M S Adds Spyware To Firefox

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

I'm going to be somewhat of a devil's advocate here and say that it's not being paranoid, but rather "outrage" against MS installing an Add On without permission from the user.

That is correct sir.

[BajiRav]

It is FUD because you say it is FUD? No software from any company should install anything on a users computer without their knowledge.

.net is a Windows component. I am sure you read and agreed to Windows EULA when you installed it?

[Mike]

It is FUD because you say it is FUD? No software from any company should install anything on a users computer without their knowledge.

something being installed without the users knowledge is *not* spyware so the article already fails there and so do you for spreading this rubbish.

Also, do not rip another site's content and make it into a post. Putting the source doesn't mean you can just rip the entire posting either. You should at least use quote tags to show it is not yours and only paste a small amount and have a link to the full thing

[hjf288]

It is FUD because you say it is FUD? No software from any company should install anything on a users computer without their knowledge.

No its FUD because your spreading Bulls*** and furthermore cant acknowledge your spreading it.

You dont like Microsoft? You dont like Windows? You dont want .NET - A Windows component on your system?

The majority of people would want it installed as its not doing any damage and contrary to your FUD doesnt slow down Firefox..

And before you shout ZOMG fanboy, lets just say my Linux station and server serve my needs fine - Serenity and Yuna

Download and install Linux or a BSD Variant... make sure you keep Wine off or go buy a Mac..

Then come back and go ZOMG I CANT USE .NET MICROSOFT ARE THE SUCK.

[+shift. MVC]

Also, do not rip another site's content and make it into a post. Putting the source doesn't mean you can just rip the entire posting either. You should at least use quote tags to show it is not yours and only paste a small amount and have a link to the full thing

That's just being nitpicky ;)

People do it all the time. Hell, Hum does it all the time.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

No its FUD because your spreading Bulls*** and furthermore cant acknowledge your spreading it.

You dont like Microsoft? You dont like Windows? You dont want .NET - A Windows component on your system?

Download and install Linux or a BSD Variant... make sure you keep Wine off or go buy a Mac..

Then come back and go ZOMG I CANT USE .NET MICROSOFT ARE THE SUCK.

Actually, there is an open source .NET development framework for Linux/Mac OS X.

[geekypc]

Put on your foil hats!

FFS get a life

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Trying to carry on any form of debate in this forum is useless.

[hjf288]

Actually, there is an open source .NET development framework for Linux/Mac OS X.

You can deploy Clickonce apps to Linux/Mac systems with Mono?

Last time I used Mono was Mod_Mono with apache which was awhile back since the bulk of my stuff is in PHP..

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Read their EULA.

What, Microsoft don't allow people to make plugins for IE?

Strange that they provide a UI for managing them then.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

No its FUD because your spreading Bulls*** and furthermore cant acknowledge your spreading it.

You dont like Microsoft? You dont like Windows? You dont want .NET - A Windows component on your system?

The majority of people would want it installed as its not doing any damage and contrary to your FUD doesnt slow down Firefox..

And before you shout ZOMG fanboy, lets just say my Linux station and server serve my needs fine - Serenity and Yuna

Download and install Linux or a BSD Variant... make sure you keep Wine off or go buy a Mac..

Then come back and go ZOMG I CANT USE .NET MICROSOFT ARE THE SUCK.

I like Windows, I run Windows Vista and Windows 7. I have Beta tested Windows Vista, Windows 7, Office 2007, Windows Live so I don't want to hear your nonsensical BS. What I do not want is for a software company, any company, to install something on my PC without my knowledge or request.

I have used Linux in the past but if I had to use a Mac, I would go without first.

What, Microsoft don't allow people to make plugins for IE?

Strange that they provide a UI for managing them then.

What I do not want is for a software company, any company, to install something on my PC without my knowledge or request.

[brentaal]

Windows Remote Assistance is spyware.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Windows Remote Assistance is spyware.

No it is not . It is part of the OS.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Gary7: You are too paranoid. Guess what, the Java Runtime Environment installs a Firefox plug-in without asking for permission. As well as an update check process running in the background. Does that make the JRE spyware?

Same goes for all current Google software: An updater process is installed and runs in the background (not just on Windows btw, but on OS X as well). Spyware?

Lastly there's Steam which by default runs at login and checks for updates for the client as well as installed games at start-up. Spyware?

Or little helpers which lessen the pain of having to hunt for updates/bugfixes etc? You tell me.

[Denis W. Veteran]

I must admit that I had no idea what that plugin was at first either. The way I see it, it seems like a Browser Helper Object that requires an additional Firefox extension in order to work correctly. Adobe Reader does it, Adobe Flash does, Quicktime does the same... how is this 'spyware?' You may want the reader or media player only, but the browser plugins are still installed nevertheless.

Besides that, you're also stretching the definition of spyware too stupidly far. The way you're acting about this issue is bit by bit identical to computer novices screaming they have a virus on their system if their bootloader gets messed up.

[hjf288]

I like Windows, I run Windows Vista and Windows 7. I have Beta tested Windows Vista, Windows 7, Office 2007, Windows Live so I don't want to hear your nonsensical BS. What I do not want is for a software company, any company, to install something on my PC without my knowledge or request.

