Microsoft .NET Framework: Making Firefox Just as Vulnerable as IE

Here’s a warning for all Windows users…and the best part is that you can’t (easily) do a damned thing about it.

Apparently, what should be a fairly ordinary security update for a Microsoft Windows component that’s already loaded onto millions of computers, has also installed an extra “care package” for those of us using Mozilla Firefox.

A few months ago, Microsoft sent out an updated “service pack” for the Microsoft .NET Framework, which powers many different programs and features on Windows machines.  This service pack was distributed via a Windows Update.

Well, surprise!   According to Annoyances.org, the .NET update automatically installs an extra add-on for Mozilla Firefox that is difficult, and perhaps very risky, to disable.

They state that “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.”

Great.  Just what you always wanted.

Well, no problem, right?  Just disable the thing.  Wrong.

Microsoft has deactivated the “uninstall” button on the extension.  Furthermore, the only way to remove this beast is to modify the Windows registry.  This can be extremely dangerous unless you know precisely what you are doing.  It could even crash your system.

Needless to say, users are not happy about this.  Just see the comments on this post.

I really don’t appreciate that fact that Microsoft is purposefully making Firefox just as vulnerable as IE…that’s one of the main draws of Fireox.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can use these steps to try and remove the add-on.  Otherwise, you may want to use a registry cleaner to clean this sucker out.

Makes you wonder what other lovely things Microsoft is giving us in these “updates,” doesn’t it?

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