Mozilla has defeated Microsoft’s default browser protections in Windows

[Lightwreather]

Summary

Mozilla has quietly made it easier to switch to Firefox on Windows recently. While Microsoft offers a method to switch default browsers on Windows 10, it’s more cumbersome than the simple one-click process to switch to Edge. This one-click process isn’t officially available for anyone other than Microsoft, and Mozilla appears to have grown tired of the situation.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Quotes

Quote

In version 91 of Firefox, released on August 10th, Mozilla has reverse engineered the way Microsoft sets Edge as default in Windows 10, and enabled Firefox to quickly make itself the default. Before this change, Firefox users would be sent to the Settings part of Windows 10 to then have to select Firefox as a default browser and ignore Microsoft’s plea to keep Edge.

Mozilla’s reverse engineering means you can now set Firefox as the default from within the browser, and it does all the work in the background with no additional prompts. This circumvents Microsoft’s anti-hijacking protections that the company built into Windows 10 to ensure malware couldn’t hijack default apps. Microsoft tells us this is not supported in Windows.

Mozilla has clearly grown tired of the more complicated way of setting up a default browser, a process that Microsoft is making even harder in Windows 11. “People should have the ability to simply and easily set defaults, but they don’t,” says a Mozilla spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “All operating systems should offer official developer support for default status so people can easily set their apps as default. Since that hasn’t happened on Windows 10 and 11, Firefox relies on other aspects of the Windows environment to give people an experience similar to what Windows provides to Edge when users choose Firefox to be their default browser.”

Mozilla has been trying to convince Microsoft to improve its default browser settings in Windows since its open letter to Microsoft in 2015. Nothing has changed, and Windows 11 is now making it even harder to switch default browsers. That appears to be the final straw, as Mozilla began implementing its changes in Firefox shortly after the Windows 11 unveiling in June.

So far, Google, Vivaldi, Opera, and other Chromium-based browsers haven’t followed Mozilla’s lead, and it’s not clear exactly how Microsoft will respond. Microsoft has some genuine security-related reasons to protect against malware with anti-hijacking, but by allowing Edge to easily switch defaults it undermines rival browser vendors that simply want a level playing field. Windows 11 makes that playing field even more complicated, and competitors aren’t happy.

 

My thoughts

First thought that came into my mind was, wasn't this already the case? Well, according to the article it wasn't. But well, now it is. For windows 10 eh, it was't much of a hurdle. What I'm more interested in is it happening in windows 11. Hiwever, this might also pose a security risk to microsoft's "Most secure windows ever" thingamabob. Well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens

Sources

The Verge

[jagdtigger]

Prep for record quick out of band patch.....

Hope they are going to do the same with w11.

[tikker]

Time for a second fine/lawsuit about browser promotion?

12 minutes ago, J-from-Nucleon said:

First thought that came into my mind was, wasn't this already the case?

Same here. I swear my default browser has been already set from within Firefox since the dawn of time when I started using it, so I wasn't even aware it couldn't do that on Win10 honestly. Good for Mozilla though.

Now if they can (allow the) revert (of) Proton UI that'd be great /s

[NinJake]

Not like it's a pain to change defaults "normally". Good on Mozilla for sticking it to the man.

[BobVonBob]

Let's be real here. It was never about preventing browser/default app hijacking, that's just a convenient excuse. It has always been about abusing their position as OS maker to make their apps easier to use than their competition. The changes to Windows 11 are happening because Microsoft found that there were still enough people that cared about not using their garbage browser that they would go through the annoyance of changing default apps in Windows 10, so they have to make the experience even worse so more people give up.

[Lurick]

15 minutes ago, NinJake said:

Not like it's a pain to change defaults "normally". Good on Mozilla for sticking it to the man.

Windows 11 is going to be even more of a PITA than 10 but it's not even straight forward in Windows 10 if you don't set it as default the first time for opening stuff either and even then there is still stuff that opens in Edge regardless.

[NinJake]

2 minutes ago, Lurick said:

Windows 11 is going to be even more of a PITA than 10 but it's not even straight forward in Windows 10 if you don't set it as default the first time for opening stuff either and even then there is still stuff that opens in Edge regardless.

