Microsoft built a dedicated app that forces Bing everywhere on Windows 11, including Chrome, Firefox, and Brave
Crossposted from https://lemmy.world/post/50960187
Microsoft has apparently found the free time to build a standalone app whose only job is switching your default search engine to Bing across every browser on your PC. It is not force-installed through Windows Update yet, and it is not available in the Microsoft Store either. It is a standalone executable hosted on Microsoft’s official download servers, and we wonder why it even exists.
The app is called Microsoft Recommended Search Settings, and once installed, it prompts you to add extensions to all your installed browsers, which does the job of switching to the Bing homepage experience. After finishing installation, you also get redirected to the Microsoft Rewards page, which is basically a bribe for switching.
https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/22/microsoft-built-a-dedicated-app-that-forces-bing-everywhere-on-windows-11-including-chrome-firefox-and-brave/Open linkView original on lemmy.world
26 replies
This type of app is classified as Chromeloader malware when it’s used to force install Yahoo Search with an affiliate ID. Why does Microsoft think it’s fine when THEY do it?
Because capitalism.
Because who's gonna stop them?
Remember the days when microsoft would get slapped with an antitrust lawsuit for simply preinstalling a browser? Pepperidge farm remembers.
As I recall, a big part of the problem was that they integrated IE throughout the OS so they could claim it was a necessary component of Windows. Thankfully, that didn't fly. Well, for a while, at least...
$M💩 needs a massive antitrust lawsuit to put them in their place
*another massive antitrust lawsuit
And, honestly, they're not the only tech giant who needs one. Where the fuck have our antitrust laws all gone?
Better lobbying.
It’s almost like M$ is trying to push people to Linux at this point
At this point in history if you’re still on windows you deserve what you get
Please do not blame abused people for the increasingly abusive actions of their abuser. Yes, people should get away from Windows and everything Microsoft, but there are a lot of reasons why so many people are not using Linux.
My first thought was thank God I got off that boat, but didn't want to be the first to say it.
Hopefully it is not installed on windows 11 enterprise, it's not like we can change what OS the companies are using.
Depends how locked-down your work computer is.
"But sir, nothing in the employee guidebook said I couldn't install Debian on my work laptop. Yes, I'm aware our business software doesn't run on Debian. That's why I put the support ticket in."
I can't even access the settings on my work laptop. Or the VM I have to connect to through AVD. I do have admin privileges on the Windows Server VM I have to connect to from AVD but I can't exactly install an operating system over RDP.
The it department is blocking almost everything in my company. They even remove some older python and java versions which is needed to support our old software. I will not even try to download the Debian installation image. But I hope other companies are less restrictive.
Have you considered bribing them?
I’d suggest starting with baked goods.
Unfortunately, what I do requires Windows. I could install Linux dual boot, but I'm lazy. Linux is still pretty shit with Nvidia cards, which holds the market share still somehow.
It used to just be good fun to rip on MS for having a shitty OS. I never thought they’d start doing it on purpose.
You misspelled Microslop.
Rule 4 requires the title match the article
They misspelled Microslop.
I wonder if it's there for OEMs.
I like Bing search results...
They are the perfect comic relief between the serious results on my SearXNG page.
That's crazy... Linuxes Linuxly
Sure, annoy people some more why dontcha?