Avast ye, landlubbers! Beware, ye Windows 11 scallywags, fer Microsoft may be sharin' yer Outlook messages without yer knowledge. Fear not, I'll show ye how to put a stop to it!
2024-01-18
Arrr, me hearties! The outlook be bleak fer ye privacy! Windows 11 be settin' Outlook for Windows as th' email app, but beware, mateys, as it be snitchin' on yer data like a parrot squawkin' from its perch!
Microsoft’s new Outlook for Windows app is reportedly sharing more user data than people may realize, including emails, contacts, browsing history, and possibly location data. This discovery is concerning as Outlook for Windows is now the default program for emails in Windows 11. The team at ProtonMail, a competitor to Outlook, has labeled the app a "surveillance tool for targeted advertising." Users have to manually opt out of sharing their data with each of the 772 companies involved, a time-consuming and annoying process.This isn't the first time Microsoft has faced privacy concerns. Last year, serious privacy concerns were raised with Windows 11, as data was being collected and sent to Microsoft and possibly third-party servers. However, we should consider that ProtonMail is a direct competitor of Microsoft's email services, and their criticism of Outlook for Windows may be motivated by self-interest. It's also worth noting that Outlook for Windows is a free app, so some argue that Microsoft can support it by providing user data to third parties.
If users want to opt out of data sharing, they can do so in the Advertising Preferences section of their Outlook for Windows settings. However, there is no single button to deselect all advertisers, so users may have to spend time deselecting each one individually. It's important for users to pay attention to user agreements and disclaimers for free apps like Outlook for Windows to understand how much of their data is being shared and who has access to it.
Overall, while the sharing of user data by default may be the price to pay for free apps, Microsoft has made it easier to turn off data sharing compared to ProtonMail. Nevertheless, users should be cautious and informed about the extent of their data sharing.