Looking at you, PDFs!

 

I'm not happy about how locked down windows 10 has treated "outside apps" but I've also grown complacent with it over the last 5 years. My pc doesn't support windows 11 as it's a 6700k processor but we'll see if pc components come down at all... I wouldn't mind an upgrade.

[Lurick]

Just now, NinJake said:

Looking at you, PDFs!

 

I'm not happy about how locked down windows 10 has treated "outside apps" but I've also grown complacent with it over the last 5 years. My pc doesn't support windows 11 as it's a 6700k processor but we'll see if pc components come down at all... I wouldn't mind an upgrade.

Yah, Windows 11 is even more granular and you have to dig around for each app/file type iirc if you want to change it later. It's pretty stupid =/

[The_russian]

2 minutes ago, Lurick said:

Yah, Windows 11 is even more granular and you have to dig around for each app/file type iirc if you want to change it later. It's pretty stupid =/

I thought you already have to do that in Windows 10? I thought I remember having to find .pdf file type in settings to change what app opens PDF files, but maybe I’m thinking of a more specialized file type. 

[Lurick]

1 minute ago, The_russian said:

I thought you already have to do that in Windows 10? I thought I remember having to find .pdf file type in settings to change what app opens PDF files, but maybe I’m thinking of a more specialized file type. 

I haven't dug too much into it myself but I remember seeing a lot of posts when the beta first came out that each and every file type will prompt you for a default program or something now. I might need to double check that though. It could also be just people complaining to complain about something not realizing it was already that way.

[Spotty]

Good. I wonder if Chrome will follow.

[Doobeedoo]

I'd expect for final release that there's simply 'check all' tick option as you'd expect in Windows options.

Really I find Edge great, it really flies.

[Forbidden Wafer]

2 hours ago, Lurick said:

Yah, Windows 11 is even more granular and you have to dig around for each app/file type iirc if you want to change it later. It's pretty stupid =/

Considering they collect absurd amounts of information on what programs people manually configured to open different file extensions/set as defaults and could automatically suggest options... Yeah, it's just them being annoying trying to get people to use their defaults.

[NumLock21]

I don't get what's all this frustration about. I've changed my default browser from Edge to Firefox and all it does is just a few clicks. After doing that, all links I click on, opens up in FireFox. Besides Edge is a Microsoft's own product, of course they're going to make it easier on their own products. This applies to every company out there for their own products, not just Microsoft.

[TheOnlyKirst]

12 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

I don't get what's all this frustration about...just a few clicks

it used to be only one click, now it's multiple clicks, how long before you can't change at all?

 

I agree with you in the sense that it isn't a hard thing to do, but it used to be even easier

[KaitouX]

10 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

I don't get what's all this frustration about. I've changed my default browser from Edge to Firefox and all it does is just a few clicks. After doing that, all links I click on, opens up in FireFox. Besides Edge is a Microsoft's own product, of course they're going to make it easier on their own products. This applies to every company out there for their own products, not just Microsoft.

For many people that aren't well versed in computers, getting multiple warnings while trying to change the default browser can be enough to make them change their mind. Particularly when they keep adding more and more things saying that you should change to Edge or keep using it.

[Sauron]

Nice, I fully support firefox becoming a virus if that's what it takes

[NumLock21]

19 minutes ago, TheOnlyKirst said:

it used to be only one click, now it's multiple clicks, how long before you can't change at all?

 

I agree with you in the sense that it isn't a hard thing to do, but it used to be even easier

No it isn't even if it's more than 1 click. So I don't get what's with all this complaining or as if FireFox came to save the day from the evils of Microsoft and its Edge browser.

17 minutes ago, KaitouX said:

For many people that aren't well versed in computers, getting multiple warnings while trying to change the default browser can be enough to make them change their mind. Particularly when they keep adding more and more things saying that you should change to Edge or keep using it.

What is there to add, besides FireFox and Chrome, since that's what most people use. Do they also install Opera, Safari, and every browser out there?

[NinJake]

32 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

So I don't get what's with all this complaining or as if FireFox came to save the day from the evils of Microsoft and its Edge browser.

