What you need to know
- Microsoft recently released a new Bing Wallpapers app into the Microsoft Store to give us, you guessed it, wallpapers from Bing.
- However, despite its description, it looks like Microsoft is doing more than just serving up wallpapers using the app.
- Bing Search, Bing Visual Search, and a ‘helpful’ reminder in your non-Microsoft Edge default browser are all ‘features.’
As a seasoned researcher with years of experience under my belt, I have seen many tech giants push the boundaries of user trust and privacy. However, Microsoft’s latest move with its Bing Wallpapers app has taken the cake.
More recently, Microsoft unveiled their Bing Wallpaper application in the store, a development that at first glance appears to be quite beneficial. Given that Bing showcases some of the most visually appealing images online each day, transforming these into your desktop background seems like an enjoyable and worthwhile activity.
Although the app appears straightforward, it might be hiding some underhanded tactics. Microsoft seems eager to push their services onto users who may not be aware, which is a concern. This can be summarized as:
The Bing Wallpaper offers an array of stunning global photographs, some even showcased on the Bing main page. This means that every day, you’ll find a fresh, new image on your desktop. Plus, you can explore these images and discover their origins.
Yet, upon closer inspection by Rafael Rivera (@withinrafael), it was discovered that the application is actually performing a variety of additional functions.
Considering the potential risks, it’s likely wiser to spend $50 instead of installing this software. It comes with a built-in feature to set up Bing Visual Search and contains code that can scan and decrypt your Edge and Chrome browsing data (cookies). [Link]
Below the original post, you’ll find a lengthy discussion that delves deep into the technical aspects of what’s happening. Frankly, it’s not the most engaging read. What makes it even more frustrating is that it seems to be intruding on your privacy by accessing your cookies. Personally, I find this particular issue to be my least favorite.
I may not be a developer, but I doubt Microsoft would take kindly to Google or Opera tampering with the Edge browser to steer users away from it. Such actions seem like an unfair use of power since one would expect that if another app exhibited this behavior, it wouldn’t pass the app store’s review process.
On one hand, I get it. We’re the product, and our eyeballs (and our data) is the payment. Microsoft wants it, just like Google wants it. But yet again we’re talking about underhanded tactics to force Bing/Edge on users, rather than selling the products on their merits. I use Bing primarily because it’s integrated with Microsoft Rewards, for example. And Copilot is a pretty good AI tool, even if I wish Microsoft would make up its mind on what exactly it wants it to be.
However, it’s crucial that no one unknowingly installs a seemingly harmless wallpaper application, only to find their device inundated with unwanted content. Microsoft, strive for improvement in this regard.
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2024-11-25 19:39