Search Helper Extension
-
- Posts: 79
- Joined: November 16th, 2004, 5:59 pm
Search Helper Extension
There is an uninstall button for the Search Helper add-on. Is there some reason not to get rid of it THAT way?
- Rocketman
- Posts: 391
- Joined: January 3rd, 2004, 1:51 pm
- Location: New York
Re: Search Helper Extension
ars technica has a story about the secret extension. Not much info is known about it though. http://tinyurl.com/33hxq6d Glad I don't use M$ update.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -- Ben Franklin
-
- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
kygin wrote:There is an uninstall button for the Search Helper add-on. Is there some reason not to get rid of it THAT way?
For me the Uninstall is greyed out. Happened to me this morning after windows updates (Windows 7 64bit).. Geez Microsoft.
-
- Posts: 79
- Joined: November 16th, 2004, 5:59 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
Okay, it is for me too. I had it disabled and thought that was why the uninstall was gray. Enabled it and uninstall is still grayed out. I've disabled it again, but now I am doubly irritated at MS. Not only are they mucking around with a program that doesn't belong to MS, they're doing it without user permission.
-
- Posts: 79
- Joined: November 16th, 2004, 5:59 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
Quote from the ars technica article:
"Additional testing determined that the update is only being offered to those with one of the Microsoft toolbars installed, regardless of whether they are enabled or disabled. It's unknown how many users fall into that scenario, but the toolbars often come bundled with new PCs and popular Microsoft downloads."
They're wrong. I don't have, never have had, any of the three - Windows Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, or Bing Bar - on any browser on this computer.
"Additional testing determined that the update is only being offered to those with one of the Microsoft toolbars installed, regardless of whether they are enabled or disabled. It's unknown how many users fall into that scenario, but the toolbars often come bundled with new PCs and popular Microsoft downloads."
They're wrong. I don't have, never have had, any of the three - Windows Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, or Bing Bar - on any browser on this computer.
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: June 1st, 2004, 2:52 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
I'd like to reinstate the question of a previous poster:
Why should FF activate an extension that appeared from nowhere, when a user clicking on an install button at mozilla add-ons site (or droping a xpi) still requires a confirmation?
That's a massive security flaw!
That functionality, albeit useful, shouldn't ever be active without explicit user activation.
Why should FF activate an extension that appeared from nowhere, when a user clicking on an install button at mozilla add-ons site (or droping a xpi) still requires a confirmation?
That's a massive security flaw!
That functionality, albeit useful, shouldn't ever be active without explicit user activation.
-
- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
Same thing happened to my FF. The only difference I've noticed so far is that there is now a "Microsoft Support Search" added to the list of search engines in the search box. Nonetheless, I am still annoyed that Microsoft thinks it is ok to arbitrarily tack on something to my FF browser WITHOUT asking, and worst of all, disabling the Uninstall button! Why do they keep doing stupid things like that?!
-
- Guest
someday we'll have an extensions *manager*
the new extensions "manager" allegedly will prompt users for permission to install from the staging area
- dfoulkes
- Posts: 22525
- Joined: June 28th, 2008, 10:31 pm
- Location: Mesquite, Nevada
Re: Search Helper Extension
I just updated my Win7/64bit and the issue presented in this topic did not get installed... so, if it's a MS Win update thing I would assume/think that every Win7 user would get it.
As you can see she's (The CAT) always alert and on the prowl for Meoware !!
-
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
Because they can. BillG and his crew, could make a M/S OS do cartwheels, if they wanted.Toksic wrote:Nonetheless, I am still annoyed that Microsoft thinks it is ok to arbitrarily tack on something to my FF browser WITHOUT asking, and worst of all, disabling the Uninstall button! Why do they keep doing stupid things like that?!
In this case, it appears that they thought it might be a cute way for us Firefox users to "enjoy the added? functionality of their wonderful products" once again.
If they would have kept better focus on Internet Exploder, there might not have been the market niche opening for other, better browsers. AKA: FIREFOX
Silent/stealth installs, of difficult to remove 'garbage', doesn't exactly seem like a smart business decision, either.
