Microsoft lambasts Google for sharing personal information of Android users
In the latest phase of its anti-Google campaign, dubbed "Scroogled," Microsoft has begun to highlight the fact that Android users' personal information is shared with developers every time they download an application.
The "Scroogled" website was updated on Tuesday with a new video detailing how a user's full name, email address, and the neighborhood where they live is passed from Google to an app maker every time software is downloaded from the Google Play store for Android. The campaign warns that this allows app makers to track what apps users buy, "even health related ones."
"Most app makers are trustworthy," the video states. "However, in the wrong hands, who knows what they'll do with your info?"
This transfer of information occurs every time a user buys an Android application from Google Play, Microsoft notes. The video shows information being collected to draw conclusions about a hypothetical issues, including the fact that they may be "overweight," have "cholesterol issues," or are "having a baby."
"Google does not clearly warn you that this transfer of personal info occurs every time you buy an app," Microsoft's campaign says. "It's not stated in the checkout process, on the receipt, or in your account history."
Of course, Microsoft's efforts are designed to push its own competing Windows Phone platform, which the company notes does not share such personal information with developers. For its part, Google has said its sharing practices are disclosed in the terms of service all users must agree to.
Greg Sullivan, Microsoft's senior manager for Windows Phone, told the Associated Press that he believes his company offers a "better alternative" for mobile users. He characterized Google's sharing of users' personal information as "nefarious."
Tuesday's update is the third major attack launched by Microsoft as part of its "Scroogled" campaign against Google.
In the first phase, Microsoft detailed how Google's algorithms go through users' personal emails to target them with advertisements. As an alternative, the Windows maker pushed its own Outlook email service.
The second "Scroogled" campaign explained how Google Shopping is a list of targeted ads that Microsoft believes "unsuspecting consumers assume are search results." Microsoft's alternative is Bing, which the company said provides "an honest search result."
The "Scroogled" website was updated on Tuesday with a new video detailing how a user's full name, email address, and the neighborhood where they live is passed from Google to an app maker every time software is downloaded from the Google Play store for Android. The campaign warns that this allows app makers to track what apps users buy, "even health related ones."
"Most app makers are trustworthy," the video states. "However, in the wrong hands, who knows what they'll do with your info?"
This transfer of information occurs every time a user buys an Android application from Google Play, Microsoft notes. The video shows information being collected to draw conclusions about a hypothetical issues, including the fact that they may be "overweight," have "cholesterol issues," or are "having a baby."
"Google does not clearly warn you that this transfer of personal info occurs every time you buy an app," Microsoft's campaign says. "It's not stated in the checkout process, on the receipt, or in your account history."
Of course, Microsoft's efforts are designed to push its own competing Windows Phone platform, which the company notes does not share such personal information with developers. For its part, Google has said its sharing practices are disclosed in the terms of service all users must agree to.
Greg Sullivan, Microsoft's senior manager for Windows Phone, told the Associated Press that he believes his company offers a "better alternative" for mobile users. He characterized Google's sharing of users' personal information as "nefarious."
Tuesday's update is the third major attack launched by Microsoft as part of its "Scroogled" campaign against Google.
In the first phase, Microsoft detailed how Google's algorithms go through users' personal emails to target them with advertisements. As an alternative, the Windows maker pushed its own Outlook email service.
The second "Scroogled" campaign explained how Google Shopping is a list of targeted ads that Microsoft believes "unsuspecting consumers assume are search results." Microsoft's alternative is Bing, which the company said provides "an honest search result."
Comments
Justin Bieber's monkey was scroogled by German officials. Am I using scroogled correctly? My spell check does not seem to know how to spell scroogle.
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I is great to see Microsoft making a complete fool of itself. Windows Phone is a complete failure because it is horrible. Funniest part of this is Microsoft does not mention all the information they have on people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eksodos
This is why my next phone will be a Microsoft Windows Phone. Microsoft is leading the way in terms of protecting the privacy of its users.
You'll also have security through obscurity as an added bonus.
I am not here to defend anyone but, dear Microsoft it is called Google checkout for merchants and developers , as in every business when you sell a product you see the details of your customers, whether it is an app or a book, by the way also customers can see the developers name,company name and the address , so it is equal , as you should be aware all email marketings are opt-out by default . I do not see any mistakes here , what is the problem to complain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
In the first phase, Microsoft detailed how Google's algorithms go through users' personal emails to target them with advertisements. As an alternative, the Windows maker pushed its own Outlook email service.
Unfortunately, Microsoft's web-based Outlook.com service doesn't support the IMAP protocol, the de facto standard for smart phone email access. I guess we can say Hotmail account holders who have now been upgraded to Outlook.com have been "Microsofted"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bullhead
I is great to see Microsoft making a complete fool of itself. Windows Phone is a complete failure because it is horrible. Funniest part of this is Microsoft does not mention all the information they have on people.
Agree, but the amount of information Microsoft has is getting less and less with each new attempt, they are running out of customers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hill60
You'll also have security through obscurity as an added bonus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by baconAndTrance
Hi
I am not here to defend anyone but, dear Microsoft it is called Google checkout for merchants and developers , as in every business when you sell a product you see the details of your customers, whether it is an app or a book, by the way also customers can see the developers name,company name and the address , so it is equal , as you should be aware all email marketings are opt-out by default . I do not see any mistakes here , what is the problem to complain.
So you think iPhone shared as much of user information to app devs as Android?
Quote:
Originally Posted by baconAndTrance
Hi
I am not here to defend anyone but, dear Microsoft it is called Google checkout for merchants and developers , as in every business when you sell a product you see the details of your customers, whether it is an app or a book, by the way also customers can see the developers name,company name and the address , so it is equal , as you should be aware all email marketings are opt-out by default . I do not see any mistakes here , what is the problem to complain.
Hey, new guy from the Googleplex, iOS app buyers don't have their personal information shared with app developers. Just an FYI. Remember, what seems "normal" in Mountain View may seem creepy or stalker-ish to the rest of the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Bonner
I agree this needs to change, and really don't understand how Google stays out of the headlines,
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? How everyone just kneel to the lord G.
(A bit off-topic).
Hmmm..... odd that the headline should choose a British rather than American spelling.....
Now if Microsoft developed Visual Studio for OSX and a decent Office suite that is well integrated with 10.8 that would be good.
Then Apple could do the same for Windows, after they focus more on iWork and other apps for OSX.
I agree with Microsoft.
Android is like the wild, wild, west, and you're basically playing russian roulette by being an Android user, and those users will get what they deserve.
If it's a purchase in iBooks I believe Apple might be sharing your contact information with the developer. Wasn't that one of the concessions Apple made for the magazine/newspaper publishers?
In general tho Apple and Google look at the developer's differently. In Google Play a paying customer is not Google's, it's the developer's. At Apple they keep the customer's to themselves as a rule, with iBooks being at least one exception.