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While many believe there is one definitive browser to rule them all, there remain plenty of options to choose from. Unfortunately, those opting to use Opera seem to subject to harassment by Microsoft with constant pop-ups advising the switch to its Edge browser.
Microsoft is known for its pushy behaviour across virtually all of its platforms, devices and features. Windows 10 is known for forcing updates, pushing feedback prompts and constantly edging its first-party browser onto its users.
For some Opera users, this was just a little too invasive, prompting a handful to flock to Reddit to describe the issues. As first picked up by Windows Report, Opera users were witnessing constant pop-ups in new tabs when browsing the internet. These new tabs were advertising Microsoft Edge, showcasing its 99 percent block rate for socially engineered malware in comparison to just 87 percent on Google Chrome and 70 percent on Firefox.
Despite the self-imposed statistics being a problem in and of itself, the unexpected and intrusive behaviour infuriated many users and prompts concerns of Microsoft’s conflict of interest in running both a browser and an operating system.
It’s one thing that the company can deal out Microsoft Edge as a default browser that can be swapped out for another at the user’s discretion, but to intrusively calculate the browser that your user is choosing to make use of and then give a prompt to switch back is going to leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.
If your gut reaction is telling you that something is off because the screenshot says that the prompt has detected Google Chrome, then you have a sharp eye and some internet savvy to beware of scams. While it’s possible that the Reddit posts were mistaken or sensationalised, Opera makes use of Chromium at its base level and is often detected as Google Chrome as a result. The reason why Chrome users aren’t reporting the same is likely because Google’s variant likely blocks them by default.
Microsoft has yet to officially comment on the pushy practices.
KitGuru Says: Every company tends to have its own intrusive way of pushing its own browser as default. Don’t have Chrome as your default? Visiting Google might net you regular messages reminding you that it provides its own browser as well as search engine. Do you think Microsoft were intrusive? Do you see many advertisements for other browsers? And what browser are you running now?
Why edge is the problem only? Chrome is being shoved down our throats in every way possible and nobody bats an eye.
We need to act against all, not being picky on who is forcing crap on us.
Google not allowing Firefox, Opera, Edge and other browsers to stream to Chromecasts is a bigger problem.
I’ve found Edge difficult to use in some instances. Specifically the bookmark manager. I prefer to use Bookmark OS
There is little distinction here between Google suggesting Chrome when visiting Google applications and Microsoft advertising Edge when using Windows. If you are not purchasing the product (Windows & Google apps) then you are subject to their ads. Way it goes.
My concern is when Windows updates will change the default browser or trick the user into making it the default browser. Ads are annoying – but not a big deal. Changing software and/or misleading users is another thing entirely.
But, boy — you know they are hunting for positives when they highlight “socially engineered” malware rather than just malware – an area that Windows and IE are the undisputed king.
Chromecast is for mobile devices with Android and iOS, though they also allow Chromium connections (Chrome / Chromebooks). There is an SDK that the manufacturer can use to create the engine for Firefox, Opera and Edge on iOS or Android to stream to Chromecast. But, no – Google is not going to program it for those companies, and Google has actively pursued third parties to build support into their iOS / Android apps to support it. The reason Google does not support Windows or OS X is security, obviously, and that is why Google is even shutting down Windows connections within Chrome now since that was the primary hole that the above-mentioned “only 87%” Microsoft used in their advertising is primarily about. https://developers.google.com/cast/
True – Google is doing this same shit from decades.
Have you checked your installed programs lately? If ads are annoying you gotta love how Windows installs store apps without asking you. 🙂
Google would rather force people into their controlled proprietary nonsense than allow and promote the use of open standards.
“Nobody wants to acknowledge that Google has grown big and bad, but it has. Schmidt’s tenure as CEO saw Google integrate with the shadiest of U.S. power structures as it expanded into a geographically invasive megacorporation”
-Julian Asange
“A monopoly both in search and advertising, Google, unfortunately, shows that they are not able to resist the misuse of power. I am saddened by this makeover of a geeky, positive company into the bully they are in 2017. I feel blocking competitors on thin reasoning lends credence to claims of their anti-competitive practices. It is also fair to say that Google is now in a position where regulation is needed.”
-Jon von Tetzchner
“Google has become an obstacle to innovation and is a menace to society whose days are numbered. [Google] has neither the will nor the inclination to protect society against the consequences of their actions. That turns them into a menace and it falls to the regulatory authorities to protect society against them.”
-George Soros
“To love Google, you have to be a little bit of a monarchist, you have to have faith in the way people traditionally felt about the king.”
-Tim Wu, Columbia law professor.
“Google is more than a business. Google is a belief system.”.
-Google Chairman Eric Schmidt
I definitely approve of using a serial liar (Asange) to prove whatever it is you are trying to prove.
And, some of your quotes are inaccurate/wrong where you have removed and changed words. Just one example, the Soros (again, not someone I would want proving any point of mine) quotes were about Facebook and Google.
LOL. I guess you’re one of the faithful monarchists that fully converted to Google’s belief system. Unreal. ??