Google Chrome snatched up nearly 70% of the browser user share as of May 2020. Mozilla Firefox and the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge trailed behind -- far, far behind -- at 8% and 7%, respectively.

Microsoft must be more determined than ever to dethrone Chrome in the battle for browser dominance. To lure more users to the new Edge browser, Microsoft is reportedly stealing Firefox data without user consent, according to Reddit posters (via Softpedia).

Edge's setup wizard, which features the words "Get Started," reportedly doesn't have an exit option for users who have no interest in continuing the setup process.

"Your parents and grand parents are probably using Edge now," krankie added. "They didn't mean to, they just couldn't seem to get it out of the way unless they agreed to 'Get Started.'"

Many Reddit posters said they used Task Manager to kill the setup wizard. One Redditor who used Task Manager to thwart the setup process claimed that they still found their Firefox browsing history in Edge despite shutting down the wizard prematurely.

"Open your task manager and close Edge from it instead of going through the setup. Then open Edge again. Tap Ctrl+H and see for yourself: your browsing history from Firefox will have been imported into Edge," XIII-Death posted on Reddit.

A few Redditors shrugged at Edge's alleged security faux pas. "Clear browsing history in Edge and voila, no more problem," one poster said. Another commenter advised Windows 10 users to ditch their OS: "If you are actually concerned about privacy, you might want to give Linux a try. Windows 10 is basically designed to tell Microsoft everything you are doing."

This isn't the first time Microsoft's been called out for its relentlessness. Some Edge users expressed annoyance at Microsoft's pop-up messages that appear while searching for Chrome or Firefox downloads in the browser.

Microsoft's also been put in the hot seat for its questionable security methods in the past. In March, we reported that Edge came in last place in a study that compared privacy measures among six browsers.

(Image credit: Slashgear, source Laptopmag)

Functionality was found in OneDrive source code

Microsoft launched its Xbox Music service in late 2012, and it allows users to stream music to your devices (Xbox 360/Xbox One, smartphones, tablets, PCs) in exchange for a monthly fee. However, the service is currently limited to tracks that Microsoft actually provides via its vast library.

While Microsoft’s music library is no doubt comprehensive, it’s nearly impossible for the Redmond, WA-based software giant to have streaming rights to every possible song that you would want to listen to at any given moment.

And this is where OneDrive comes into the equation. According to LiveSino, Microsoft is working on functionality that would allow you to upload music that you own to OneDrive and stream it to all of your devices via Xbox Music. The following reference was found in the source code for OneDrive:

Meet your OneDrive Music folder. Upload your music files to this folder, so that you can play them via Xbox Music from any of your devices. You can also add files to this folder using the OneDrive app for your computer.

It is unknown when the Xbox Music/OneDrive mashup will go live, but similar functionality is already available with Google Play Music and the Amazon Cloud Player.

Sources: LiveSino via, The Verge



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Google also agreed to destroy all of this data collected in the U.S.

Google is finally settling a three-year investigation this week into a Wi-Fi incident that occurred when compiling data for its mapping service.

Google's Street View mapping cars had accidentally collected personal data, such as home wireless network passwords, between 2008 and 2010. The cars were out collecting images and data for the Street View mapping system in Google Maps, and were using an experimental computer code in the cars' software while doing so. This led to the accidental collection of personal data

The settlement orders that Google split $7 million among 38 states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia, which were involved in the incident. Google also agreed to destroy all of this data collected in the U.S. (it's still working things out with European countries, where the same incident occurred).

Google will also deploy employee education programs that fill them in about user privacy, and will also launch a campaign about protecting information on wireless networks.

While Google has now been punished for its incident, some are not happy with the amount of the fine. For instance, Steve Pociask, the president of the American Consumer Institute, said that $7 million is nothing to a huge tech company like Google and likely won't ward off any further intrusions of privacy.

Google had a revenue of $50.2 billion in 2012 and $10.7 billion in net income.

Source: Reuters



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