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Comment by boomboomsubban | Hacker News Reader

The proposed reason is nuts. It would basically be Microsoft saying "we set so many random flags to change the default browser to Edge, it was easier to comply with the law by hard locking the ability to change the default browser than to go through and remove them all."

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They haven't stopped users from changing their default browser by the proper explicit mechanism in Windows (default applications.) They've stopped shitferret malware from switching it, or yes, other browsers. If I want to change my browser, I'll do it myself.

I'm sure HN users are technically competent enough to change the default browser setting. Not so sure about the average Windows user though...

The original post is about someone changing their default browser themselves, and this new system blocks it.

It's doubtful to me that this is due to malware.

Many malware hijack search settings. However, very few hijack default browsers themselves these days. In the past (10 years ago) it was much more common.

Furthermore, I don't know of many malware that touch the .PDF file extension associations, and there are plenty of other associations that would be better to hijack.

Feels more like a sloppy fix to comply with EU's DMA.

The cynical explanation is that it blocks all software from making the change, including other browsers.

Including Firefox who previously bypassed it:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/13/22671182/mozilla-default-...

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