Microsoft throttles back stealth 'make IE8 your default browser'

Responding to widespread complaints, Microsoft has made it less likely that Internet Explorer 8 will become the default browser against the user's wishes.

Previously, installing the browser offered an 'express setting' that would make IE8 the default browser without asking, although the custom settings route explicitly asked. Now the express settings will ask, too, Microsoft announced on Thursday on its IEBlog.

"IE will never install, or become the default browser without your explicit consent. However, we heard a lot of feedback from a lot of different people and groups and decided to make the user choice of the default browser even more explicit," Microsoft said.

Those who already have IE8 set as default will not see the screen.

The change will not be built into the regular IE8 installation, but instead will arrive as an update during the process beginning mid-August. The IE8 installer asks users if they want to check for updates when they install, and 90 percent do so, Microsoft said.

Mozilla chief executive John Lilly, praised the move. "Good change: Microsoft does the right thing (finally) with IE8 updater," he said in a Twitter post on Thursday.

Original article: Microsoft eases back on IE 8 default from CNET News.com