Just weeks after Google accused Microsoft of tricking its own users, asking “how low can they go,” we await Google’s latest response to a new Microsoft attack, as it launches a controversial new campaign that “highlights several reasons” not to use Chrome.
The campaign is controversial, because it comes disguised as a “fake” support page, which “lies about ‘how to uninstall Edge’.” As PC World explains, “this page starts with, “Are you sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Edge?” It then goes into a marketing spiel about all the wonderful features in the Edge browser, complete with a list of things that Chrome doesn’t have.” Anyone tricked into accessing this page is almost certainly a Chrome user — what they’ll find is a list of reasons not to be. And while some of this is fluff, it has a hardened edge.
That means security, safety and privacy — which is the real issue here for me. I have reported on Microsoft’s borderline scare tactics to push users from Chrome to Edge before. And this does the same. “Equipped with AI-enhanced security features and advanced security controls, Edge makes it easier to defend yourself against online threats. Browse confidently and more safely on Edge.”
Edge is the “smarter browser,” Microsoft says, to protect, browse, game and create. Just as Windows dominates the desktop OS market, Chrome dominates the desktop browser market, with 72% and 66% respectively per Statcounter’s January numbers. And so this is targeted at Chrome users and its marketshare that Edge has yet to shake.
“Microsoft’s ‘Uninstall Edge’ page,’ no removal steps, just Chrome comparisons,” says Extreme Tech. “If you want to remove Microsoft Edge, there’s a handy webpage for that. Just kidding—the page is a lie.” While Neowin accuses the Windows-maker of creating “a fake ‘How to uninstall Edge’ guide to throw shade at Chrome instead.”
I have reached out to Microsoft and Google for any response to the coverage.
Just as with Apple’s “Flock” ads in the summer, which pushed its own users to stop using Chrome and turn to Safari instead, the page isn’t littered with references to Google’s browser but doesn’t need to be. “The page begins with a big headline asking if you are sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Edge,” Neowin explains. “Then, it proceeds to list all the benefits of Microsoft’s browser,.. No other third-party browser other than Chrome is mentioned, which makes it clear who this ‘guide’ is for.”
Ironically, this week we have also seen a positive Microsoft/Chrome story, with the OS developer changing Chromium code to stop Chrome syncing clipboards from Chrome’s incognito private browsing pages. I ended my report into that story by saying “kudos to both Microsoft and Google for working together to get this deployed seamlessly and with very little fuss. Now, back to where we were.” It hasn’t taken long.
So, is Edge safer than Chrome. Possibly — but its primary security advantage is when it’s used in combination with Microsoft’s other platforms and services in an enterprise setting. While it’s clearly the biggest target in the browser world, Chrome is heavily focused on security and safety and has done a largely decent job, notwithstanding that privacy will always be compromised by Google’s business model. But 3 billion users remain happy to trade cookies and ad-tracking for performance and features.
