Pay attention! Newly released (on 15th), Internet Explorer (IE7) has some bugs where user set default search provider is ignored and other search gets remained instead.

IE7 Korean Edition allows end user to choose a preferred search provider. Microsoft’s MSN is embedded as default search but the end user can add a search provider to the search box from any of 11 others offered with just two to three clicks.

However, there were several cases where after default provider was changed; one particular search engine remained upon reopening browser or using keyword search.

In case the end user fails to install a particular toolbar offered by Korean portals, change made from MSN Search to others (Naver, Daum, Yahoo) on IE7 did not take effect when browser was reopened.

"IE7 is designed to accept changes to default provider made by the end user. In regard to those incidents with MSN Search remained as default provider could be due to conflicts within computer registry." addressed, Junsuk Park, director of MS Korea Client Business Group.

Installing Naver's toolbar, make sure to check End user agreement
Beside these known cases, some of the complaints were also pointed out by internet users where Naver’s Search engine popping up as a default search window when the browser was reopened.

One end user named 'clo4u' complained "Naver is using toolbar to illegally slip in their site to be default search window. I'm certain other site was set as the default search but all the sudden Naver popped up. Currently I’m using several toolbars offered by other search providers but Naver’s toolbar modified my settings without my consent."

This claim by above user is true. Upon executing modification to default search, any PC that had various toolbars (including Naver’s) did not accept the change made and selected Naver’s Search. This was evident as the browser was reopened after the modification or upon query on keyword search.

End user agreement for setting Naver as IE7 default search engine

Reason why this occurs is because when the Naver’s toolbar (Ver.3.0) was being installed, the installer failed to uncheck the box that asks the end user to agree setting Naver Search as a default search in Internet Explorer, display a notification upon change to default setting.

Usually when the end users install, they do not pay too much attention on these kinds of instructions and skip to very next step. And because of that, some have pointed out that these kinds of steps have to be made more noticeable to the end users.

This kind of end user agreement is found only with Naver Toolbar 3.0 upgrade and Google presently. The Google did not make the top 20 site and therefore did not get in the Korean Edition of IE7. So Naver is the only case actually applying to the IE7 issue currently.

"Microsoft will remain in neutral position as to any marketing strategies that are run by search providers. However, the 'End user agreement' should be provided with a clear, discernable approach." explained, Yoonsup Song, MS Korea Windows Client PM.

Naver's Application Business team leader Kyungran Lee stressed, "We added a check mark to prevent any download of malicious codes" and "Current Beta version will be replaced with IE7 optimized toolbar version that will reflect to show clear indications for the end users."

It seems others will soon follow the Naver’s approach and also introduce updated toolbars to lure users to set IE7 default search setting in their favor.

An affiliate from Empas pointed out "We plan to make necessary steps so Empas can be set to default search in IE7 when running toolbar upgrade."