Why would they want to put something like that in the .NET framework?
Everytime you run Windows Update, either automated or manually, a full list of of the installed software and hardware on your system is send to MS. It's not exactly new knowledge:
http://www.spywareinfoforum.info/newsletter/archives/march-2003/10.php

I've been running Windows XP since December 2001. One of the first things I always ran after installing it or getting a new pc was xp-AntiSpy. I always considered it a sad thing having to need a tool like that.

I assume everything i do is being watched and don't care. I also think that life is worth living no matter the cost. If you're unhappy just stop doing what makes you unhappy and if that's people trying to spy on you then stop using the internet.

From that software's about page:

"For example, there’s a service running in the background which is called ‘Automatic Updates’. I don’t know what this service transfers from my machine to other machines on the internet, especially the MS ones. So I play it safe and disable such functions."

Please do anyone on the internet a favour and uninstall that POS and start updating your Windows box again before I come to your house and bash your head in because of all the spam emails your little botnet member is generating (one of the most possible cases).

This was brought to you by a bad bad morning arguing about the importance of updates and restarting your fucking machine if they ask you to.

What do you want next? Upgrading my IE 6?! Never I say!

I hope you read the rest of of the text too. Even though I probably hasn't been updated for years.

Both the biggest security threat and best available security is the user behind the pc.

I do have automatic updates disabled as MS occassionally thinks it's okay to not properly test them. That happened to result in my pc not being able to use the internet anymore. I had to manually uninstall the Windows update responsible. The 2nd time this happened I was away for a couple of days, so they fixed it before I ran into it. The 3rd time I avoided it by waiting a few days with auto updates. I now wait a few days before installing updates.
With exception of Windows and notepad I hardly use MS software and I avoid programs like Adobe Acrobat.
Not visiting sites offering illegal content, especially software, adds to a low risk profile.
I do run a few anti spyware apps from time to time, have SpyBot's teatimer always active, have an up-to-date antivirus and use a firewall.

You should, unless you like antiques :p
Your browser changes from ancient to a bit old, based upon IE 8 which is the latest I can run on XP.

Internet Classic is annoying enough without signing up with Crim-Net. XD

In any situation that anyone is connected or networked to something else - nothing is private.

Either way with so many outgoing and incoming connections on people's computers .NET is the least of anyone's worries - Santa Clause might be watching.

It just irks me that sometimes I have PC issues because all the stupid espionage games people are fooling themselves with inadvertently impeding what I'm doing.

O.o

Honestly dude, lay of the crank. That shit makes you paranoid.

I'd much rather worry about ACTUAL gov't/etc attempts at spying myself.

Ok, I am in the minority here, but then I usually am. I am very keen on internet privacy. However I see two key types.

1. Companies knowing about the configuration of my PC: This I am not too bothered about. First of all, my PC, hard drive, and just about every configurably identifiable thing is named after computer characters. So the fact that Mokei Chang has a copy of LBA installed doesn't bother me. The only way I can see to link this information back to me, is with co-operation from ISPs to link my IP address to me.

2. Companies knowing about me: I don't mind them knowing my name, that should be pretty apparent by my obvious username (though I did expect when I first gogged up to be able to configure a forum name). I don't like them knowing that I bought a pizza on tuesday, that I like sci-fi, or that I have a wierd fetish for grapefruit pornography (at least one of those is true). I find that intrusive. When I go somewhere I haven't been before, I expect to be greeted and asked politely my preferences for whatever it is I'm purchasing, just as I would in a real life shop. If next time I walked into a supermarket the checkout attendant looked at me and said "So, more grapefruits huh? You dirty man", I'd be pretty pissed off.

It's just a matter of preference, some people like to be all cool and googly saying "hey I've nothing to hide, I'm an open book". I'm more of the attitude, "They're my grapefruits, I've paid for them, that's all I wanted from you, now piss off!".

What information would governments have to spy for that they would not already know?

Point them at the steam forums, it will erase all their data.

I bet the guys monitoring that place have a short career before they contemplate putting a bullet through their heads.

Why would they care?

After thirty of minutes of sitting there listening to my thoughts the person doing so would wish they hadn't and it's going to take several years of excessive showering for them to feel clean again.