Microsoft eases back on IE 8 default
For people who've set other browsers set as default, the IE 8 installer now always asks whether they want to make IE the new default.
(Credit: Microsoft)Responding to widespread carping, Microsoft has made it less likely that Internet Explorer 8 will become the default browser against the user's wishes.
Previously, installing the browser offered an "express settings" that would make IE 8 the default browser without asking, though the custom settings route explicitly asked. Now the express settings will ask, too, Microsoft announced Thursday on its IEBlog.
"IE will never install, or become the default browser without your explicit consent. However, we heard a lot of feedback from a lot of different people and groups and decided to make the user choice of the default browser even more explicit," Microsoft said. Those who already have IE 8 set as default won't see the screen.
The change won't be built into the regular IE 8 installation, but instead will arrive as an update during the process beginning mid-August. The IE 8 installer asks users if they want to check for updates when they install, and 90 percent do so, Microsoft said.
One rival, Mozilla Chief Executive John Lilly, praised the move. "Good change: Microsoft does the right thing (finally) with IE8 updater," he said in a Thursday Twitter post.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
That will be the better option :)
To be fair, it should also ask if you want to completely remove FireFox from your system as well. Might as well be fair to everyone, right?
...where's that option for IE, d'ya figure?
Since when is code ever implemented to perfection? That said, while Microsoft didn't forsee the big boom of drive-by downloads starting in late 2004 or 2005 (when they released XP in 2001), they did manage to address the problem with noteworthy assertion in Windows Vista. No more infections, unless you use XP without adequate security or download Trojans.
I'm assuming you followed my links in that Elinor Mills blog where you and I butted heads (because you stopped so abruptly after having built up so much momentum), where it talks about Windows Vista being the most inherently secure of all platforms (even more so than Linux), yes? Not that I put much stock in the idea of cloud computing but, if MS can do it, then so can Google.
Update it, but don't trust it. Never allow it to express anything, do the custom bit and verify everything yourself. Take your time, it WANTS to trick you. When done, delete all shortcuts to it and dump the trash, then defrag (ALWAYS defrag with winblows). Maybe sacrifice a virgin goat on an altar while you're at it, just to be safe. (LOL)
How is IE "in the sack" with Windows? Because they bundle it, or because MS Update requires it? I'd like for you to expand on this. Make darn sure you double-check your answers, because I'll nail you if you get it wrong.
That said, it's not because of IE integration that it's such a target, but market share. Although Mozilla releases patches more than once a month, Firefox actually has more vulnerabilities: http://blogs.computerworld.com/report_firefox_is_the_worlds_most_vulnerable_browser
I hope you have a good explanation to rebound (with your track record, I rather doubt it). Otherwise, eat your words.
funny... Apache is (and always was) more widely as a web server used than IIS, yet IIS has always been the most widely exploited.
Care to elaborate as to why?
>>>>Oh, really? Show me a link. Meanwhile, let me show you mine:
http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/125548
http://4sysops.com/archives/iis-websites-are-14-times-more-secure-than-apache-sites/
It's Windows DESKTOPS that are getting pwned in the end, because there are more of them. But setting up the exploits begins on Linux servers. Get your facts straight.
With that one bungle, you announced to me and the rest of the world that you know NOTHING about computer security, and are so gullible that you?ve been blindly repeating 5-year-old memes. A wise woman once told me, ?You?d do better to close your mouth and let people think you?re stupid than to open your mouth and let them know.? Only a narcissist would waste readers? time with uneducated, ignorant babbling. Save your keystrokes for subjects in which you actually have a voice.
Last I checked, you can rig OSX to use another default media player... I use VLC. Also, upgrading/updating iTunes doesn't change those settings at all. I'm using 10.5 on my Core Duo Hackintosh, and 10.3.9 on a dual G5 - neither exhibits the behavior you mentioned.
I think its time that everyone stops thinking its still 1996. the browser is a key component of the operating system, and until real integration is made (remember how the IE6 OS integration was was innovative in win98 but has been scaled back so FREE browsers can be competitive?) then we will be living with cluckers browsers we have now.
I guess you could blame MS by not opening the operating system so developers and integrating their browser fully into the OS, but its their OS and they should be able to do what they would like.
i don't know, its easy enough to change the default browser, maybe people should pay more attention to when they are doing a VERY critical process like software installation instead of just click-whipping it.
As to "do what they like", does that include doing a force install of a Firefox patch that breaks Firefox's security? Cuz Microsofts's already played that game, this year, as well.
if they could forsee the future in 96 this wouldn't happen and they would have dominated the world wouldn't they?
it was suppose to be good innovation that in the end failed because of other issues, aka security, that they did not take into consideration... id say move on, its been over 13 years since that mistake and they "have" improved on that respect
I selected not to ask again and it didn't what are you talking about?
Last I checked, IE 6 didn't come out until long after Windows 98... heck, it didn't even come out until after Windows 2000 was released ;)
Also, "innovative" is a real funny way to say "biggest exploit vector in the universe"
Stop spreading FUD without a source please.
Proof? If you have Windows and Firefox installed, open the add-ons window for Firefox. Unless you already removed it, you'll find a surreptitious add-on for "Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant v1.1" stuck in there (which I know I certainly never asked for nor downloaded). It is enabled by default - you have to specifically disable it - if you uninstall it, it will likely return the next time you visit Windows Update.
If you would spend less time trolling here and more time actually reading the news, in this case the tech news, you would know about it.
Oh, and if you are looking for the source, there always is this little thing called the Internet.
Use your favorite search engine... Come to think of it, your probably favorite search engine may not have the links, because it is owned by the company in question. Using a real search engine like Google may be a better choice...
Proof? If you have Windows and Firefox installed, open the add-ons window for Firefox. Unless you already removed it, you'll find a surreptitious add-on for "Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant v1.1" stuck in there (which I know I certainly never asked for nor downloaded). It is enabled by default - you have to specifically disable it - if you uninstall it, it will likely return the next time you visit Windows Update.
If only Apple would follow this philosophy regarding QuickTime updates. Every time I update QT I have to deal with icons I don't want and services installed that I don't need. I don't use iTunes, and don't appreciate Apple's attempts to shove it down my throat. The only reason I have QT installed is because some of my apps require it. Sun's JRE and Adobe Reader exhibit the same behavior.
I also take a dim view of browser add-ons and utilities that automatically opt in to installing toolbars. Default installs should not have optional components already selected. Let the user decide to opt in, not opt out.
I can't STAND QuickTime!
Everything else is fine: I like IE, though Opera is my default. I never have problems with IE or anything else asking me to make it default.
But QuickTime... Oooh QuickTime...
QuickTime is the bane of my media-playing existence. Not only is it annoying, but last I checked it's horribly designed and frustrating to use. And I don't want iTunes or any other software that locks me in. I happen to like Windows Media Player quite a lot, thank you very much.
If Nortons could get rid of it, I might be a subscriber.
- by TheIllusion July 18, 2009 6:40 AM PDT
- Even my default browser is Firefox, i hate that Firefox will not ask anything, when you install Real-products, Nokia PC suite, .NET Framework, or even new F-Secure "Browsing Protection Toolbar", plus much more - some are not even compatible with Firefox.
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