The new Firefox shows a checkbox — checked by default — when you install it, asking if you want to make it your default browser. This checkbox previously appeared only when you launched the browser, not when you installed it.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes calls this “sneaky“, and discussion rages. Web consensus seems to be split between “any fool can uncheck a checkbox” and “Firefox becoming everyone’s default browser would be a fine thing.”

Elsewhere, the Register is alarmed about a Mozilla project to gather “anonymised data on a voluntary basis”.

Mozilla’s Mike Beltzner attempts to dispel the kerfuffle.

See Also:

• Mozilla Firefox 3 Release Candidate 1 is Out