I have used Linux in the past but if I had to use a Mac, I would go without first.

Try reading before you spout off your Bull...

I dont really care what you have beta tested... Theres no E-peen?

Might want to make a tinfoil hat.. Microsofts extensions might probe your brain without your permission next...

[Harlem39s Finest]

thanks, i disabled the plugin right after i found it, now its gone for good.

[Denis W. Veteran]

In addition:

If the installation of Firefox changed IE would MS be annoyed? Why does everything in this forum turn into an argument. Try to help and all I get is grief. This was posted in other forums and the results were of thanks and not the kind of BS that is here. But I degress this is Neowin.

Oh come on now. If we let every "tweak" tip go by without criticism imagine how many operating system installations will be unnecessarily impaired, or the amount of wasted time towards achieving nothing. Examples are the old page file myth (setting swap to 3 times your installed RAM amount), enabling the Superfetch key in XP, etc. Or how about running tools such as XPlite to remove Help and Support Center, then screaming on forums as to why Remote Assistance suddenly stopped working. Or another example being removing Internet Explorer and then wondering why older versions of Norton Antivirus don't show up correctly...

It's not about being fanboys. It's about being educated users. :)

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

In addition:

Oh come on now. If we let every "tweak" tip go by without criticism imagine how many operating system installations will be unnecessarily impaired, or the amount of wasted time towards achieving nothing. Examples are the old page file myth (setting swap to 3 times your installed RAM amount), enabling the Superfetch key in XP, etc. Or how about running tools such as XPlite to remove Help and Support Center, then screaming on forums as to why Remote Assistance suddenly stopped working. Or another example being removing Internet Explorer and then wondering why older versions of Norton Antivirus don't show up correctly...

It's not about being fanboys. It's about being educated users. :)

What you are saying makes sense but it has nothing to do with the topic. An educated user in this case does not have the choice of denying the install of that plugin to Firefox. This is what the problem is. Only an idiot would remove IE. When you install CCleaner it comes with a added toolbar. But during the installation process it asks if you want to install it or not. MS being the largest software company on the planet should offer the same decision to the user but it does not.

[Kirkburn]

So, some suggestions:

* Don't rip massive posts without clear attribution. Barely anyone would notice you didn't write it as it is.

* Don't post massive posts in the first place. It's unreadable.

* If you don't agree with the source, make it clear, or just don't post it. "Spyware" is in your topic choice. YOUR topic choice.

* Don't immediately attempt to shut down any criticism of your post. YOU posted it.

* Use analogies that actually work.

Yes, it should have made it clear what was happening. However, it is only for the user's benefit, for those installed the update. It's not like adding a toolbar.

But you can just click "disable". Job done. And it comes with options.

[ahhell]

Windows Remote Assistance is spyware.

That is quite possibly the stupidest thing that I have ever heard.

[Rigby]

Where is this nonsense spyware claim coming from? Reporting a program version doesn't make it spyware, and this most certainly is not malware. It's is nothing like a toolbar either, this is an important component of the OS. This whole discussion is ridiculous.

[Denis W. Veteran]

What you are saying makes sense but it has nothing to do with the topic. An educated user in this case does not have the choice of denying the install of that plugin to Firefox. This is what the problem is. Only an idiot would remove IE. When you install CCleaner it comes with a added toolbar. But during the installation process it asks if you want to install it or not. MS being the largest software company on the planet should offer the same decision to the user but it does not.

Actually they do, for their Windows Live installer, because it's just that. They're asking if you want to install their Toolbar, to which you can deny that request. (This was true of the earlier Wave installers, now the Toolbar stands alone as a 'product.')

You're comparing toolbars versus BHOs. Adobe Reader doesn't give you an option to refuse dropping an ActiveX control and a BHO plugin onto your system. Why? Simple. 90% of users would like to have PDFs open in their browsers and in a separate viewer on their system. Same situation here, except the installer is for .NET which is vaguely like Java Runtime Environment if anything.

I think the main issue here is instead of simply telling people how to remove the plugin - which is still debatable given its function but if you want to remove it, then by all means go ahead, it's your PC - but you've taken it the next step and mislabelled it as spyware. Which by reading everyone's posts here except yours, it's clearly not.

[Rigby]

I see someone has been rabble rousing. This thread should just be closed.

Gary King: I posted this on Neowin and you were called everything from Paranoid to stupid.

Link

[Antaris Veteran]

I avoided this thread for the sake of its ridiculousness, but alas, I might as well add my 2 cents (which is most likely already stated [in most parts] by others)

Definition of spyware: computer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent.

Definition of malware: Software developed for the purpose of causing harm to a computer system

Description of ClickOnce: ClickOnce is a Microsoft technology for deploying Windows Forms or Windows Presentation Foundation-based software, also called Smart clients. It is similar to Java Web Start for the Java Platform.

Hmm, these definitions and description don't seem to marry up anywhere!

Seeing as ClickOnce is not obtaining information from your computer, and its was not developed for the purpose of causing harm to a computer system, I think its safe to say its neither spyware, or the grander umbrella term, malware.

In fact, it was designed to aid the deployment and installation of .NET Applications via the web, so infact, you could call it aidware, or helpware :p