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
-
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
dfoulkes wrote:I just updated my Win7/64bit and the issue presented in this topic did not get installed... so, if it's a MS Win update thing I would assume/think that every Win7 user would get it.
Seems to be mainly an issue when these M/S toolbars are/have been installed. Though, the "Help improve our services option, mentioned (and other portions of their quoted text), has me wondering their exact mechanism/dispersal.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982217 wrote:An update is available through Microsoft Update for Windows Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, and Bing Bar. This update fixes an issue in the homepage category functionality of these toolbars.
Issues that this update fixes
In an Internet browser, you specify a homepage that is not a fully qualified URL. However, Windows Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, or Bing Bar may not categorize your homepage correctly. Therefore, the homepage reporting may be generated incorrectly for users who select the Help improve our services option when they install these toolbars. Article ID: 982217 - Last Review: June 8, 2010 - Revision: 2.0
Then, again, this is still a relatively newly reported issue...
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
-
- Posts: 85
- Joined: August 18th, 2004, 4:54 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
GTryder wrote:Because they can. BillG and his crew, could make a M/S OS do cartwheels, if they wanted.Toksic wrote:Nonetheless, I am still annoyed that Microsoft thinks it is ok to arbitrarily tack on something to my FF browser WITHOUT asking, and worst of all, disabling the Uninstall button! Why do they keep doing stupid things like that?!
Not to nitpick or anything, but it's kinda SteveB and his crew now. BillG's crew is busy giving money away.
- Keith
Software & Compliance Architect
Software & Compliance Architect
-
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
In further review, from:
As with .EXE's, .DLL's can contain code, data, and resources, in any combination.
Note that there are eighteen 'other' files installed with this ?"Improvement"?.
It appears that this 'first issue' [?Enhancement? > prerequisite] release specifically targets a driver (dll) towards FireFox.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982217 wrote:Prerequisites
To apply this update, you must have Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack installed.
Update replacement information
This update does not replace a previously released update.
File information
The English (United States) version of this update installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables.
SEPSearchHelperff.dll 3.0.126.0 5/14/2010 226KB
SEPSearchHelperie.dll 3.0.126.0 5/14/2010 187KB
As with .EXE's, .DLL's can contain code, data, and resources, in any combination.
Note that there are eighteen 'other' files installed with this ?"Improvement"?.
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
-
- Posts: 10
- Joined: September 28th, 2008, 12:43 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
ghaspias wrote:I'd like to reinstate the question of a previous poster:
Why should FF activate an extension that appeared from nowhere, when a user clicking on an install button at mozilla add-ons site (or dropping a xpi) still requires a confirmation?
That's a massive security flaw!
That functionality, albeit useful, shouldn't ever be active without explicit user activation.
Your question will fall on def ears. Mozilla corp has become major losers, Google money spoiled them and they hired ex-Microsoft people, so no wonder Firefox has had so many security problems and is broken by design.
Yes, BROKEN BY DESIGN!! , just like all Microsoft software.
I don't understand why they didn't' implement in the very beginning a mechanism that simply locks extension installing until the user unlocks it (when ready to install more extensions)?
It would be suck a simple measure and would prevent tempering with the browser.
But what do you expect from corporate fat cats that have become fat and lazy.
I can't wait, and pray for the day when Mozilla loses their Google revenue. And it's back to grass roots, free, open source, development, after the fat cats are gone.
I blame Mozilla for this 100%, Microsoft does what Microsoft does, that's why they are a convicted monopolist.
- djst
- Moderator
- Posts: 2826
- Joined: November 5th, 2002, 1:34 am
- Location: Sweden
- Contact:
Re: Search Helper Extension
ghaspias wrote:Why should FF activate an extension that appeared from nowhere, when a user clicking on an install button at mozilla add-ons site (or droping a xpi) still requires a confirmation?
That's a massive security flaw!
That functionality, albeit useful, shouldn't ever be active without explicit user activation.
That actually sounds like a great idea and would fit in well with one of the core philosophies of Firefox, which is to put the user in control.