Microsoft is forcing Outlook and Teams to open links in Edge, and IT admins are angry
www.theverge.com
Microsoft is ignoring browser choice again

Current-era Microsoft continuing to push the boundaries of consent.

Microsoft Edge is a good browser but for some reason Microsoft keeps trying to shove it down everyone’s throat and make it more difficult to use rivals like Chrome or Firefox. Microsoft has now started notifying IT admins that it will force Outlook and Teams to ignore the default web browser on Windows and open links in Microsoft Edge instead.

  • FergleFFergleson@infosec.pubEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    “continuing to push the boundaries of consent.”

    If by “push the boundaries” you meant “completely ignore them”, then yes. This kind of behavior from MS, or any vendor, should always be considered strictly unacceptable.

  • melon_lord@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been using edge since the first chromium beta. I’m considering moving to firefox just out of spite.

  • archomrade [he/him]@midwest.socialEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I tried using outlook this year for the first time in 15 years, and immediately NOPED the fuck out when I noticed it displayed ads in-line with my inbox.

    And then there are those rumors that they want to display ads in the settings panel. Fuck Microsoft, they have ZERO trustworthiness in my book

  • jemorgan@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Sort of related, but this reminds me of a really annoying thing that’s been happening on my work windows 11 machine.

    Any time I launch chrome from VSCode to attach a debugger, edge launches along with it, and directs me to a page that says “try the new bing.”

    Absolutely infuriating, makes me want to uninstall edge.

  • Swarfega@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Edge was decent when it was first released. It’s slowly quickly becoming the 2023 version of Nero Burning ROM from back in the 2000s. A bloated mess.

  • RagingNerdoholic@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    This kind of horseshit is CONSTANT with Windows updates. I see customer PCs where I know I’ve set the default browser to Firefox or Chrome, and lo and behold, suddenly everything is opening in fucking Edge.

  • Clutch@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Ran into this about two weeks ago. It can be turned off.

    Here’s the setting to change. It’s under File -> Options -> Advanced

    • TheAussie@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      God I hate Windows and their dance with monopolistic behaviour. They’ll bring out a “feature” that changes how a program works so you have to change it back, in the hopes that most people don’t do it. They keep doing it with browsers because they siphon away enough users each time that it’s worth it for them.

      Windows should have a default browser choice in settings, and any program you use should automatically use it no matter what, unless you physically change it yourself. It shouldn’t even be possible for them to do. I really need to learn how to use Linux. I’ve got a spare SSD. Fuck it

  • WatTyler@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    “This change is designed to create an easier way for Outlook and Microsoft Teams users to reduce task switching across windows and tabs to help stay focused,” says Katy Asher, senior director of communications at Microsoft, in a statement to The Verge. “By opening browser links in Microsoft Edge, the original message in Outlook or Teams can also be viewed alongside web content to easily access, read and respond to the message, using the matching authenticated profile. Customers have the option to disable this feature in settings.”

    I don’t know if this is a neurodivergent thing but I 500% could never see myself in a position I could say something I knew to be such BS and put my name to it.