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Microsoft is Interrupting Chrome and Firefox Installations To Promote Its Edge Browser in the Newest Windows 10 Build (betanews.com)
An anonymous reader shares a report: If you open Edge and search for "Chrome" or "Firefox" using Bing, Edge's default search engine, you'll be presented with a massive banner informing you that "Microsoft Edge is the faster, safer browser on Windows 10 and is already installed on your PC." Four boxes below then show you how Edge lets you browse longer, and faster, offers built-in protection and built-in assistance. If that doesn't stop you, then Microsoft has a new, much nastier trick up its sleeve -- when you go to install Firefox or Chrome it intercepts the action and pops up a window promoting Edge with the same line about how its browser is faster and safer. It then gives you a blue button to click to open Edge, or a grey one you can click to install the browser you actually want to use. Oh, and this window will keep appearing, unless you go into Settings and stop Windows 10 from offering you app "recommendations."
UPDATE (9/15/18): "After massive backlash by users against this move, Microsoft has finally decided to eliminate the warning message," reports Neowin.
Further reading: Creator of Opera Says Google Deliberately Undermined His New Vivaldi Web Browser.
UPDATE (9/15/18): "After massive backlash by users against this move, Microsoft has finally decided to eliminate the warning message," reports Neowin.
Further reading: Creator of Opera Says Google Deliberately Undermined His New Vivaldi Web Browser.
Chrome does the same thing when you open IE/Edge and navigate to google.com.
You must gather your party before venturing forth.
The cockblocking of competing products.
Every time I think Windows 10 can't get more insufferable, Microsoft reaches a new low. I guess they solved the malware problem - by baking the malware into the OS.
While, unfortunately, I have to use one Windows 10 system in my office, fortunately it's the only one, and anything else is either Windows 7 or Linux. None of my personal machines have the misfortune of using 10, and as long as they keep doing things like this, none will.
Oh, no! You have walked into the slavering fangs of a lurking grue!
Almost as if MS was slapped down for ... anti-competitive behavior under this same topic: browser integration into the OS.
Nah. I must be having deja-vu again...
Window 10 - Microsoft's most successful crappy OS.
Commenting on reddit is so much faster and safer.
... and close the window. No reason for a freakout here.
This is easy to fix once you understand the malware's vector. Almost all of Microsoft's malware (and it realy is true for this particular one) requires that you run Windows, or else the malware doesn't actually get executed. If you don't run Windows, none of these problems actually exist for you.
*shrug* I install Chrome[cast] and FireFox and have never seen anything interrupting from Microsoft. But then, I use Linux... and don't use Microsoft. That's my choice.
This thing described above is only a problem for those who have chosen Microsoft or failed-to-choose-otherwise.
If you chose Microsoft, go look in the mirror -- that person there is the reason you're getting these messages.
If you want to blame Microsoft after YOU WENT AND CHOSE THEM and STUCK WITH THEM and now are MAKING EXCUSES FOR WHY YOU MUST STICK WITH THEM... you're the problem.
Enjoy.
E
I made the switch to Linux completely because of the recent updates to Windows. I finally got frustrated enough with dealing with it that both work and home are now completely Linux based, even for my kids. I've in some way been using Linux for years but kept Windows on my work laptops since we entirely based on Active Directory, Exchange and Sharepoint. I always kept Windows at home because a majority of my time was spent either gaming or just watching Netflix so there was never really any motivation to change. Windows 10 gave me the push to change though. A majority of the games I get from Steam are on linux. I play Minecraft with my daughters without issue. Netflix runs fine. RDP works fine for any server work I need to accomplish at work. I know it's cliche and no one really cares that a few users switch, but I was somewhat of a "fan" of Microsoft for awhile. Windows 10 completely destroyed that. Microsoft will continue to hold the market share and there's no worry that they are pissing off their users because they don't have to care. I just wonder if they will ever piss enough people off that someone will step up with a truly viable alternative. For now I'll happily keep Manjaro running (yes, flame on Arch users!)
Sent from my TARDIS
Problem solved.
Is this an anticompetitive behavior/strategy thus illegal?
I am talking about the interruption during the actual installation on your computer. It not only intercepts and explicit user action, it also presents highly suggestible visual cues urging the consumer to change their mind and actions. This wholly undermines their competitors' products by using their position as the OS vendor to push their own software which is in direct competition with other rivals' products.
If you open Edge and search ..... using Bing
Have gnu, will travel.
Is Edge really faster/better/cheaper? Or is that statement fake propaganda?
Microsoft is VERY poorly managed, in my opinion. My previous comment: Microsoft managers lack social ability, IMO.
