Removing the .NET Framework Assistant Firefox Add-on
As part of the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 update, Microsoft pulled a real a-hole move and installed an add-on to Firefox without asking permission or letting you know this was happening. Even worse, the add-on is a huge potential security hole. It let's install .NET apps with a single click. This can lead to software being unknowningly installed on your computer. Very bad. And it gets worse.
To rub salt in the wounds, Microsoft installs the add-on in such a way that it can't be removed from the Firefox Add-Ons interface in the browser. You can go there and see the add-on installed, but the uninstall button will be disabled. A serious a-hole move.
So if you want to get rid of this security hole, you have to remove the add-on by performing a registry edit and a bunch of other steps. It's a pain, but you really should get rid of this thing. Here are the steps:
1 - Run the registry editor (Start -> Run -> regedit).
2 - In the left panel, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE + SOFTWARE + Mozilla + Firefox + Extensions or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE + SOFTWARE + Wow6432Node + Mozilla + Firefox + Extensions. The path that's available will depend on your Windows install type.
3 - In the right-hand pane, right-click on the value called {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b} and Delete it.
4 - Close regedit.
5 - In Firefox type about:config in the address bar.
6 - Find the general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet entry in the configuration, right-click on it and select Reset. setting.
7 - Restart Firefox.
8 - Open a Windows Explorer window and go to the %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation folder.
9 - Delete the entire DotNetAssistantExtension folder.
This should get rid of the .NET Framework Assistant Firefox add-on. Microsoft may fix this so that the add-on can be deleted directly in Firefox without having to take all these steps. So it's worth checking in Firefox first. Just go to Tools > Add-ons and select the .NET add-on. If the uninstall button is not disabled you can skip all the steps above and just delete it by pushing the button.
To rub salt in the wounds, Microsoft installs the add-on in such a way that it can't be removed from the Firefox Add-Ons interface in the browser. You can go there and see the add-on installed, but the uninstall button will be disabled. A serious a-hole move.
So if you want to get rid of this security hole, you have to remove the add-on by performing a registry edit and a bunch of other steps. It's a pain, but you really should get rid of this thing. Here are the steps:
1 - Run the registry editor (Start -> Run -> regedit).
2 - In the left panel, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE + SOFTWARE + Mozilla + Firefox + Extensions or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE + SOFTWARE + Wow6432Node + Mozilla + Firefox + Extensions. The path that's available will depend on your Windows install type.
3 - In the right-hand pane, right-click on the value called {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b} and Delete it.
4 - Close regedit.
5 - In Firefox type about:config in the address bar.
6 - Find the general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet entry in the configuration, right-click on it and select Reset. setting.
7 - Restart Firefox.
8 - Open a Windows Explorer window and go to the %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5\Windows Presentation Foundation folder.
9 - Delete the entire DotNetAssistantExtension folder.
This should get rid of the .NET Framework Assistant Firefox add-on. Microsoft may fix this so that the add-on can be deleted directly in Firefox without having to take all these steps. So it's worth checking in Firefox first. Just go to Tools > Add-ons and select the .NET add-on. If the uninstall button is not disabled you can skip all the steps above and just delete it by pushing the button.
| Rating: | 100% positive, 2 total Votes |
| Categories: | Microsoft Firefox add-ons regedit |
| Added: | on Jun 01, 2009 at 10:48 am |
| Added By: | an anonymous user |
| Searches: | add-on firefox microsoft .net regedit |
~Midna