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Microsoft Targets Chrome Users With Windows 10 Pop-up Ad (pcmag.com)

Posted by msmash on from the we-will-never-change dept.

Google Chrome users on Windows 10 are apparently being treated to a new experience: a pop-up ad. From a PCMag report: If you have Chrome installed and the icon present on the Windows Taskbar, chances are you're going to start seeing a pop-up advert appear suggesting you install Microsoft's Personal Shopping Assistant Chrome extension. Microsoft touts it as "Your smart shopping cart across the web." Opting to install the extension results in Microsoft monitoring which products you've searched for and viewed while using Chrome, and then offering to compare those products to find the best price. There's also alerts when prices change, and the ability to track products across all your devices. Of course, Microsoft will make money if you opt to purchase any products using the Assistant.

4 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Been happening for weeks now by The-Ixian · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have all major browsers installed on my Windows 10 desktop at home. I use them for different purposes.

    Whenever I launch Firefox or Chrome, I get a tooltip style pop-up above the Edge icon on the task bar which states that Edge is some % more secure than whatever browser I am launching.

    It would do it every time too... not just on the first launch. Because of this, I unpinned Edge from the task bar... I think you could also turn off a setting but unpinning worked... so I didn't look further.

    Pretty annoying. I also am pestered by ads in Bing search results to use Edge. It's like I am being punished for living in the MS ecosystem....

    The thing is Google is no better. Every time I go to one of their properties in a non-Chrome browser, I get pestered to use Chrome....

    It's just a new level of crap I have to ignore.

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    1. Re:Been happening for weeks now by Ayanami_R · · Score: 4, Informative

      I see no difference. Both are using their products to advertise their own stuff, and both are not necessary for survival.

      The "it's not as bad because it's not an OS" is one of the poorest excuses I have encountered for anything.

      --
      "Science is the power of man"
  2. Re:Wait who's computer is it again? by JoeMerchant · · Score: 5, Informative

    My wife is also getting notices from somewhere in Windows 10 that her Chrome is eating up her battery and using Edge would reduce battery consumption by 50%.

  3. Re:How do I block this? by thegarbz · · Score: 4, Informative

    That is my only question. How do I block this? I see a dire need for a subscription service that stays on top of blocking all the shit that MS seems to think that they can infest our computers with.

    Settings > System > Notifications and Actions > "Get tips, tricks and suggestions as you use Windows" to Off

    You can send me $5/month to my Paypal account linked to my Slashdot Email if it makes the experience more fulfilling for you.