Microsoft's official "Bing Wallpaper app" does some nasty, malware-like things to Windows

Every time I see stuff like this it makes me slightly glad they got laughed out of the smart phone game. Can you imagine if a Microsoft mobile OS became a serious third between Android and iOS? I mean, those two aren't great by any stretch of the imagination (and are probably doing or planning similar shit), but Microsoft is just going gloves off at this point.

Why do people need an app for wallpapers? Reminds me of the "free smileys" and "free mouse cursors" apps from the 2000s. I thought we had evolved past that.

They are trying so hard to push everybody to linux. The only thing that has kept me using windows is game development tool chains, but even that isn't gonna be enough to keep me on windows much longer.

This doesn’t sound “malware-like”. It sounds like just plain malware.

I’m up to buy a new computer and I’ve never wanted a Macbook but with all the negative changes Microsoft is making I feel it is the time to make the switch.

Microsoft seems to think that we are the product and harvesting data is the default business model moving forward.

I'm always surprised at how devious this windows spyware is. 99% of people would probably just accept to share all their data but that's not good enough; MS has to try and squeeze out every last drop.

Microsoft produces malware, that's nothing new.

Haven't we already categorized windows as malware and Microsoft as a malware company? We really shouldn't be surprised that they put out another piece of malware. It's their MO.

Microsoft sofficial "Bing Wallpaper app" does some nasty, malware-like things to Windows

Time to break up Microsoft

Why would you download bing wallpaper app anyways? First rule of computers: only install from trusted sources

While scummy indeed, if you need a desktop application to get yourself new wallpapers, my sympathy only goes so far.

Also not at all surprised the top comment speaks of Linux.

Linux, hating Musk, and Star Trek: the Lemmy trifecta.

"Megacorp learned nothing from Active Desktop being an utter fucking security disaster." Yeah, no shit. Everything old is new again.

BREAKING: Microsoft is still shitty

The app automatically installs Bing Visual Search and includes code to decrypt cookies saved in other browsers, and it also brings a "free" geolocation web API to the system.

trying to change the browser's settings and set Edge as the default system browser. If the default browser isn't Edge, the app will open the default browser after some time asking to enable the previously installed Microsoft Bing Search for Chrome extension.

jfc

Good thing normies got nothing to hide!