Microsoft to force Chrome default search to Bing via Office365 ProPlus installer (theverge.com)

Article summary

Microsoft plans to use the Office 365 ProPlus installer to switch Chrome users' default search engine to Bing. The installer will include a new Chrome extension that will be installed unless Bing is already set as the default search engine. IT admins will be able to block the extension install through Group Policy, and users will be able to remove it after installation. The change is intended to enable Microsoft Search functionality in Chrome for business users.

Main themes

• Microsoft Search
• Bing default search
• Office 365 ProPlus installer
• Chrome extension
• Corporate search
• User consent
• Dark patterns

What commenters say

• Forcing users to switch to Bing without consent is seen as adware or malware behavior.
• The feature may be useful in a corporate setting, but it should be opt-in, not forced on users.
• Some users appreciate the integration of Bing with Microsoft Search for finding organization documents.
• The decision to push Bing as the default search engine is viewed as a dark pattern and an invasion of user preferences.
• IT admins should have the choice to enable or disable the feature, rather than having it forced on them.
• The feature may be useful for searching internal organization files, but it should not be forced on users who do not need it.
• Users who do not want the feature should have a clear and easy way to opt-out without breaking other integrations.