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Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

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Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#21

"You might argue that this is Microsoft’s operating system, or that when using Microsoft’s browser and search engine it’s well within its rights to try and sway people away from Chrome." "Microsoft’s behaviors here are totally beyond a simple webpage prompt. I shouldn’t have to be dismissing pop-ups that appear on top of my apps and games, or ones that magically appear after I update my copy of Windows." Windows 11 i…

> What should Windows 11 users do to let Microsoft know that such behaviors are intrusive and offensive?

Leave it for a proper OS.

It might not be possible for your company issued computers if they don't allow you to use something else[1][2] but for your personnal uses it is fairly easy.

[1] I doubt it would be configured to receive popup ads in that context anyway [2] Having a toxic work environment is a good reason to change job. I personnally count being forced to use Windows as a toxic env.

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#22
What really annoys me about Windows:

I build my own PC and bought a new license for Windows Professional and it still is filled with adware and other MS bullshit. Like what does "professional" even mean?

Steve Jobs said it best: they have no taste.

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#23
If I ignore my disgust at having these delivered by the OS, they don't look much worse than Google's attempts to get me to use Chrome whenever I open their products in Firefox.

Just opening google.com reliably gives me a "Google recommends using Chrome" popup in the corner, and on some kind of timer you get the same popups in Google Drive and most of the other google products.

The browser wars are alive and well, just not in the way I want them to be.

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#24
post #19
post #10

Windows 7 really was the last good Windows release. After that we got the hideous Metro redesign, then all the telemetry and shoving of Edge etc. down our throats.

Remember when you got really excited for new Windows releases? Remember when Windows asked politely to activate automatic updates and assured you "No information is collected that can be used to identify you or contact you"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YbYdfaD0oA

Pepperidge farm remembers

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#26

isn't this same behaviour when you open Google, they try to sell you a Chrome? Just cross selling their products using the medium they own.

Well, you paid (one way or another) to license Windows, which allows you to use applications on it including web browsers.

They are deliberately interfering with your choice of using someone else's web browser, and they are doing so for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with the functional considerations of their product.

In a normal world this would attract legal scrutiny given their history (and in the EU, does).

The Google behaviour you're talking about is using a typically free service as a marketing channel. That is to me not quite in the same category.

If there was evidence that Google was arbitrarily hobbling non-Chrome browsers when using Google's online products (and I am in no way saying there isn't!!) then _that_ would be comparable, I think?

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#27
post #10

Windows 7 really was the last good Windows release. After that we got the hideous Metro redesign, then all the telemetry and shoving of Edge etc. down our throats.

I still worry that the Wachowski's were right when they wrote that line in The Matrix about the peak of human civilisation.

I actually think its about connectedness. We're too overconnected for our own good, the connections are shallow and manipulative and that connectedness is exploited by the powerful to connect more of us further in ways. Downward spiral of dystopian future ensues...

For the controlling corporations instead of employee's you have exploitees and the rest of humanity are the exploited.

In fact just before I wrote this I felt bad about reading a different forums post of a stranger complaining they got a cream pie thrown in their face and then finding out later it showed up on Tik-Tok. I too have too many shallow meaningless connections which can be used against me... even if its empathy for a stranger affected by some dipshit wanting likes for their social media account. And all that's with some level of anonymity - I didn't even watch the video. Telemetry is way more evil and calculated and directable...

Re: Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Win11 to get people to ditch Chrome

#29

If I ignore my disgust at having these delivered by the OS, they don't look much worse than Google's attempts to get me to use Chrome whenever I open their products in Firefox. Just opening google.com reliably gives me a "Google recommends using Chrome" popup in the corner, and on some kind of timer you get the same popups in Google Drive and most of the other google products. The browser wars are alive and well, jus…

Yea or Google's prompt to choose a web browser on their IOS apps when I click a link in their Gmail app for instance.
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