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Here We Go Again: Microsoft's Popping Up Ads From the Windows 10 Toolbar (pcworld.com)

Posted by msmash on from the being-Microsoft dept.

Mark Hachman, reporting for PCWorld: When Microsoft's Windows 10 deadline passed, many heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that Microsoft's obnoxious popup reminders had finally been laid to rest. Surprise! Microsoft's at it again, reminding users to sign up for Bing Rewards by using Edge, Windows 10's built-in browser. My colleague Brad Chacos was hit by the ad after hours, reported it, and immediately erased Edge from his toolbar. Here's what we know: The popup doesn't seem to appear if you use Edge frequently (Brad does not). Personally, I've never experienced a similar ad, though I use Edge as well as Bing Rewards, meaning there's no need for such an ad to appear. A notification here, a suggestion there: Microsoft's gently slipped in promotions for Office as well as its third-party apps off and on since Windows 10 was launched, and then sneakily reset those options once the Anniversary Update launched last summer. But here's the problem. Brad turned off his ad settings; the Anniversary Update reinstated them. Brad says he turned off the ad settings again -- and once again, Microsoft reinstated them.

6 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. Here we go again by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Funny

    [eats popcorn]

    This just keeps getting better and better. Go Satya!!

    Hopefully, they'll next force full-screen advertising on startup, and periodically during use.

    1. Re:Here we go again by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 3, Funny

      Want to start a betting pool as to how long it'll be before they roll out a forced 'update' that turns Windows 10 into it's own ransomware, too? Imagine this: Clippy's protection racket

  2. Re: Simple by Stuarticus · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't have any real problem with these ads as they are non-intrusive and are often very timely, just the other day I was talking to my wife about anti-virus and an ad for one popped up at just the same time, talk about handy. Now I don't need o search, I just talk about things in range of the microphone and wait for the ad to pop up! -definitelynotshilling

    --
    If you think someone isn't free to have a different definition of "freedom" you may be a tyrant.
  3. Re:And this is a surprise? Why? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 3, Funny

    This pic illustrates very clearly and concisely the general character (or lack thereof) and attitude of the Windows 10 'customer base' of which you speak. Need I say more?

  4. Re:Simple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But here's the problem. Brad turned off his ad settings; the Anniversary Update reinstated them. Brad says he turned off the ad settings again -- and once again, Microsoft reinstated them.

    See? The computer suffers from malware called "Brad" that turns off repeatedly the advertisements on Microsoft's system. Microsoft fixes the symptoms without charge, but if the attack persists, I am pretty sure that the EULA will have a passage somewhere allowing them to deal with the problem posed by Brad more thoroughly before it impacts their ad revenue.

  5. Your files are encrypted..insert credit card to... by Tyr07 · · Score: 3, Funny

    New windows 10 anti-piracy feature to ensure no one has stolen your equipment.

    Secretly encrypts all of your files and then disables access to them. You need to provide your credit card to unlock the files so they can 'verify' the owner of the PC is the correct owner. There's a small security processing charge that goes with it.

    It spreads this secure features via floppy disks, usb drives etc to other system not infe..protected by windows 10.