In a surprising turn of events, Google Chrome users on Windows have been issued a serious warning this week, and it comes from one of Chrome's harshest critics. A report sponsored by Mozilla, the developer of the Firefox browser, sheds light on Microsoft's design practices across its core operating system, web browser, and search engine. The experts enlisted by Mozilla found that Microsoft employs harmful design tactics to influence users into using its own browser, Edge.
The research report highlights several claims against Microsoft, including harmful preselection, visual interference, trick wording, and disguised ad patterns that skew user choice in favor of Edge. It also reveals obstruction tactics aimed at dissuading users from switching to a different default browser and refusal to switch default apps for various web-related file types. The report points out ongoing harmful practices employed by Microsoft to push users back toward Edge.
