Is Microsoft installing spyware?

Quite frequently recently when I am online, doing nothing in particular, I will get a message: “There is a problem with this application,” inviting me to send a report to Microsoft, with the option of not sending a report.

I do not send a report and there is nothing wrong with the application I am using — usually it is just Firefox browser.

Today it was Real Player which was not even open. So I am becoming very suspicious of these invitations to send information to Microsoft.

Have any of you experienced this? Do you think (as I do) that Microsoft is either gathering personal information or installing spyware.