Technology @lemmy.world AnActOfCreation @programming.dev 9mo ago

Google Chrome Warning Issued For All Windows Users

www.forbes.com Google Chrome Warning Issued For All Windows Users

Beware these hidden settings if you use Google Chrome on a Windows PC…

Mozilla has issued a warning about Microsoft's design practices, claiming that the company uses harmful design tactics to influence users to switch to its Edge browser.
The report highlights how Microsoft interrupts the installation process of Google Chrome on Windows devices, promoting the security and privacy benefits of Edge.
Mozilla calls for regulatory action to restore browser choice and competition across major platforms.

Archive link: https://archive.ph/koBY6

Chrome

Windows

Well there's your problem!

128

You're viewing a single thread.

128 comments

Microsoft really wants someone to remind it of these days:
- I like that part of firefox's summary was that it's free. Uh, yeah, they all are. Thanks Mozilla!
  
  Well, its not proprietary
  
  Opera originally wasn't free.
  
  Also, while it is chromium based, Vivaldi is excellent and is essentially a bunch of old Opera team members.
  
  It is the only Free software in that dialog though.
  
  No, they are all available at no cost. Only Firefox is free software.
- I don't remember that. Where is it from?
  
  Microsoft never liked competing browsers (not even in the pre-IE6 era when all they had was crap), so it's hard to believe it came from them.
  
  EU fined the sh1t out of them, and somebody in the regulatory body at the time realized that was not enough. So they were ordered to present the user with a choice of a browser during the OS install.
  
  What I really want to know is why and how it went away.
  
  sh1t
  
  You can say "shit" here, nobody is going to be a cunt about it.
  
  No, but apparently people are going to be a cunt about it if one chooses not to say it.
  
  Because it's looks stupid to use the word whilst censoring it, say it or don't say it. No point in trying to pretend you're not saying it.
  
  I'd say I got a good habit. Too much of the internet randomly filters "obscenity". Whenever that happens it seems the devs are too fvkin damb to properly implement it.
  
  Yeah god damn the censor shit, even on fucking picture, they censor the swear words to fucking hell by scribing over it
  
  Its verry much a good habit. However, You are free to speak your mind here. The fact you use sh1t (falsely) implies the idea that ~~your~~ the community is not allowed to speak ~~your~~ their mind. So people got mad 🫤.
  
  EDIT: grammar / clarity
  
  you're* not allowed.
  
  "Your under arrest for misuse of grammar" BANG! Oof! Ya got me! 🔫🤕💀
  
  What I really want to know is why and how it went away.
  
  The move was in place because of the fear that IE was becoming a monopoly. Now Edge is very very far from the most popular browser, and Google Chrome is looking like the overwhelmingly dominant player, there's no reason to make MS prompt people to download rival products anymore.
  
  INAL but my understanding was a lot of the fines and penalties hung on IE being part of the OS. I think it was the update functionality but don't quote me.
  
  So with some legal technicalities, later versions of windows made it "not" part of the OS just a bundled application. A legal distinction without meaning but it meant they didn't need to do these things anymore.
  
  The great joke is they are making the same mistakes again with edge, unfortunately the American justice system is a shambles these days so it's probably down to the EU to take the moral high ground.
  
  Microsoft appear to be exposed to monopolistic penalties in several markets currently: browsers, AI / search, teams and office come to mind (although competitors are lacking, here)
  
  INAL
  
  IANAL actually
  
  Could be I'm Not A Lawyer. We call that an "IANAL Contraction"
  
  I know what it means, but everytime I think it sounds like screaming a new Apple product.
  
  iAnal, now that'd get the Apple fanboys going.
  
  I think it will be back this March with the new laws (Digital Markets Act).
- Honestly surprised Opera and Mozilla don't strike again together
  
  Opera gave up a long time ago when they abandoned Presto. Today it is owned by some Chinese company, and they are just chasing the latest buzzwords, crypto, AI, you name it.
- There are talks in the EU with the DMA about bringing this back.
  
  Yup, they already forced Google to announce that they'll add such a choice screen for the search engine and web browser on Android: https://www.neowin.net/news/google-will-add-new-search-and-browser-choice-screens-for-android-phones-in-europe/
  
  It's only a matter of time before Microsoft does so too.

128 comments