Microsoft Injects Pop-up Ads into Google Chrome to Promote Bing: Windows Users Question Legitimacy

New Pop-Up Ads Prompt Windows Users to Switch to Bing

Microsoft injects pop-ups to promote Bing in Google Chrome

Windows users have been reporting the sudden appearance of pop-up ads promoting Bing AI and Microsoft’s Bing search engine inside Google Chrome. Microsoft, in its bid to steer users towards Bing, is once again utilizing pop-ups on Windows 10 and 11 through its Chrome browser.

Are the pop-ups genuine or malware-like?

In a statement to The Verge, Caitlin Roulston, director of communications at Microsoft, confirmed the legitimacy of the pop-ups, stating, “This is a one-time notification giving people the choice to set Bing as their default search engine on Chrome.” Despite their seeming resemblance to malware, the pop-ups are indeed genuine and will only appear once. Windows users, however, are questioning their true intentions.

Prompting users, but where’s the disable option?

While Microsoft claims to value providing choice to Windows users, their frequent use of pop-up ads leaves users desiring an easy way to disable them. With various methods employed by Microsoft to guide users towards Bing and Edge, changing settings becomes a convoluted task.

Microsoft’s aggressive push for Bing and Edge

Microsoft’s continuous efforts to aggressively promote its own services to Chrome users have caused frustration over the years. Windows users have faced pop-up ads within Chrome, on the Windows taskbar, and elsewhere. At one point, Microsoft even forced people to use Edge after a Windows Update, while regularly presenting full-screen messages to encourage switching to Bing and Edge.

Persistent issues and user concerns

Earlier this year, Microsoft faced criticism for automatically importing browsing data and tabs from Chrome to its Edge browser without consent. As reported, this issue caused inconvenience for users after a Windows update, as their Chrome tabs would open automatically in Edge upon reboot. Windows users are increasingly eager for Microsoft to respect their freedom to choose their preferred search engine and browser.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not endorse or promote any specific browser or search engine.