Microsoft Edge Slurps Tabs From Chrome Without Permission
Brandon Vigliarolo (via Hacker News):
Buried within Edge’s browser settings on Windows PCs is code that goes well beyond a one-time import of favorites and stored passwords, and has been present in some form as far back as mid-2022 at least. It gives gives Edge the ability to import practically all browser data from Chrome each time Redmond’s browser is launched.
Ostensibly a way for Microsoft to simplify the process of getting Windows users to switch to Edge, the feature has a classic Microsoft problem: it’s right now doing so without full permission, according to users. As the Windows maker is wont to do, it’ll also sync that data to the cloud too, provided users are signed into a Microsoft account - not great if you had intended to keep your Chrome and Edge environments separated.
I never imported my data into Microsoft Edge, nor did I confirm whether I wanted to import my tabs. But here was Edge automatically opening after a Windows update with all the Chrome tabs I’d been working on. I didn’t even realize I was using Edge at first, and I was confused why all my tabs were suddenly logged out.
[…]
“Always have access to your recent browsing data each time you browse on Microsoft Edge,” reads Microsoft’s description of the feature in Edge. This setting was disabled, and I had never been asked to turn it on.
[…]
Microsoft displays a big blue accept button to encourage Windows users to enable the feature, with a darker “not now” button if you want to opt out.
The button to opt in simply says Accept, but at least the Now now button is of the same size and looks like a button, unlike on iOS.
In a report [PDF] titled, “Over the Edge: How Microsoft’s Design Tactics Compromise Free Browser Choice”, the public benefit browser org argues that Windows users are encouraged to use Microsoft Edge and deterred from other options.
“Over the Edge” focuses specifically on Microsoft Edge and alleges manipulative design patterns – sometimes referred to as “dark patterns” or “deceptive patterns” – that push people towards a preferred outcome when presented with a choice in a visual interface.
Previously:
- Bing Tricking People Into Thinking They’re on Google
- Microsoft Still Anti-Competitive
- Microsoft Blocks EdgeDeflector to Force Windows Users Into Edge
- No Thanks vs. Later
1 Comment RSS · Twitter · Mastodon
These patterns are not just deceptive, they are shameful, and prime examples of the human condition.
The data theft (that's what it is) is clearly egregious. Buttons are the tip of the iceberg. How many people can even recognize the problem? The test is quite simple, and we've had nearly 90 years to do better: search "German voting ballot 1938" and compare.
GDPR can be a pain but at least someone is trying to create accountability on these matters. For all of our hyper-individualism in America, we sure hand over a lot of our rights to large corporate entities, if only because it's inconvenient to do otherwise.
It bothers me that there are business, financial, product, design, and engineering people who don't just quit over this.
