this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
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[–] Teknikal@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I found edge mysteriously on my phone yesterday I'm not sure if the culprit was the bing app or the Microsoft launcher (not my main launcher I was just curious).

One thing I do know is I didn't install edge myself I use mull.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In what wild wild west can one app install another on your phone?

[–] Rootiest@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] kautau@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Surely that permission must be granted on install, no? Can’t imagine installing an MS app and granting “install whatever you want” permissions

[–] Rootiest@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

There is a permission for it yes.

On newer Android versions you typically aren't prompted when you install the app but rather the first time it attempts to initiate an install of another app (or update itself)

[–] Teknikal@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That was my thought also I am on Android 13 and even double checked the permissions on the two Microsoft apps I had installed. I'll be watching to see if this happens again or to anyone else as I immediately removed edge once noticing it.

Shouldn't be possible I would never voluntarily download it, yet it got on my device somehow.

[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 6 points 1 year ago

I bet the Bing app is full of trackers.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

OK, that really makes me suspicious that they're installing Bing via MS Authenticator app as well.. Bing app showed up on my phone and I just noticed it yesterday. Hmmmm.

[–] kersk@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

They also rolled out some change where long pressing on text in android would suggest bing search. I found out that happens if you just have their outlook app installed. Never uninstalled something so fast.