Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Microsoft Adds Warning Prompt and Hidden Flags to Push Edge Over Chrome

A new 'browse securely' prompt appears for Windows users installing Chrome, accompanied by undisclosed preview flags that could nudge high Chrome users to pin Edge.

Image
Image
Microsoft Edge could be trying to eye a bigger market share
Microsoft Edge targets Chrome users with new prompts

Overview

  • Microsoft has started displaying an install-time warning to Windows users downloading Google Chrome, advising them to “browse securely” with Edge and citing Microsoft’s added trust.
  • Security researchers uncovered two hidden Canary feature flags—msOptimizeChromePBSignalForPinningOnCloseCampaigns and msPinningCampaignChromeUsageGreaterThan90Trigger—designed to prompt users to pin Edge when closing Chrome or after heavy Chrome use.
  • Both feature flags remain dormant in preview builds and have not been activated for general users, with no confirmation yet on a broader rollout.
  • Privacy and competition advocates warn that using telemetry to track browser usage for targeted prompts raises concerns over user choice and potential anti-competitive practices.
  • Google Chrome holds about 66.6 percent of the browser market compared to Edge’s roughly 5.23 percent share, underscoring Microsoft’s incentive to sway users.