New Windows driver blocks software from changing default web browser
New Windows driver blocks software from changing default web browser
Microsoft is now using a Windows driver to prevent users from changing the Windows 10 and Windows 11 default browser manually or through software.
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Posts like these reveal how many reads the article.
This is a good thing done by Microsoft. They make sure that 3rd party software can't change the default browser without the user knowing.
They will get prompted with the choice screen showing all installed browsers. And when they make their choice, even Edge wouldn't be able to prey people into clicking a button that makes it the default instead.
In principal, the change is good for reasons you mentioned. However microsoft has :
- bypassed any default screens in the past, allowing edge to be set default without user input.
- has added very annoying screens when changing default applications asking the user multiple times if they are sure.
- has added special protocols for applications and set edge as default browser to bypass default application settings in all office applications ( outlook, teams, word, ... ).
They just can not be trusted with this, they have proven this in the past...
No, they can't be trusted. That's why they are forced to do it by the EU to comply to the DMA.
This may only be released in the EU, also.
Posts like this reveal how many people believe every word a megacorp PR dept announces
More like how many believe their own stupid head-canon without reading or confirming shit.
It's literally to comply with the EU. Microsoft doesn't do this to be nice.
No, somebody speculated it's to comply with the EU. The rest of us are speculating that it's to push up their market share.
Considering that Edge makes itself the default browser and even PDF reader on its own every few weeks, I don't trust Microsoft to keep Edge from taking over as default without user input.
They'd have to. They don't make the change so they can be nice. It's probably also only for EU users, when it releases.
Nope the article state
However, this new driver has also rolled out to Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices in the USA that do not have to comply with the DMA act, shedding doubt on this theory.
No they don't. At most they just have to detect automatic changes and ask the user to confirm. They have no reason for forcing the user to dig into menus and then also repeatedly override that same choice.
Hahahahahaha, right, right. Hahahaha
And I did read the article. No, this is MS continually pushing users into Edge.
"Kolbicz believes this change may be to comply with Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA)" (emphasis mine).
"BleepingComputer contacted Microsoft about the lockdown of these Registry keys in March, but they said they had nothing to share at this time."
The dma only speaks about easily changing the default application. It has nothing to do with this.
What the dma did allow was the "complete" uninstall of edge in windows 11.
The only thing that is left behind i noticed is the edge webview component for webview & webview2
The "choose the default app" modal has special code that makes it say "HEY BTW EDGE EXISTS CLICK HERE" If the modal is for choosing your default browser. It is absolutely about control.
So many headline readers. To be honest, 99% of these problems that folks rage about could be resolved with a group policy (local or domain). The problem is, Windows is like 73% of worldwide OS usage, so like it or not, there is a lot of trying to protect the user from themselves. Team Linux can't fathom that because they come from the perspective that they can build thier experience from the ground up to be exactly as they like. The VAST majority of people don't want that, they want something that works and they don't really care what happens behind the curtains. I would wager that 90% of users could care less what browser they use (or would even notice if it changed!) as long as they still had access to their bookmarks.
I would like to share a positive experience from this new driver the article is about. I use notepad++ and setting it as the default was kind of a pain in the butt. It would work sometimes, but not consistently, and often depended on a registry hack or symlink to work. Now with the new interface for default apps, as long as I have the new Windows Notepad app installed when I change the defaults for "open with", it just works! For all the file extensions, all the time. Honestly it's a much better experience and it's ACCESSIBLE to the lay person.