Can you be the target of a court case if you supply Windows 10 computers without getting a signed agreement that the customer knows Microsoft has access to everything on the computers? Windows 10 is possibly the worst spyware ever made. "Buried in the service agreement is permission to poke through everything on your PC." (Aug. 4, 2015)
As corporations have more and more rights to roll over individuals rights of privacy and freedom of harassment with impunity and politicians are in their pocket!
Will there ever be an end to this trend?
I remember a time when Windows was just a OS that was able to run almost any software out there and never judged about what that was. Now it’s seems if it’s not developed by Microsoft or offered in its App Store it must be bad. Thing is these sort of irritations are getting more frequent and more aggressive. It’s pretty clear the harder Microsoft pushes the harder the user pushes back.
At this point it is impossible to feel sorry for anyone still using Windows 10. Or Facebook for that matter.
They are clearly OK with whatever shit gets shoveled down their throats. It isn't like this behavior is something new we should all be shocked about.
Sort of OT But it really annoys me when I get pop-ups on Windows 10 asking me to rate their Calculator App. Seriously .. this happens.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Who uses Bing in 2018?
How much shit are willing to put up with before you are willing to leave Windows? FFS!
This sig intentionally left blank.
...they can continue to do evil things.
There is currently only one Google result for "microsoft edge is evil". Time to correct that "problem". Edge is a failed browser, people remember IE, and don't want its new "incarnation" so are ignoring it droves. If only Mozilla wasn't evil either by murdering XUL. Luckily the hoarde of basilisks and waterfoxes have saved XUL.
Too many things you need to disable in Settings. And good lucking finding what you need to disable in Settings.
It's still part of Windows 10, and is considered the best browser to use to download a better browser.
Edge browser doesn't work in Ubuntu.
So that in Ubuntu, Chrome or Firefox are ideal.
Why does this seem like deja vu? Probably won't happen with this government though
I don't understand. I thought the purpose in edge was just to provide users a tool to download the web browser they actually wanted to use. Has something changed?
2. Give up games and
In recent news : Valve is integrating Wine capability into their Steam linux client in order to handle exactly *this* specific problem.
Over time, the problem will get lesser.
(Valve indeed needs it, if they want SteamOS to be anything more than a glorified remote streamcasting device and to be instead worthy of a good SteamBox)
(And until then, my extremely subjective suggestion would be to try picking up an out-door hobby and/or a significant other : both could be healthier way to spend leisure time :-P )
a whole host of creativity / specialist software that isn't available for Linux.
Depends on your reliance on specific software.
For some users, a combo of VirtualBox and/or Wine might fill the gap to run *those few applications* while at the same time constricting the mess that is Microsoft Windows to a very small danger level.
(I am lucky enough that this happens to be my case. Might not be everyone's though)
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
Make the ungrateful users hunt the moving Chrome icon across the screen!
Or better, hide it somewhere unspecified, under another name and make the user play hide-n-seek with it.
That will surely make them love Edge more.
"Just Fucking Trust Us"
-- Satya Nadella
You are a grown person. If you used Windows before, you knew what you were getting into. You chose to use it.
It's like being offered a somewhat messy garden, a golden bird cage, or "a dungeon with Hannibal Lecter, that Saw villian and a Tiger in it". And you chose to enter the dungeon... And throw rocks at the tiger.
And now you find it twisted, that we say it was you, who brought this upon you?
This is exactly why I go out of my way to have anything but Windows 10 on my computers. I recently reinstalled my Dell Venue tablet and put Windows 8 on it instead of 10, I would have gone with 7 but it's not as tablet-friendly as 8. I really hate 8, but at least it's not bitching at me for having my own preference on a browser not made by Microsoft. All my other computers are either Windows 7 or Linux.
How is this not abuse of anti-trust laws? Microsoft is abusing its power as the operating system owner to give itself an unfair advantage for promoting bundled software above others.
Microsoft employees: Instead of moderating my comment down, I suggest you get a better job.
Yet another reason to avoid using Edge. Also, it turns out that you can actually get rid of IE now, but, of course, not Edge.
A company with competitive products in the target markets would not have any need to resort to this kind of advertising. The fact that these ads exist is Microsoft's tacit admission that Windows as a consumer product has failed to compete with Google Android and Chrome OS.
I needed a cheap Windows system recently, and I was pleasantly surprised that an old corporate desktop with a Win7 Pro license key still activates under Windows 10. This would never have been allowed when Windows was the primary consumer OS, but those days are long gone.
Microsoft has one choice, and only one, to achieve significant penetration with Edge: open the source. There is nothing else that will help - nothing.
do we give MS a good solid kick in the nuts? Let's replace the anti-competitive, forced obsolescence, charge-what-we-want monopolistic, change-where-stuff-is-so-it-looks-like-we-added-value-in-an-update piece of crap already.
