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'Microsoft Stole My Chrome Tabs, and It Wants Yours, Too' (theverge.com) 143

Posted by msmash from the new-lows dept.
Tom Warren, writing for The Verge: Last week, I turned on my PC, installed a Windows update, and rebooted to find Microsoft Edge automatically open with the Chrome tabs I was working on before the update. I don't use Microsoft Edge regularly, and I have Google Chrome set as my default browser. Bleary-eyed at 9AM, it took me a moment to realize that Microsoft Edge had simply taken over where I'd left off in Chrome. I never imported my data into Microsoft Edge, nor did I confirm whether I wanted to import my tabs. But here was Edge automatically opening after a Windows update with all the Chrome tabs I'd been working on. I didn't even realize I was using Edge at first, and I was confused why all my tabs were suddenly logged out.

After the shock wore off, I looked to make sure I hadn't accidentally allowed this behavior. I found a setting in Microsoft Edge that imports data from Google Chrome on each launch. "Always have access to your recent browsing data each time you browse on Microsoft Edge," reads Microsoft's description of the feature in Edge. This setting was disabled, and I had never been asked to turn it on. So I went to install the same Windows update on a laptop, which actually resulted in it failing and my having to do a system restore. Once the system restore was complete, the same thing happened. Edge opened automatically with all of my Chrome tabs. I haven't been able to replicate the behavior on other PCs, but a number of X users replied to my post about this saying they have experienced the same thing in the past.
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'Microsoft Stole My Chrome Tabs, and It Wants Yours, Too' More

'Microsoft Stole My Chrome Tabs, and It Wants Yours, Too'

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  • Overly attached girlfriend (Score:3)

    by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @01:43PM (#64201262) Homepage Journal

    I've told Microsoft Edge "No" so many times, she still invades my personal space and repetitively asked for the same thing. I'm starting to think it's time to break up.

  • Permission change (Score:3)

    by spaceman375 ( 780812 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @01:48PM (#64201280)
    Find the Edge executable and remove its permissions. All of them that you can. Or rename it. Windows may freak out, but you'll get some entertainment at least.

    • Windows doesn't have "Execute" permissions, right?

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by Aczlan ( 636310 )

      Or, block it in the Windows firewall, go in and setup a rule to deny internet access for Edge.
      Doing that has greatly improved my start menu experience in Windows 10.

      Aaron Z

      • Re:Permission change (Score:4, Interesting)

        by dcooper_db9 ( 1044858 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:39PM (#64201450)
        That might work in professional and enterprise editions, but not in Windows Home. Microsoft routinely removes firewall rules that interfere with its applications. You'd need to block it in an external firewall if you want it to hold.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Aczlan ( 636310 )

          That might work in professional and enterprise editions, but not in Windows Home. Microsoft routinely removes firewall rules that interfere with its applications. You'd need to block it in an external firewall if you want it to hold.

          Interesting, I haven't run into that (yet). Was that using the "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security" or the basic Windows Firewall?

          Aaron Z

          • I think they are one and the same. On my laptop it's Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. Take a look at the event logs under Microsoft > Windows > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. You should see entries like with text like "A rule has been deleted in the Windows Defender Firewall exception list.". As best I can tell, every time Windows updates it adds rules that whitelist its apps and removes any that block them.

          • Re: (Score:3)

            by jaa101 ( 627731 )

            You'd need to block it in an external firewall

            How can you block a specific program using an external firewall? How would the firewall distinguish between Chrome, Edge and Firefox connexions?

            • ... block a specific program ...

              "ZoneAlarm [firewall] software tracks programs that try to access the Internet or a local network ..."
              "... go to Settings at Application Control, and select View Programs."
              "Trust Level: Define the actions that a program is permitted to do:"
              "Super[user], Trusted, Restricted, Ask [user], Kill [program]"

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Z00L00K ( 682162 )

          There are people running Windows Home? It's a mystery...

      • My copy of Windows 10 does not have Edge or even the Microsoft store.

      • WRONG CHOICE. If you're going to block it. Block the domains it's talking to on an external firewall. MS will just release another update at some point that will override any firewall rules you set on the same machine that the malicious piece of software is running on. Relying on a software firewall running on the same machine that something malicious could run on is the most idiotic thing ever. If the malicious software is running on the same machine there is absolutely nothing to stop is from modifying or

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by leonbev ( 111395 )

      Or, better yet, use Firefox and then you don't have to worry about this awful "feature".

