Microsoft lays hands on login data: Beware of the new Outlook

You're right it's totally different when Google does the same thing with Gmail.

New Outlook on Mac is terrible - it lacks basic critical functionality such as tabular view (1 line per message) with column sorting by: From, To, Date received, Subject etc. Fortunately old Outlook is still available - I have to switch back after every update.

For GMail people set that up deliberately Outlook pretends to be a desktop app.

“If you are trying to login to IMAP hosted by Google or Fastmail, why should Microsoft need to be contacted let alone given the password?” is how I read the article…

Now, I know the answer is so that you can have push notifications sent to your mobile phone with every IMAP poll Microsoft does on your behalf, but that’s because the architecture of the new Outlook app likely borrows features of the Accompli mobile app they bought and maintained as Outlook mobile. That the desktop app re-uses the same APIs as the mobile app rather than process mail locally makes sense from a code reuse and efficiency standpoint, but really only because your accounts can seamlessly carry over to all your devices.

It’s arguable that the distinction between keeping your password in the cloud and keeping your password local is a security risk. However, if you previously used Outlook.com to check your IMAP email, and maybe this is where the feature derives from, then you already provided your IMAP password to Microsoft on the web. Likewise Google for importing IMAP to Gmail. We do this because it is nicer to get one inbox and one push notification across multiple accounts - when we want cloud providers checking emails for us.

It is less clear why a desktop app would do this unless you opted in to fancier service of some kind - e.g. viewing emails on the web when not at this device, or push notifications to your mobile phone, etc.

If Microsoft wanted to read your emails even with a locally stored and never shared IMAP password, they could still send telemetry derived from the local client to build an advertising profile based on local emails, or to display targeted ads. They don’t technically need your password to read your emails if you are using their email client.

Secure Mail (tm).

Only available on Windows 12 devices with Microsoft-approved software.

Only €99 the first 20 months, then triples. Bundled with Microsoft Oven, Microsoft Fridge, Microsoft Wave, Microsoft Printer, Microsoft TV, Microsoft Sofa.

Never worry with virus again!

the bundle is not guaranteed to work with non-Microsoft Partners, such as Netflix, Steam, Android; companies need to submit for certification their hardware drivers; you can check the Compatibility DB available on the website. You may be downgraded to grayscale 360p if hardware is not verified with the cert level NBBcert 5 stars or another aproved Microsoft partner.

Availability in your country depends on your country subscription to Microsoft DRM-center, plan AA, and adherence to snoop-your-neighbor mutual agreement act 5000. China relations must be at level 304 or inferior, per mututal agreement 497.

To be eligible for support, you have to buy Microsoft Insurance Pack, and only network devices approved by Liberty Party or its subsidiaries are eligible. You must register at all times the current invitees at your house. If more than 2 invitees, you must apply, with 7-day precendence, for a license fun-at-home. The accuracy of your submission may be validated using Wifi sensors, per patent USPTO20130, and others. Patent Pending. Camera validation may be used if your credit score is under 200. If Microsoft agents knock at your door, failure to open the door will result in all subscribed pack being reduced to a plafond of 30 mins per day until Microsoft Corp and its partners are satisfied your way of life and current invitees are in the agreement of Microsoft, Oracle and Google tricorporation shared agreement.