Someone needs to open a shelter for battered Windows users where they can begin to heal and realize that they don't have to stay in an abusive relationship.
Is that really the perception Microsoft wants to convey here?
... and I love it when we get free money. Thanks Microsoft.
I would love to see Jon Stewart do one of his great skits where he looks at the camera and says: Hey Microsoft, come over there to camera 3.
In a low voice he would say - Just a hint for you, when you've pissed off your customers enough to the point where they don't trust you any longer, you might want to stop adding fuel to the fire. Maybe consider reversing the direction a bit, ya know, so you can return to the non-evil level.
Why do people still run Windows? It's such a horrible operating system, in terms of its lack of stability and sluggishness especially over time. Does Microsoft need to give people even more reasons like this one to dump Windows? Just move on: Linux, Chrome OS, MacOS. Try any of those (or just about anything else), and you will never go back to Windows again.
The next step after installing Chrome is to use it to download Fedora.
I was at the big M during the anti-trust days. Even though I was "them" at the time I thought what that did deserved at least the slap they got. Looking back they should have been broken up and I think these days Google and a host of other tech companies need to be similarly carved up.
But bringing back basically trying to prevent the installation of a 3rd party browser, that is just too funny. How quickly the past is forgotten. All I can say is good luck with that Microsoft! Maybe start to claim it is for "security", oh, then follow it with an "opt in" to allow Microsoft to have all your PC's data sent to them "to improve your experience!". Yeah, folks will buy that!
How many idiots are there to follow the recommendation? I mean, the user is installing chrome or firefox for a reason.
I really wish Google and Microsoft would stop one-upping each other on how obnoxiously they can nag users to try the other guys offerings. GO AWAY.
I will choose my browser. You don't get a say. Make the better browser and people will use it. Nag us, and we're likely to turn away from BOTH of them. People don't like to be nagged. Stop it. Offer it, and let it sit there, people will decide on their own.
At the end of the day, does this bull even matter? There's very little difference between the three main browsers in use today: Firefox, Edge, and Chrome.
Is anyone really surprised Microsoft can get the final word in the nag-war, since nearly everyone uses Windows? And what the hell is the point? All the browsers are free, who the fuck cares which one you use, be thankful a person is browsing your website AT ALL. Is there any actual point to nagging users to switch? Browsers themselves don't have ads or anything like that, it's not like there's any special advantage you get from having users use your browser.
"If you open Edge and search for "Chrome" or "Firefox" using Bing,"
Well that's ok then, pretty much nobody will see it.
-Styopa
Every time I load google.com I'm asked to change my homepage.
Every time I go to YouTube I'm asked to download Chrome.
Because I don't login and use InPrivate, I have to keep saying No each time because (by design) my selection is not saved. If I have to login for the browser to remember my selection, then that defeats the purpose.
FUCK YOU GOOGLE, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT ANY BETTER!
Windows 10 is malware.That fact has been known for a few years.
The remedy is simple : Just use Linux.
aaaaaaa
On one hand, after plenty of years of suffering Microsoft products, I hate them with a burning rage.
On the other hand, I fear what Google is becoming and I dread a Chrome monoculture.
I would like a market with several browsers with similar market shares, so in this case I will painfully have to side with Microsoft.
Never change, Slashdot. Always party like it's 2002 and people give a shit about the (lol) "browser wars" still.
... lets you .... longer, and faster
I get this spam all the time
They do it everywhere, including if you tried to change the web browser away from Edge (even if it is to go to IE11), it still says to give Edge a chance.
This is Microsoft we are talking about - the epitome of despicable when it comes to for-profit organizations.
And you get "start paying MS monthly for use of their walled garden to do anything with what used to be YOUR PC"...MSN/AOL/CIS all over again.
When I first posted I was turning off updates for Windows 7 Ultimate because of the forced updates, I said I was doing it because other things would be coming down the pike. I was mocked as paranoid right here. I was told I was leaving myself open for system takeover, 'Who wouldn't want the latest protection?", etc, etc.
I have none of the problems incessantly being talked about with 10 and it is I who now mock.
The consent decree shackling Microsoft after the IE bundling case expired in 2011. At the time it was made, a lot of us complained about it only lasting 9 years, when a similar consent decree against IBM was in place for 40 years.
Anyhow, bottom line is that stopping Microsoft's behavior this time around will require a new DoJ investigation, which if history is any guide will take more than a decade. Given the history, hopefully it'll be done quickly enough or the judges will be willing to grant restraining orders to prevent Edge's market share rising up to 90% as IE did.
