25 January 2007
Update Windows, Upgrade Browser Unwittingly
For those who updated their Windows in January, the security updates contained Internet Explorer 7.
Those who clicked on the security update and ran the recommended automatic update, downloaded IE 7 which in many cases has caused crashes and some to be completely cut off from the Internet. They had no way of knowing before that they would be installing IE 7. Those installing from the custom option are told of the included browser upgrade and can opt out of installing it.
For those who have installed IE 7 against their will, removing it is as easy as going to Add or Remove Programs and selecting Windows Internet Explorer 7 to Remove. This will remove IE 7 and revert back to IE 6.
While the fix is easy to do, the irritation of having to do it is a lot greater and the distrust those people who have inadvertently installed IE 7 will now have in the Windows Update may cause people to either be very careful in the future with updating their system or to stop updating for fear of problems occurring with the update, which is definitely not the best option for users.
Updates are not the place to issue application upgrades even if they are considered (by its creator) to be more secure than the previous one. Any upgrades should be optional and require user input before beginning. The number of computers crashing while attempting to run IE 7 is an example of why.
Those who clicked on the security update and ran the recommended automatic update, downloaded IE 7 which in many cases has caused crashes and some to be completely cut off from the Internet. They had no way of knowing before that they would be installing IE 7. Those installing from the custom option are told of the included browser upgrade and can opt out of installing it.
For those who have installed IE 7 against their will, removing it is as easy as going to Add or Remove Programs and selecting Windows Internet Explorer 7 to Remove. This will remove IE 7 and revert back to IE 6.
While the fix is easy to do, the irritation of having to do it is a lot greater and the distrust those people who have inadvertently installed IE 7 will now have in the Windows Update may cause people to either be very careful in the future with updating their system or to stop updating for fear of problems occurring with the update, which is definitely not the best option for users.
Updates are not the place to issue application upgrades even if they are considered (by its creator) to be more secure than the previous one. Any upgrades should be optional and require user input before beginning. The number of computers crashing while attempting to run IE 7 is an example of why.
Labels: IE, microsoft, security, update, windows
