Microsoft has just launched its Bing Wallpaper application on the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11, but this seemingly innocuous new feature hides controversial practices that raise serious questions. It would be far too intrusive for users’ tastes.
Engineer Rafael Rivera (@WithinRafael) has taken a deep dive into the code of Microsoft’s new app, Bing Wallpaper, revealing some disturbing findings. Behind his simple promise of “ refresh your wallpaper daily with beautiful images from around the world », the application hides behaviors that are intrusive to say the least.
First alarming point: the application accesses cookies from your browsers (Edge, Firefox and Chrome) and uses a geolocation API. Even more worrying, she automatically installs Bing Visual Search without explicit consent from the user.
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Bing Wallpaper is problematic, the application is quite intrusive
But that’s not all. The application actively attempts to change your browser settings, aggressively pushing the Bing search engine and attempting to impose Microsoft Edge as the default browser. She even goes so far as to assert, misleadingly, that “ you have already installed the Microsoft Bing Search extension », encouraging users to activate it.
« These practices are dangerously reminiscent of those of malware », Underlines a cybersecurity expert. “ A simple wallpaper app shouldn’t need access to so much personal data ».
Fortunately, reliable alternatives exist, and the same is true on Android. Dynamic Theme offers the same Bing wallpapers without the invasive features. WinDynamicWallpaper allows you to change wallpapers according to the time, while Lively Wallpaper, winner of the 2023 Microsoft Store App Awards, offers animated and interactive wallpapers.
Microsoft has not yet officially reacted to these revelations. This situation raises in any case important questions about the company’s practices regarding user privacy and transparency. For users who have already installed the application, it is recommended to check their browsing settings and disable unwanted extensions. This situation reminds us of the importance of remaining vigilant, even with applications from large software publishers.
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