Internet Explorer: Microsoft plans 'silent' updates (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

From January, Internet Explorer (IE) users will be automatically updated to the latest version of the browser.

Microsoft said it was starting the project to update millions of machines to improve security online.

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.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16214912




So ... there's a clause in the new licensing agreement that says that if you use their software they have the right to do whatever the Hell they want to your hard drive? Evidently so.

[Renew Deal]

1. Chrome does this already

So I can understand why MS would want to do it.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. How many Corporate infrastructures run chrome though?

[Renew Deal]

3. It updates silently even on machines with limited rights

Most corps aren't that tight anymore. Also, I'm not sure that corporations are rolling it out. IE is on every PC by default and Safari on every mac. Firefox isn't much better in a corporate environment. It updates ALL the time. The nice thing about IE is that you can centrally patch it. Not so for firefox. Chrome sits in the middle. It gets patched, by someone else.

[nebenaube]

4. moot n/t

[laundry_queen]

5. I can't see this happening

I'm in university and every single online assignment program we have (they are universal programs, throughout the US and Canada) needs IE8 to run properly. None, at the moment, accept IE9. If Microsoft does this post-secondary institutions will not be happy. At best it will create a lot of work for our IT help desks.

[area51]

6. FreeBSD & Linux rule,

Windows drools. [br][br]

[dipsydoodle]

7. As far as I'm aware

even IE9 can't be used with XP Pro , which is what the two PCs in the house run , on so a fat lot of good that will do them. The laptop which my daughter seems to have kidnapped is on Windows 7 but she don't ever use IE preferring Safari or Firefox.