      • There's no technical reason Microsoft couldn't do the same thing with Firefox.
      • I don't think using firefox would make any difference. It sounds like the user in question was using chrome, edge updated itself and sucked up all of chrome's data. Nothing would stop edge from sucking up all the same data from firefox or any other browser is knows about.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by mysidia ( 191772 )

      You're going to end up triggering Microsoft's built in anti-malware/anti-tampering system, because as far as they know, nobody could Legitimately want to disable the Edge binary.

  • uhhh session/login data? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by rogoshen1 ( 2922505 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @01:49PM (#64201286)

    MS can go fuck themselves with this auto update nonsense
    So does this also include things like online banking or whatnot that require a username/password? is edge spoofing those sessions?
    I use windows update blocker. mainly because of weird, intrusive behavior like this.

    Whose computer is it after all?

    • Re:uhhh session/login data? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Opportunist ( 166417 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @01:50PM (#64201292)

      Whose computer is it after all?

      Depends mostly on what OS you installed.

      • Yep. You may own the computer, but you are a tenant in your OS. This is true for some Linux's now too **cough** RedHat **cough***.

        • flatpak is also pushing the envelop in that department as well. thanks debian.

      • Assuming you built the machine. An increasing number of PCs don't let you run another OS without a "jailbreak".

    • The computer is yours, it's the software They're trying to say isn't.

      Of course, They don't care if the computer hardware isn't useful without Their software.

      • Of course, They don't care if the computer hardware isn't useful without Their software.

        Except that it isn't useless. All you need to do is install a real, FOSS OS such as Linux or any *BSD.
      • Even your computer isn't yours thanks to processor IMEs that you can't disable and can likely be used as a backdoor

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Calydor ( 739835 )

      The summary says he was wondering why all his tabs were logged out, so presumably Edge will blindly try to restore Chrome's tab but without understanding the URL or the need to be logged in. Your banking should be safe.

      Should being the operative word, obviously.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by mysidia ( 191772 )

        Chrome's actual cookie storage is encrypted with their intention to stave off potential malware.

        I would say that if the method's become so well known that even Edge is ever found to have managed to break in and access Chrome or Firefox's cookies, that Google/Mozilla ought to think about pushing a browser update to create a new storage format version. Tweak the algorithm, so whatever Edge was doing to invade the datafiles won't work anymore. They could and probably honestly should just bump the file for

        • Chrome's actual cookie storage is encrypted with their intention to stave off potential malware.

          Useless when the malware is the OS itself. There's a number of workarounds:

          1) Uses shared libraries? Have the linker insert a shim module to intercept calls to encryption libraries.
          2) Known encryption methods? Have a team search for them in the executable and patch them out.
          3) Tries to use a TPM / Hardware crypto processor? Emulate one that gives you access to the keys.

          Zeroth rule of hacking is: He who runs F1RST! Pwns who runs second.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by mysidia ( 191772 )

            Useless when the malware is the OS itself. There's a number of workarounds

            Edge isn't the OS, however. It's an app made by the company who makes the OS yes.

            1) Uses shared libraries? Have the linker insert a shim module to intercept calls to encryption libraries.

            I mean sure it is technically feasible, but what you are describing is backdooring the whole Operating System's linking process or system libraries in order to maliciously hijack or break security to steal confidential information from someone else's

            • The edge team can get the os team to do whatever and they can also push the update with code that gets run as trusted installer without asking the user.

              It would of course need more effort.

  • Both rely on the system proxy settings, both share their backend... face it, they're the same shit.

  • Cringe worthy (Score:5, Interesting)

    by NomDeAlias ( 10449224 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @01:54PM (#64201310)
    The levels of desperation Microsoft goes to in order to try and trick people into using Edge knows no bounds. I almost want to give Bing a pity search.

    • What I'd rather like to know is whether Tom Warren was using Windows 10 or Windows 11, and whether they both behave the same way.
      I'm also a bit confused as to how this happened - if I want to browse then I fire up my browser, and I'd be really surprised if clicking on Firefox started Edge. I have noticed that opening a web page via another program (typically for documentation) tends to cause Edge to be used, but I use Windows 10 so rarely that I don't really care that much. As for Windows 11, my hardware

      • I know we don't RTFA around here, but the first line of the summary? Come on man..

