May 5, 2023
Microsoft collecting data for its search engine functionality
Last week, Reddit users discovered that the latest version of Microsoft Edge appears to be sending the full URLs of nearly every page visited by users to the Bing API website, alarming the online community, as it could potentially lead to privacy issues.
Upon learning of these reports, Microsoft promptly initiated an investigation into the matter. According to the Verge, Microsoft Edge now includes a "creator follow" feature, which is enabled by default. The feature was intended to notify Bing when users visit specific pages, such as YouTube, The Verge, and Reddit. However, it seems that this feature isn't working as intended, sending almost every domain visited by users to Bing.
As Microsoft investigates these reports, it's crucial for users to be aware of potential privacy risks and take proactive measures to protect their online privacy. Here are some tips you can follow:
Use privacy-focused browsers: Consider using browsers known for their commitment to user privacy, such as Mozilla Firefox or Brave.
Adjust browser settings: Tweak your browser settings to maximize privacy protection, including disabling features that may compromise your data.
Be cautious with ads: If an ad seems too good to be true or is promoting something that's not relevant to the site you're visiting, it might be best to avoid clicking on it.