Ask HN: Is this legal? Windows warning when launching the Firefox installer

32 points by mrich 2 years ago | 7 comments

Windows 10 warns when launching the Firefox installer, suggests using MS Edge instead:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/windows-10-warns-me-use-microsoft-verified-app

This is a violation of implied fitness. You want your OS to respond predictably and without unforeseen differences.

This demonstrates that the OS is operating on behalf of MS and not the user. The OS performs as MS dictates. This is a violation of trust.

PaulKeeble 2 years ago |

Highly likely to become an antitrust issue in the future. Microsoft learnt nothing from the last time the EU fined them.

solardev 2 years ago | |

They learned it's fine to just keep doing it

farseer 2 years ago | | |

They learned it's (a small) fine to just keep doing it

rc5150 2 years ago |

Sure it's legal, it's a side effect of "S Mode", their absolutely infuriating safety protocol that locks down just about every useful feature of Windows. A lot of manufacturers enable it during initial installation prior to sale. You have the option to turn it off and things run normally.

joshxyz 2 years ago |

same when youre at chrome download page.

its fricken hilarious and unbelievable but its real.

riddley 2 years ago |

But... But.... They're the New Microsoft!!! /s