Nobody is complaining. I think people are happy in fact.

 

This is regarding to now you can change the default directly through firefox instead of having it pop up the "default apps" section in the OS settings, and then asking you "are you sure you want to change?" Then having to click another obscure link to proceed.

[KaitouX]

56 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

No it isn't even if it's more than 1 click. So I don't get what's with all this complaining or as if FireFox came to save the day from the evils of Microsoft and its Edge browser.

What is there to add, besides FireFox and Chrome, since that's what most people use. Do they also install Opera, Safari, and every browser out there?

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but the second part of the post I was referring to all warnings/ads Microsoft shows(or showed in the past) on Windows to try to make Edge the default browser, like fullscreen ads, permanent "recommendations", warnings before installing other browsers and others, making the use of other browsers less likely for people without much computer knowledge.

[NumLock21]

36 minutes ago, NinJake said:

Nobody is complaining. I think people are happy in fact.

 

This is regarding to now you can change the default directly through firefox instead of having it pop up the "default apps" section in the OS settings, and then asking you "are you sure you want to change?" Then having to click another obscure link to proceed.

What I meant was as if users are annoyed at Microsoft for making it so difficult to switch to the default browsers of their choice and that Mozilla has to come into save the day, when all users have to do is just make a few clicks. how is that difficult?

15 minutes ago, KaitouX said:

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but the second part of the post I was referring to all warnings/ads Microsoft shows(or showed in the past) on Windows to try to make Edge the default browser, like fullscreen ads, permanent "recommendations", warnings before installing other browsers and others, making the use of other browsers less likely for people without much computer knowledge.

Those without that much computer knowledge would have just used whatever browser the OS comes with. Those who do install the browser of their choice would at least some some basic computer knowledge, and changing to a default browser won't be that much of a problem.

[dizmo]

I can't help but think; it's 2021. It's not at all hard to install a new browser, and really, everyone knows how. I don't see why this is a big enough deal to be news worthy.

 

[LAwLz]

35 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

What I meant was as if users are annoyed at Microsoft for making it so difficult to switch to the default browsers of their choice and that Mozilla has to come into save the day, when all users have to do is just make a few clicks. how is that difficult?

Those without that much computer knowledge would have just used whatever browser the OS comes with. Those who do install the browser of their choice would at least some some basic computer knowledge, and changing to a default browser won't be that much of a problem.

Stop excusing dark patterns and shitty behavior.

 

The users should be in control over their computers. An OS that is designed to make things difficult in order to trap users is bad.

I think the open letter Mozilla wrote in 2015 puts it pretty well.

 

 

12 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I can't help but think; it's 2021. It's not at all hard to install a new browser, and really, everyone knows how. I don't see why this is a big enough deal to be news worthy.

I think it's news worthy because Mozilla had to reverse engineer the special method Microsoft has created that sets Edge as the default browser.

Mozilla essentially bypasses something Microsoft classifies as a "security feature" (because apparently it is a security risk to change the default browser, unless it is being changed to Edge of course).

[NumLock21]

7 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

Stop excusing dark patterns and shitty behavior.

 

The users should be in control over their computers. An OS that is designed to make things difficult in order to trap users is bad.

I think the open letter Mozilla wrote in 2015 puts it pretty well.

 

 

I think it's news worthy because Mozilla had to reverse engineer the special method Microsoft has created that sets Edge as the default browser.

Mozilla essentially bypasses something Microsoft classifies as a "security feature" (because apparently it is a security risk to change the default browser, unless it is being changed to Edge of course).

How is a few simple clicks shitty behavior?

Perhaps Mozilla should also do that with Apple and their default Safari browser

[LAwLz]

5 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

How is a few simple clicks shitty behavior?

Perhaps Mozilla should also do that with Apple and their default Safari browser

Because it makes it more difficult than it has to be in an attempt to discourage people from carrying out the actions they want.

If I intentionally punctured the tires on your car in an attempt to get you fired from your job (by making you late), wouldn't that be a shitty thing to do? By your logic, it's not a shitty thing to do because you could just take the bike to work. Sure I made it more difficult for you, but apparently that's OK to do as long as I don't make it impossible.