QA/Firefox3.5/MSFTnetFrameworkTesting

Testing of the .Net Framework Assistant 1.1 from Microsoft

The Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 update, pushed through the Windows Update service to all recent editions of Windows in February 2009, installs the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant Firefox extension without asking your permission.

This update adds to Firefox one of the most dangerous vulnerabilities present in all versions of Internet Explorer: the ability for websites to easily and quietly install software on your PC. Users may wish to remove this extension with all due haste.

Unfortunately, Microsoft in their infinite wisdom has taken steps to make the removal of this extension particularly difficult - open the Add-ons window in Firefox, and you'll notice the Uninstall button next to their extension is grayed out.

Microsoft recently published a hotfix (i.e, .Net Framework Assistant 1.1) available here which allows you to safely uninstall and or disable the extension.

Summary

Test Results

Windows OS	.NET Version	Framework Assistant Version	Firefox Build	Result
XP SP3	3.5.30729	1.1	Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.11) Gecko/2009060215 Firefox/3.0.11 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)	PASS
XP SP3	3.5.30729	1.1	Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1) Gecko/20090616 Firefox/3.5 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729) }