Subj : Microsoft Edge might have just been caught red-handed helping its
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Tue Jan 30 2024 16:30:04

Microsoft Edge might have just been caught red-handed helping itself to 
Google Chrome user data

Date:
Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:27:29 +0000

Description:
Microsoft faces backlash for possibly taking user data from Google Chrome 
without permission, testing user patience and privacy boundaries.

FULL STORY
======================================================================

Microsoft has had a history of implementing moves that leave users at best 
confused, and at worst very annoyed, and it looks like becoming the worlds 
most valuable company by market cap hasnt discouraged it in the slightest. 

This time, Microsoft is being accused of siphoning data from browsers made by 
other tech companies. Apparently, having its own proprietary browser, 
Microsoft Edge , and all the user data it accumulates with that isnt enough. 

 Neowin reports that users are angered because Microsoft is being accused of 
not requesting permission to take data like opened tabs and more from Google 
Chrome . Like Google Chrome itself and other browsers, Edge also has a 
feature where you can migrate and sync your data and saved information from 
another browser, allowing you to switch more easily. 

When you first download and set up Edge, youll be asked if youd like to 
permit Edge to access this information and do this, but is otherwise turned 
off by default. Bug or intentional data plucking? 

This migration option is fairly commonplace, but heres where the problem 
comes in: Edge is seemingly reaching in and nabbing that kind of data from 
Chrome (if you have both installed) even when youve not given it the 
permission to do so. 

 The Verges Tom Warren very explicitly called Microsoft out for doing just 
that , explaining how after installing a Windows 11 update and rebooting his 
PC, Microsoft Edge opened with his Google Chrome tabs from his last session 
even though he didnt authorize Edge to do that. 

He investigated the matter, found that this happened on two devices, and then 
went to X (formerly Twitter) to reach out and see if others had shared his 
experience. Turns out, this wasnt an isolated incident as many users echoed 
Warrens experience. I installed the latest Windows 11 update (KB5034204) and 
it rebooted and automatically opened Microsoft Edge with all the Chrome tabs 
I had open before installing the update  couldn't believe my eyes. Anyone 
else had this? January 24, 2024 See more 

However, Neowin attempted to replicate this scenario on PC and on virtual 
machines, but was unsuccessful. Its currently unclear if this was a bug or an 
intentional move. So far, Microsoft hasnt clarified this so Ive reached out 
to get a comment on the situation, and I will update this story when I hear 
back. 

If this is indeed intentional, then its a pretty egregious overstepping of 
user privacy, and Microsoft is in danger of upsetting a lot of its users with 
the move. Users have already been frustrated and annoyed with Microsofts 
behavior, like insistently questioning why users want to download Google 
Chrome , and continuously bugging users to transition to using Microsoft Edge 
and Bing . 

Developments like this will no doubt continue to annoy users, which 
considering that Microsoft wants to be the go-to AI-assisted software 
powerhouse (e.g. with the introduction of Windows Copilot ), does not bode 
well. On the other hand, if this is an innocent bug, Microsoft should still 
quickly move to address and fix the issue, before it loses any more goodwill. 
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... Hey Microsoft, stop dumping Edge shortcuts on my 
desktop - I'm never going to use it Can AI help Arc browser take on Google 
Chrome or Microsoft Edge? Edge vs Chrome: Heres why theres only one winner 
for productivity fans



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/browsers/microsoft-edge-might-have-just-be
en-caught-red-handed-helping-itself-to-google-chrome-user-data


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
 * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)

.