >   EU laws probably forbid the kind of action described here. "You
> > accepted our EULA" is not an excuse if the EULA in question is illegal.

> Um, OK. So how does a virus cleaner work with the EU laws?

  You mean virus cleaners modify your system without asking?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp wrote:
>   You mean virus cleaners modify your system without asking?

As much as installing any other software does, yes?  Haven't you gotten 
"Whoop whoop! Virus detected!" and then cleaned it?

How is "I'd like to install this software, which includes yidda yadda and 
this firefox extension" now asking?

-- 
   Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   My fortune cookie said, "You will soon be
   unable to read this, even at arm's length."

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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Warp wrote:
> >   You mean virus cleaners modify your system without asking?

> As much as installing any other software does, yes?  Haven't you gotten 
> "Whoop whoop! Virus detected!" and then cleaned it?

> How is "I'd like to install this software, which includes yidda yadda and 
> this firefox extension" now asking?

  So you are saying that the article at
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article08-600 is lying when it says
"without asking your permission"?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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