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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...
Commenting on reddit is so much faster and safer.
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
The issue isn't What Microsoft did, but how they did it. Microsoft has the right to advertise their browser, however to intercept a on call to run a program and do a particular action because it is a competitors product is just bad form.
That would be like Linux putting an alert because you ran some non-gpl code in the OS. and you are getting a lecture on how Closed Source Software is so bad.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
If you open Edge and search ..... using Bing
Have gnu, will travel.
that os is the nastiest one that the human race ever used, lets just hope that this shit will be written in history books as the big turn over for the computer field in general - microsoft - no one wants your crappy code - go die already
Is Edge really faster/better/cheaper? Or is that statement fake propaganda?
... and close the window. No reason for a freakout here.
It's just one more fucking straw on the anitconsumer camel's back. This is bad behaviour - admit it as such. They've made the OS more of a pain to use specifically to promote their own product, and who's to say it will stop here? How many popups do you want? Because if we *don't* make a fuss then you can be damn sure they will try other shit too and make everyone's lives just that bit worse.
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?
Problem solved.
2. Give up games and a whole host of creativity / specialist software that isn't available for Linux. I love Linux, but no, problem not fucking solved.
You have a choice of only 2 operating systems for generic PCs, and that is hardly a healthy place to exercise your power as a consumer.
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.
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How much shit are willing to put up with before you are willing to leave Windows? FFS!
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Well, that's you. Good for you! But there are lots of users who aren't you, and who will take Microsoft's word for it. This kind of tactic works. Very very well. It has worked for Google, it has worked for Safari, and it will work for Edge. Even if it doesn't work on you.
That would be like Linux putting an alert because you ran some non-gpl code in the OS. and you are getting a lecture on how Closed Source Software is so bad.
$ cat /proc/sys/kernel/tainted
12288
While it's not as blatant, Linux (actual Linux, the kernel) does alert users when using non-gpl code in the kernel. It also prints a message during boot, which can be seen via dmesg after boot.
Problem solved.
So how do I then bill my client for the Windows 10 based work that they want me to do? And no, there are no FOSS equivalents for the work I do and there never will be - so don't even think about trying that argument out on me.
Saying the solution is to simply uninstall MS software is naive and immature.
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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.
It's still part of Windows 10, and is considered the best browser to use to download a better browser.
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.
Continually letting Microsoft violate your anus because you won't take a stand is naive immature and shows what a coward you are. You won't put yourself out to stand up against this sort of bullshit, you're no example for anyone to follow. So just keep swallowing what they're forcing down your throat and they'll never change a goddamned thing. Be sure to enjoy a world where you pay for a computer that you have zero control over and no say in how it's actually used because shit companies like Microsoft take more and more end-user rights away.
And on the tool end this means they have something built into their loader now capable of detecting what application an installer is associated with and consulting a table of actions to take based off that. Once that capability is there, it is gonna be hard to resist adding more cases to it.
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.
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.
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?
Continually letting Microsoft violate your anus because you won't take a stand is naive immature and shows what a coward you are. You won't put yourself out to stand up against this sort of bullshit, you're no example for anyone to follow. So just keep swallowing what they're forcing down your throat and they'll never change a goddamned thing. Be sure to enjoy a world where you pay for a computer that you have zero control over and no say in how it's actually used because shit companies like Microsoft take more and more end-user rights away.
Ahh I see .. abuse only and no attempt at a rational argument - the epitome of immature.
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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!
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
. Be sure to enjoy a world where you pay for a computer that you have zero control over and no say in how it's actually used because shit companies like Microsoft take more and more end-user rights away.
Guess your reading comprehension is garbage and/or you just conveniently skipped over that. Go fuck yourself, troll.
Windows 10 is malware.That fact has been known for a few years.
The remedy is simple : Just use Linux.
aaaaaaa
This is Microsoft we are talking about - the epitome of despicable when it comes to for-profit organizations.
. Be sure to enjoy a world where you pay for a computer that you have zero control over and no say in how it's actually used because shit companies like Microsoft take more and more end-user rights away.
Guess your reading comprehension is garbage and/or you just conveniently skipped over that. Go fuck yourself, troll.
Doubling up on the abuse I see .. so classy!
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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.
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!".
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
Does the same thing happen if you go to install other application that Microsoft has applications for such as LibreOffice?
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.
You mean "we who now mock", because I got into your unpatched system ages ago.
Thanks, btw.
I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
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.
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.
That would be like Linux putting an alert because you ran some non-gpl code in the OS. and you are getting a lecture on how Closed Source Software is so bad.
You mean like how the dmesg output on a system with nvidia drivers whines about the kernel being tainted? ;)
"Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
You mean like how the dmesg output on a system with nvidia drivers whines about the kernel being tainted? ;)
You mean that thing that doesn't pop up when you try to launch an application, that most users will never even notice? No. Nothing like that.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Yeah, you really proved him wrong there. But maybe he likes his anus violating. Perhaps he actually wants some of the value adding features that Microsoft offer. Perhaps there's a balance to be sought.
You aren't helping find it. You're just being abusive.
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.