        > Last week, I turned on my PC, installed a Windows update, and *rebooted to find Microsoft Edge automatically open* with the Chrome tabs I was working on before the update

        OS version? Irrelevant. They are both equally replaceable with linux.

  • Just fixed today some Outlook that started out of the blue to open the links in Edge, guess what the options were Default (which of course wasn't Edge) and specifically Edge and it went to Edge by default...

  • The ol' switcheroo (Score:3)

    by GameboyRMH ( 1153867 ) <gameboyrmh@@@gmail...com> on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:12PM (#64201364) Journal

    Edge thought if it could steal your tabs and take Chrome's place you might not notice...Microsoft will be sure that Edge takes the cookies next time too!

  • install waterfox or firefox & be track free wi (Score:3)

    by Joe_Dragon ( 2206452 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:16PM (#64201382)

    install waterfox or firefox & be track free with adblock as well

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by caseih ( 160668 )

      Recently started using the oddly-named Floorp firefox fork. It lets me configure the UI however I want, even with tabs on the bottom, or even the sides! Funny thing, if Floorp can make it do that by manipulating the css and providing a preferences UI to do it, why can't Firefox? Why must I fight Firefox every update to make it look and act the way I want it to?

      So yes open source developers are nearly as bad as MS is sometimes.

      • Why must I fight Firefox every update to make it look and act the way I want it to?

        Because the Firefox devs (and entire Mozilla management) are arrogant assholes. Which is a shame, because I actually like Firefox and have been using it since version 1.0

      • So yes open source developers are nearly as bad as MS is sometimes.

        Agreed, except for one vital consideration: Open Source developers don't force updates to occur. They do what they want with their software, and if you don't like it you can look elsewhere. Also, you don't have to pay for the fruits of their labour.

        But when you run Windows, you have no control - Redmond will stick its dick in your business every chance they get, and you're paying them for that pleasuring. I get pissed off with Mozilla too - but at least with them I have multiple choices and some control. Wi

  • Microsoft is no longer credible... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by NoOnesMessiah ( 442788 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:18PM (#64201384)

    ...and Windows is only a step away from not being in operating system anymore. OS-as-a-Service doesn't really count for much. See also: Windows wants me to log into a Microsoft account in order to use the hardware right in front of me.

  • Microsoft committing browser assault (Score:5, Funny)

    by peterww ( 6558522 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:20PM (#64201388)

    Non-consensual touching of my preferred browser, blocking me from getting to the browser, trying to force your browser down my throat.... That's it, I'm calling the police.

    • Oh, I'm sure you consented, in one form or another. There was some checkbox you had to click, or maybe just some fine print that said "by using this software, you consent to (all kinds of stuff)". Microsoft has plenty of lawyers to make sure they have their legal bases covered.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hawk ( 1151 )

      >Non-consensual touching of my preferred browser,

      "show me on this doll where the bad program touched you"

  • This must be a psychology study (Score:3)

    by JamesTRexx ( 675890 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @02:20PM (#64201392) Journal

    How much can we abuse users before they

    a) throw their PC out the window or put a bullet through the screen
    b) buy a Mac
    c) install or have someone install a Linux or BSD distro
    d) give up and cry under their desk

    I'm so glad I'm a long-time Linux and Pale Moon user.

    • > b) buy a Mac

      They don't want worse. (Mac lost it around 10.7)

    • I'm willing to go on a limb and say that 99% of people don't even know Linux is an option. They know of Macs, maybe, but the concept of having a choice doesn't even cross their minds.

      Sadly, if they use specific software, they may indeed be stuck.

      Still, as a Linux user it's fun to laugh whenever these articles come out. Talk about abusing your user base with impunity. Shame Shame Shame

  • I hope Google sues MS's ass off over this. Importing is fine as an explicitly selected user option, but doing it automatically is a recipe for a wide variety of problems, both security and user confusion.

    Nadella can lick my salmonella!

  • I honestly don't know what to make of this post. On the one hand I sense the frustration. But I get the sense that it cannot be reliably reproduced (a good indicator that the problem isn't well understood), but that some 'X' amount of people (probably 10?) have some vague recollection of something similar having happened to them.

