Microsoft fixes the “bug” that automatically imported data from Chrome into Edge

Microsoft has updated its internet browser to remove behavior that harvested browsing data contained in Google Chromewithout the user’s consent.

If you use Microsoft Edge on a daily basis to carry out your searches and consult your various websites, an update is available and you should download it quickly. Indeed, the patch posted online by Microsoft resolves a particularly annoying problem which was brought to light a few weeks ago. Indeed, the software giant was suspected of not respecting the opinions of its users, and of recovering by default their browsing data integrated into Google Chrome.

A hidden setting allows Edge to retrieve browsing data from Google Chrome by default

It was at the end of January 2024 that many Internet users noticed a new setting in their version of Microsoft Edge, indicating that the web browser could “ always have access to the most recent navigation data “.

Concretely, users have noticed with surprise that when starting Microsoft Edge, their tabs previously opened on Google Chrome appear at launch. There is a button to prevent Microsoft Edge from snooping on Google Chrome’s data side, but it is hidden in a long list of settings.

The problem is not new, and Reddit threads have been pointing out Microsoft’s poor practices regarding the collection of personal data for several months. Recent media noise finally forced the company to backtrack, via an update recently available.

Microsoft is regularly singled out for its practices aimed at imposing Edge against user consent

Microsoft describes the fix as follows: “ Edge has a feature that provides the ability to import browser data each time it is launched from other browsers with user consent. The status of this feature may have been out of sync and displaying incorrectly across multiple devices “. Questioned by our colleagues from The Vergethe company did not wish to explain what this synchronization problem consisted of.

Microsoft is known for trying to impose Microsoft Edge on Windows users by any means possible, even if it means regularly crossing the yellow line. We can cite operating system updates which, upon restart, pin the web browser to the taskbar. Also, Microsoft has started to force the opening of links in Outlook or Microsoft Teams with Edge, even if the latter is not set as the default browser.

The European DMA could have prevented Microsoft from engaging in its questionable practices, but Microsoft Edge has been excluded from the platforms which will have to comply with the new regulations in force from March 6, 2024.

Source : The Verge