I still maintain that the best solution back in the 1990s would've been to break apart Microsoft into two companies - an OS company and an applications company. Then there would've been no reason for the OS (Windows) to favor Edge or Office (ever notice a trial starter version comes with Win 10?) or any other Microsoft application.
it collects too much information on me and my browsing habits, even when I disable everything I can find in the settings.
That's the only problem I have with it for now. If it was secure, like Firefox and derivatives, then I would have no problem using Edge and Edge alone on my Windows machine.
Stop spying, and I will use your browser.
The new Microsoft isn't your father's Microsoft. They lied in court, illegally bundled and sought to undermine rival technology. The new Microsoft does all that and spams you too. Definitely not the same. The old Microsoft never stopped that low.
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
"If Internet Explorer is brave enough to ask to be your default browser, you can be brave enough to ask that girl out!".
Windows 10 was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back and pushed me to finally get rid of my last Windows boxes and go 100% Linux.
Thanks, Microsoft!
...I still use Internet Explorer as my preferred web browser downloading tool on Windows!
My family is still on Windows 7 until 2020. I have about 90% of my regularly played games and apps working on Linux either natively or with wine. Aiming to never have a Windows 10 computer in my house.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
I have been using the 90--day version for a long time (I'm cheap) and its been like that since day one. Why is this news now?
Does the same thing happen if you go to install other application that Microsoft has applications for such as LibreOffice?
Microsoft really loves to be fined by the billions, doesn't it?
I uninstalled 10 and went back to 8.1. In fact I think 7 was more usable. Less unnecessary feature like a voice response system listening in on me all the time. That was just creepy. A built in browser you can't remove after installing the one you want? Not being able to quickly see the name of a file and type at the same time? Windows is a failure top to bottom. They even removed the ability to play DVD to save a rather small license fee.
If this is not in violation of the respective EU laws, I don't know what is.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
Sinner!!! Apps will stick their cock ONLY where the Instruction Manual states as dictated by His Holiness, the CEO. Furthermore, Installation is only sanctioned between an App and an OS. App to App installation is an abomination to the eyes of CEO.
You will burn in Robot Hell.
Ooooh. Before reading TFA I didn't realize there was a way to turn off this obnoxious behavior. Thanks, OP!
Of course, in some future build, I fully expect there to not be a way to turn off M$ product promotion. But at least for now, I can get a little peace.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
Almost as if MS was slapped down for ... anti-competitive behavior under this same topic: browser integration into the OS.
Nah. I must be having deja-vu again...
Would be pretty funny if this had been timed when Microsoft was mandated by law to implement the browser "ballot box" in Europe.
From Wikipedia's page about browserchoice.eu:
"However, Microsoft's obligation to display the Browser Choice screen to Windows users expired in December 2014. The BrowserChoice.eu website was discontinued as early as the next year, showing a notice advising users to "[visit] the websites of web browser vendors directly," before going offline completely. As of August 2018, the site is still offline."
Today's story with this in the backdop shows how the corporation really feels about such delayed and ineffective slap on their ... European... wrist. And how little they'll care about seeing facing others again. Last minute edit: Considering how responsive internet-backed updates are, it can be no coincidence that they are effectively showing scorn for the European fine applied to Google recently. Even if the new interruption practice were chalked up to really ill-timed coincidences, the updates would have been recalled as soon as Google's 4bn fine became public. Yet here we are...
Gentlemen do we have the technology to it better than it was before?
Time to install Linux people!
If you don't like the way a tech company fucks you in the ass, then stop bending over for it. Or, conversely, if you bend over for one of these companies, then you don't have the right to complain when they ram it on home.
It's MS's walled garden. If you don't like it, then go find another one to play in. You have a choice. Exercise it.
there must be a bigger plan here, you are already on their OS, why would they care about the browser you use.
the browser is not the main product of MS; it's windows, office(365) and azure.
which browser you use for 365 or azure shouldn't matter one bit.
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
Seriously, they got fined shitloads of money by the EU for bundling WMP and IE back in the day, yet now they're doing even worse shit and... nothing!
I mean, it comes with a load of bundled shit including office, skype, some candy crush type thing etc., which you can't even uninstall I've discovered (Try it! Uninstall them, then create a new user; BAM they're back again!!!)
And that's not to mention the cycling adverts and other 'live' tiles which I assume are pulling things from god knows where on the 'net, and some of which have been borderline NSFW!
I don't understand how this is acceptable... or why people keep bending over for more! I raged at you all about not boycotting Windows XP because of online activation and now look where you've all gotten us!!
I'm just grateful I don't have to deal with this crap at home...