Why the EU’s “browser ballot” is a bad idea

“After a legal wrangle that’s lasted almost a year, Microsoft
and antitrust investigators from the European Union have signed off
on a ballot screen concept designed to Windows users the
opportunity to download alternatives to Internet Explorer. While I
believe that browser diversification is a good thing, I feel that
approached used here is a flawed one, and will make Windows user
more vulnerable to malware.

“So why is it a bad idea? Well, let’s think about how it’ll
work. Following a Windows Update that will be sent out during the
first quarter 2010, users living in one of the 30 countries in the
European Economic Area (EEA) will be presented with a screen. That
screen will consist of two pages, and on those two pages will be
links to download a dozen browser (I know, a dozen … hard to
come up with that list cold). Users will be encouraged to download
and install third-party applications from websites not controlled
by Microsoft.”

Complete
Story