    It's not exactly scientific, and since I cannot follow steps to reproduce specifically, I don't know what the point is.

    I do know this though. If I'm running a Microsoft based ope

  • to remove ms windows and install Linux, microsoft in a apologetic about their abusive behavior with their dominance on the desktop

  • Where they are more aggressive against this bullshit.

  • This is the natural consequence of relying on a company which defies antitrust orders and has for decades, and which is openly hostile to users, administrators, and the companies paying to use software on their platform.

    It's the same Microsoft that seems incapable of making an Office which doesn't occasionally corrupt its own documents. They don't care about you, they care about controlling you.

    Sorry, that's just the way it is. If you don't like Microsoft bullshit, don't use Microsoft bullshit.

  • It is clear that Microsoft ignores all of their own settings, so it is a regular occurrence to have Windows 10 start Edge to try to cajole you into using it.
  • This isn't all that much different than what happens with Safari and Chrome on IOS. At present, all IOS browsers are Webkit based so if you have tabs open in Chrome on IOS or iPad OS... through Continuity on your Mac you can have them show up in the Dock to view on your Mac the same as if they were open in Safari on IOS or iPad OS. Honestly this freaked me out the first time it happened but once I realized why it made sense. With Edge and Chrome, they're all based on Chromium so makes sense you could have a

  • feeling left out? (Score:4, Funny)

    by awwshit ( 6214476 ) on Tuesday January 30, 2024 @03:30PM (#64201630)

    I know some of you Linux users are feeling left out here. Just wanted to point out that you too can use Edge!

    https://itsfoss.com/microsoft-... [itsfoss.com]

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by higuita ( 129722 )

      good luck for edge to try to steal my firefox profile in linux:
      1- i run firefox isolated, non-standard profile location
      2- most of the time i use a temporary profile, that i dump when the browser close
      3- i 'm not stupid and don't even install edge, why would it do such a thing!!

  • Somebody needs to go to prison for this. It is time the kid-gloves come off. Otherwise Microsoft will just overstep worse and worse until we eventually have a real catastrophe.

  • >"Windows update, and rebooted to find Microsoft Edge automatically open with the Chrome tabs[] I don't use Microsoft Edge regularly, and I have Google Chrome"

    Yeesh. Let me fix that for you:
    Linux + Firefox.

  • If you run Windows, you don't own your computer. Ownership implies control and veto power over shit like this. You may have paid for the thing, and you're responsible for it, but you don't own it.

    This concept applies to many other things - HP printers spring to mind, but there are gazillions more.

  • They do not change. Microsoft is still run by psychopaths and complete muppets.
  • This is PC. Any app you run can access the app data of any other app you run. This is why modern OSs like Android partition off apps from each other. Due to legacy reasons PCs can't really do that. Maybe eventually we'll get sandboxing so each app runs in its own container but not today. That's still pretty expensive.

  • This is just more evidence that Windows is a boot sector virus. Its many tricks to try to get you to use Edge instead of Chrome or another browser really are deceptive and despicable. Is it any wonder why I am more than happy to pay a very significant Apple tax and use macOS? macOS doesn't try to push Safari on me. The only time it runs is when I click on a URL in something outside of Firefox and that's only because I just haven't gotten around to changing the default browser. This is even worse than t

  • Edge started stealing my Chrome data several months ago, and there were some obscure options to disable it...but they'd reset every day.

    I'd randomly start with a bunch of my Chrome tabs in Edge, some days not.

    Browser extensions too. They'd randomly appear.

    Today there was a notification at least, and a new option and interface to disable this.

    Will see if it actually works.

  • I was confused why all my tabs were suddenly logged out.

    Hahaha -- Edge could have gone all the way and stolen Chrome's cookies too -- so he'd still be logged in! (*)

    Of course, this behaviour seems very illegal.

    (*) Even though the cookies are encrypted, they apparently can be decrypted
    https://stackoverflow.com/ques... [stackoverflow.com]

  • It is all your fault for still using windows, dump it already!

  • ... Edge automatically opening after a Windows update ...

    90% of computers have an OS installed and users don't see a reason to change: Unix demanding fees and Linux bitching over policy means most owners/employees have never seen anything else. Microsoft knows they can do whatever they like: Windows 11 proves that. They suffered over the IE bundling fiasco but they're not the dominant browser nowadays, so they can claim ignorance.

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