"Install Silverlight" modal dialogs on every msdn library page

Frank Hileman
VG.net

Everytime I visit an MSDN library page online I get a modal popup asking me to install Silverlight. Which serves no purpose for reading html documentation. Am I the only one going nuts with these pop-ups? Everyone else just swallows the pill and installs it?

I don't need more activex controls, more unmanaged code with unknown vulnerabilities and constant patches. I don't like flash advertisements; silverlight advertisements sound equally bad. Please Microsoft stop these pop ups.

andur

Yeah those are really annoying. Microsoft needs to either stop doing that, or store a cookie or something saying that I've refused to download it and stop prompting me. Especially, when silverlight is not needed at all for viewing the page.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

I think there is a Greasemonkey script to shuts them up for good. Personally I installed it, but I am a bit worried about the increased attack vector I just added to my machine.

W3bbo
The Master of Baiters

Bass wrote:
I think there is a Greasemonkey script to shuts them up for good. Personally I installed it, but I am a bit worried about the increased attack vector I just added to my machine.

You don't even need Greasemonkey, just AdBlock it.

harumscarum
out of memory

No I go nuts. I may be on a VM or another laptop and get prompted. Pain in the arse.

grassBlade

Personally, I would like an "accept activeX from 'domain/1st party'" option for my settings. (Or, did I miss something in the somewhat convoluted options window?)

As it stands, I either use FF for my surfing or a 'no-cookie, no-activeX/plug-in' IE

Frank Hileman
VG.net

This annoying as heck popup happens before the activex installer. I believe it is javascript. If anyone from Microsoft is listening, you are actively (activexly) destroying goodwill among developers. There are plenty of people that for some strange reason, do not want crapware shoved down their throats.

Frank Hileman
VG.net

Is there a simple way to block the popup?

JChung2006

Install Silverlight? Smiley

Or turn off JavaScript for the site. The downlevel experience, while not optimal, especially for the Library, is still usable.

Frank Hileman
VG.net

ActiveX controls are a security nightmare. I just read about a bunch of vulnerabilities discovered in Flash. On top of the security problem, flash displays dancing people asking me to refinance a mortgage (annoying advertisements). I don't see how installing silverlight is a solution -- the solution is to stop these pop ups, or persuade companies not to be so hostile with modal dialogs.

PaoloM
Hypermediocrity

Frank Hileman wrote:
ActiveX controls are a security nightmare. I just read about a bunch of vulnerabilities discovered in Flash. On top of the security problem, flash displays dancing people asking me to refinance a mortgage (annoying advertisements). I don't see how installing silverlight is a solution -- the solution is to stop these pop ups, or persuade companies not to be so hostile with modal dialogs.

Have you thought about disabling Flash?

evildictaitor
if( !succeed( try() ) ) { while(true) try(); }

PaoloM wrote:

Frank Hileman wrote:ActiveX controls are a security nightmare. I just read about a bunch of vulnerabilities discovered in Flash. On top of the security problem, flash displays dancing people asking me to refinance a mortgage (annoying advertisements). I don't see how installing silverlight is a solution -- the solution is to stop these pop ups, or persuade companies not to be so hostile with modal dialogs.

Have you thought about disabling Flash?

Or install Firefox/AdBlock and avoid going to websites and limit your browing to the safe side of the internet which doesn't have people trying to total your computer or steal your creditcard.

Frank Hileman
VG.net

In IE, I can easily disable Flash, and enable it on the rare occasion it performs useful task. But I cannot fix the javascript "install silverlight" pop-ups on all msdn and related websites. Yes, Firefox will do the trick! Microsoft, see how your hostile modal dialogs drive people away from IE!

I did a google search and found many people angry about this. It seems like a sleazy way to increase installation statistics. Many people have flash installed, but the vast majority of flash downloads are blocked either by corporate firewalls, or client software. The same will happen to silverlight. Installation statistics are meaningless.

&quot;Install Silverlight&quot; modal dialogs on every msdn library page