Microsoft now thirstily injects a poll when you download Google Chrome

Microsoft now thirstily injects a poll when you download Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge now pops up a poll after you press the “Download Chrome” button. | Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Google Chrome download in Microsoft’s Edge web browser? How many times will the company try to steer me away?

Let’s check!

One:

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

“There’s no need to download a new web browser,” reads the top of a search for “Chrome download” in Microsoft Edge.

Two:

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

“Microsoft edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft,” reads a pop-up that appears after you land on Google’s site.

Three:

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

“We love having you! Can you please take a minute to tell us why you are trying another browser?” reads a new pop-up poll.

Four:

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

“Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft,” reads an injected ad that appeared after my download.

Four.

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

To be fair, it did appear after the download was finished.

The pop-ups are nearly two years old, and the injected ads are from earlier this year. The poll seems to be new, though — Neowin reports it first saw the poll last weekend.

But hey, it could be worse:

I cannot believe how many stories we’ve written about the shit Microsoft has pulled to steer you away from Chrome. Even today, the company still won’t always respect your choice of default browser, though that may finally be changing in the EU.

Sadly the poll doesn’t include an “I’m boycotting Edge because you don’t respect me as a user” option.