Internet Explorer: Microsoft plans 'silent' updates

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16214912 Future updates to the browser would be applied without a user's knowledge to help beat scammers catching people out with fake updates. Those who did not want their browser updated could opt out or uninstall the software, said Microsoft. "The Web overall is better - and safer - when more people run the most up-to-date browser," wrote Ryan Gavin, Microsoft's IE boss, in a blogpost explaining the plan.

Let me explain how silent browser updates work.

Step One : Download and install the browser. This is a questionable activity in itself in an era where you're being charged by the gigabyte , they're essentially stealing your bandwidth and driving up your costs.

Step two : make the new browser your default browser. Changing the settings without your permission ? What if I'm using firefox or some other browser ?

Step Three : Some application or another opens your browser , and the worlds most virus prone clap trap of a browser promptly catches a virus. A new one.

Step Four : You phone microsoft to complain,they point to the relevent article in the End User Agreement that says they get to screw you over any time they like and the only thing you can do is stop using windows. PS: They're currently working on a system to insure windows is the only thing that runs on your computer and if you stop using windows you have to throw the whole computer out.

Step Five : You contact your anti-virus vender who sadly explains to you that yes, new virii do get a couple of days to wreak their havoc before a patch is put out to stop them. Have you tried our virus cleaner ? It didn't work ? Sorry our software is use at your own risk , you'll have to reformat and all your data , saved games, work , etc on your computer is now lost.

This is how "silent updates" work.

This is Microsoft who wants you to "upgrade to the most secure browser on the web" , except they refuse to fix certain security wholes way back from windows 95 , I mean , they know they're there, they just flatly refuse to fix them (active x components, drive by downloading) , but everyone knows it's really the fly paper that attracts virii from everywhere.