microsoft edge campaign backfired

Question

I'm so sick and tired of microsoft trying to force me to try their edge browser. This morning edge browser covered my monitor and had popups trying to get me to make it my default browser. Had to waste time carefully going through pop up after pop up. One pop up indicated miscrosoft was going to steal all of my current default browser data and move it to microsoft edge. I have know idea how much browser information of mine was stolen by microsoft this morning. When I got through wasting time with this microsoft hassle I was greeted with the sight of a microsoft edge shortcut on my screen and a edge icon on the task bar. Microsoft has gotten to be beyond nervy and obnoxious. This edge campaign that has been launched against us has made me grown into making sure I limit microsoft in what ever I do on the computer to the absolute minimum. I went through my list of apps and found a bunch of microsoft apps I can replace with other apps. If at all possible, if its microsoft it won't be a default app.

Answer 1

You say you understand my concern - and then you write a response that demonstrates a complete lack of understanding my concern.

My concern is the obnoxius, intrusivness of this campaign of microsoft in trying to take over my computer in the manner involved with the KB4559309 "update."

I do not want to install edge. When the microsoft update covered my entire monitor with an edge browser window that did not make things simpler. That made things a hassle becasue I had to deal with something I never asked for.

I had to carefully deal with a pop up trying to get me to migrate my information to a browser I never wanted to have in the first place. That did not make things simpler. I still have know idea what happend to my browser information when I opted to decline. I do not know what microsoft hid in the decline option. Given what microsoft did in taking over my computer with this update I firmly believe that is a genuine concern.

I know how to manage default apps in Settings. I also know how to uninstall apps in Settings. Anything edge in apps is not able to uninstall. Yesterday, I was able to get a microsoft technician to try and uninstall edge. We spent three hours in chat and he tried everything under the sun. After that I was able to get a microsoft technician to do a remote session. That tech was also unable to do it. He was able to confirm that edge wasn't installed and that the entire fiasco of mcrosoft seizing my monitor screen was a marketing stunt gone bad.

Thanks for telling me how to remove shortcuts and taskbar icons. My shortcut deletion method in this case was to go to the C drive location of the shortcut and run it through AVG shredder. The taskbar I unpinned. I should have never had to remove either in the first place. Placing them on my computer did not make things simpler.

Thank you for providing privacy information that seems to pertain to settings after the edge browser has been installed. My concern is not about browser history. My concern is what information might have been taken when I declined this marketing stunt. I do not even click "maybe later" on all those pop ups microsoft has all over the place for that reason.

Maybe what's really needed here is a change in policy on the federal goverment level in regards to marketing stunts such as this experience.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

My friend you are suffering from Microsoft19.

There is no cure for it and it comes around  , I believe, when someone gets promoted at Microsoft and NOW has the POWER to change the computing world!

It is foisted upon us as something new and wonderful not annoying and distasteful.

I have seen this activity since DOS 3. I do agree that many times there are big leaps in the technology and then Microsoft puts the "new" stuff out for us to test, calling it an upgrade.

I have stuck with MS through the years but with this last mess I think I shall say goodbye to Edge and go Firefox.

I've tried to be loyal to MS but THEY haven't been loyal to me!

Answer 3

Hi Lee,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

We certainly understand your concern, however, let me help you with some information in order to provide some clarity on the new Edge.

The new Edge on the system in an upgrade to the legacy Edge that was installed along with Windows 10. When you install the new Edge, to makes things simpler for you, Edge provides option to migrate your settings from other browsers such as your Favorites/Bookmarks. You can skip this if required.

Yet, you have full control on how to manage the Default apps on your system. To do this you can Windows Settings> click on Apps > select Default apps from the left pane > under Web browserset the default browser that you prefer.

If you want to remove the New Edge browser icon from Taskbar and from Desktop screen, then you can right click on the icon in Taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar and right click on the shortcuy icon in Desktop screen and select Delete.

Regarding the Privacy Settings, you can choose your privacy settings in the new Microsoft Edge by going to Settings and more > Settings > Privacy and services. Each privacy setting can be turned on or off based on your preference.

We certainly understand your concern regarding web browsing history being collected. You can check the data that is stored on your device or collected by us. We give you choices to control what data gets collected. For more information about privacy in Microsoft Edge, we recommend reviewing our Privacy Statement.

You can also check these articles for additional information where you will find advanced settings for Privacy:

Microsoft Edge, browsing data, and privacy

Configure your privacy settings so they're right for you

You can manage your Privacy Settings from the Privacy Dashboard

If you're not able to find what you're looking for, or you have a privacy question or concern, you can Contact our Privacy Team as well.​

Hope it helps.

Aditya Roy

Microsoft Community – Moderator