M S Adds Spyware To Firefox

By +Gary7
in Web Browser Discussion & Support

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Grand Master

+Gary7 Subscriber²

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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

I contacted the author of this article and all he had to say was:

You can show people the way, you can't push them there. I'm probably the

least paranoid computer user in the world, especially considering how must

linux users feel ... and all I can do is share info with people. It's up

to them to read, learn - or not.

Cheers,

Dedoimedo

I do not really care what you people think about this. As I have stated and now the author has stated, Do with this info what you will. Learn from it, don't learn from it, Don't read it. I no longer give a damn.

Community Regular

Tech God

Posted
Posted

I love how people such as you take the slightest thing to jump at MS for. This is not spyware, it does not send any of your information to THEIR server. It simply adds a small piece of information to your user-agent string indicating what version of the .NET runtime you are running. This helps web developers determine what features they can enable for certain viewers and things like that.

as for mine it reads:

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.5) Gecko/2008120122 Firefox/3.0.5 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)

as for a few months ago, you wouldn't have seen the information in the string about your .NET common language runtime version.

Don't open your big yap unless you know what you're talking about.

Grand Master

Kirkburn

Posted
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I do not really care what you people think about this. As I have stated and now the author has stated, Do with this info what you will. Learn from it, don't learn from it, Don't read it. I no longer give a damn.

That's all well and good, but he apparently classed it as spyware. That is disputed strongly (as evidenced by the thread). His response could actually be taken as quite pompous, since it doesn't actually address the issues raised.

If anything, I hope you learn from this thread regarding how to present information in a forum.

Grand Master

+Nik Louch Subscriber²

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I do not really care what you people think about this. As I have stated and now the author has stated, Do with this info what you will. Learn from it, don't learn from it, Don't read it. I no longer give a damn.

Nothing to learn from, as it's opinion based crap.

Grand Master

Rigby

Posted
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I contacted the author of this article and all he had to say was:

I do not really care what you people think about this. As I have stated and now the author has stated, Do with this info what you will. Learn from it, don't learn from it, Don't read it. I no longer give a damn.

Why did you post it then? It was nonsense from the beginning, and throwing a hissy fit doesn't change that.

No it is factual. It does add a plugin to Firefox without the users knowledge.

That makes it spyware how? The very title of your post is a ridiculous lie, that's what people are getting onto you about.

It is NOT spyware.

Veteran

hjf288

Posted
Posted
Sexy Namja

February 9, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Nice tip for those who dont use .NET and want total control.

The posts on Neowin were referring to Gary King himself who failed to post the source of the writing later on and chose to stupidly call the add-in ?Spyware?

He then defended himself to the bone calling everyone fanboys and now hes trying to rile a response from the author.

Gary your paranoid and disillusioned.

this is hilarious!

but I agree...

Grand Master

+Gary7 Subscriber²

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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.

I left a SOURCE. Try reading the OP.

I wonder how long 'til a moderator corrects the misleading title of this thread?

It is not misleading it is the title of The Article that I sourced.

Neowinian

`Bzz

Posted
Posted
I left a SOURCE. Try reading the OP.

It is not misleading it is the title of The Article that I sourced.

The title of the article is "How to remove Microsoft .NET Assistant from Firefox" not "M S Adds Spyware To Firefox"

This would be like calling the Google toolbar spyware because the only notice it gives you is that little checkbox down in the corner of the window when installing applications which have nothing to do with it.

Anyway, just remember that you're using Microsoft's OS which Firefox is installed on... OS > Application.. don't like it switch to Linux/get a Mac.

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