Microsoft to Start Automatic Upgrades on Internet Explorer

From PC World: Microsoft will silently upgrade Internet Explorer starting next month, arguing that taking the responsibility out of the hands of users will keep the Web safer.

The move is an acknowledgement by Microsoft that Google's model -- its Chrome browser has updated in the background without user involvement since it debuted more than three years ago -- is the right one.

"It's the future ... for all software," said Andrew Storms, director of security operations at nCircle Security. "At this point, at least in the consumer space, people are expecting software to be up to date, and for it to do it itself."

Microsoft must agree. Beginning in January it will roll out automatic upgrades of IE to the newest version suitable for a user's version of Windows. Windows XP users still on IE6 or IE7, for example, will be updated to IE8; Windows Vista or Windows 7 users running IE7 or IE8 will be pushed to IE9.

Previously, Microsoft has asked for user permission before upgrading IE from one version to the next, even if Windows' automatic updates are enabled.

The company will debut the new practice in Australia and Brazil next month, then expand the program gradually to other markets. Microsoft declined today to set a timetable for U.S. users.

"I think auto-updating is a great step in the right direction for Microsoft," said Wolfgang Kandek, chief technology officer at Qualys, and someone who has urged Microsoft to institute silent upgrades since 2009. "I see this as an acknowledgement that auto-updating has worked very well, at least as far as a single component, like a browser, goes."

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