Exclusive - Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google & Firefox Users?
Friday, January 12th, 2007;
-- Andy Beal |
UPDATE: Here’s the official word from Yahoo spokesperson Terrell Karlsten. They’re claiming they don’t upgrade users to IE7 and their reasons for switching your settings? Everyone else does it.
Yahoo! Messenger’s update process does not download IE7 to a user’s computer. As part of the Yahoo! Messenger update process, people have the choice to download Yahoo! Toolbar, set Yahoo.com as their homepage and set Yahoo! Search as their search engine. This is an industry-wide practice….IE7 is not bundled into the Yahoo! Messenger update process.
UPDATE 2: Jarrod’s added a comment that suggests that IE7 was not added as part of the download, as he first described to us. All other aspects described below are known to be accurate, including changing the default browser to IE, changing the default homepage to Yahoo and changing the default search engine to Yahoo. The post has been updated.
========
The power struggle between Yahoo and Google for your desktop just took an evil turn, with evidence that suggests Yahoo is covertly trying to switch Google search users without their explicit permission.
Over email, Jarrod Hunt of Text Link Brokers explained how a recent upgrade to Yahoo Messenger includes an innocuous “auto-update†option. When the user gives Yahoo permission to “update†– what they think is just Yahoo Messenger – the updater downloads IE 7 (which we already know to be buggy) and then proceeds to hijack many browser preferences – including search engine settings.
The updater’s first sneaky switch is to associate all web links to IE instead of the user’s default browser – in Jarrod’s case all links started opening in IE instead of Firefox. The next step in the process is an ambiguous error message saying your search settings have been changed and would you like to either “fix settings†or “allow changeâ€. Thinking you are about to have your browser settings switched away from your default; most users – like Jarrod - will click “fix settingsâ€. Upon doing so, they’ll find their homepage is now switched to Yahoo as the default!
If you think that’s sneaky, wait until you see what happens next!
Not only does Yahoo hijack your homepage, it also switches IE’s default search engine to Yahoo, without permission. Jarrod didn’t even realize that this had changed until the Google Toolbar displayed a warning that an attempt had been made to switch the default search engine from Google to Yahoo.
Can you believe that such a battle is going on for your search settings? Is Yahoo deliberately using old-school spyware tactics to try and win new users, are they that desperate?
I’m emailing Yahoo for a response. Maybe they’ll blame Microsoft on this one, maybe it’s an isolated incident. Or, maybe it is what it is – a battle for your browser, which just turned a little more sinister.
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January 12th, 2007 at 11:05 am
[…] Andy Beal and Jarrod Hunt reveal tactics Yahoo is using to get your preferences to switch to Yahoo. If you upgrade to Yahoo Messenger it will also try to download and install IE7 (ewww), and then it switches the browser default from FireFox et al to IE7 and search engine settings to use Yahoo. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Just another step in the road to Yahoo and MS partnering.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:48 am
[…] Be careful loading Yahoo’s latest stuff (I hate this) I hate it when companies try to change my system’s defaults. It’s a messy world out there. Andy Beal warns people about Yahoo’s latest stuff. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am
When yahoo changes the default search engine hell brakes loose. When google does the same, everyone likes it.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:59 am
I cant wait to see how this progresses over the next couple years.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
[…] Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google & Firefox Users? These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
“Not only does the Yahoo download of IE 7 high-jack your homepage, it also switches IE’s default search engine to Yahoo, without permission.”
You do realize you are downloading the Yahoo! version of IE7, you really didnt expect it to do that?
January 12th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
[…] Andy Beal warns that Yahoo is covertly trying to switch Google search users without their explicit permission. Case in point: When the user gives Yahoo permission to “update†– what they think is just Yahoo Messenger – the updater downloads IE 7 (which we already know to be buggy) and then proceeds to high-jack many browser preferences – including search engine settings. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Before you install the update, it clearly mentions in a side column what all it is going to do, and you have the choice doing a custom install.
So sneaky, but not without your consent.
January 12th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I don’t see where this is different from all the recent JRE (Sun java) updates that have the google toolbar autochecked.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
sensationalizing at it’s best! Oh yes, that’s how the site attracts readers.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
For some time now, I’ve distrusted Yahoo. Yahoo views users as prey, to be manipulated, prodded coerced, and sold.
As such, this news doesn’t surprise me but instead merely reinforces my already negative opinion of that company as a gang of ethically malodorous slimeballs ready and willing to descend to the same sorts of “sales” techniques normally seen on the slimiest porno sites.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I say up your med dosage a bit.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Just as with almost ANY new installation, the program (and the program provider) are going to set themselves up to be the default. Google’s programs do the same when you download them and in ALL instances both providers allow for setup options that allow you to stop the change and even *and this one may be tricky* go back and change it yourself.
Such an inconvenience.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Ho hum. This is small potatoes compared to what the telcoms would do in the 80’s-90’s. They’d be “slamming” millions of phone accounts changing your long distance carrier without permission.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
easy, wth has to do a instant messaging system instaling an explorer and changing your personal default settings, hum…
isn’t supposed that it should work the other way??
January 12th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
this is compelete rubbish. but hey, if it brings a traffic spike you’re all set i guess.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Nate - why is this rubbish? I would imagine that only 1% of Yahoo Messenger users are savvy enough to realize that Yahoo might switch settings. 99% will be duped into a switch they weren’t aware would happen.
I know my parents and siblings would be fooled into accepting the default changes and then struggle to figure out how to switch back.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I installed Google Earth 4 this morning, following an article about its improved 3D building views. When the install was complete, it gave me two options at the final dialog: did I want to start Google Earth (preselected), and did I want to make Google my default search engine in IE (also preselected.)
It was difficult to miss, right in the open like that. But I wonder if the two things are related.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Doesn’t your blog software automatically check your spelling? It’s “hijack” (or, if you must, “highjack”), not “high-jack”.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
That would be operator error - fixed the spelling. Thanks!
January 12th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Guys,
Let me make a quick point.
The part that got me steamed about all of this is Yahoo upgrading Internet Explorer.
I have used IE6 for a long time, for many reasons. I did not want to switch to IE7, be it with Yahoo’s settings or not.
When I logged into Yahoo IM yesterday it gave me a simple message asking me to update my IM version to the new Yahoo Live. It asked me, as part of the upgrade, if I would like to use the Auto-update feature. Normally I am skittish at-best of auto-updates, but hey why not do it right?
Well little did I know did they also planned on auto-updating Internet Explorer as well.
I’m sure they mentioned it in there somewhere, but it was not obvious.
And yes, I am a savvy internet user. It’s guaranteed that if I did, so would millions of others.
I’m not saying that other companies don’t do this shit. And I’m not saying its the end of the world.
But. it is being done none-the-less, and is definity news worthy.
The other thing that really gave me kicks was to see the tug-of-war between the Google toolbar and Yahoo toolbar, trying to prevent eachother from making changes. It would have made a great comic strip.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
[…] Andy Beal in a post titled “Exclusive - Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google & Firefox Users?” warns that accepting the update to Yahoo Messenger downloads IE7 and highjacks many of your browser’s preferences. What appears to be an “auto-update” for Yahoo Messenger may be more than it appears. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
This is not exclusive. I had reported this long back on 19th December on my website at http://www.dharwadkar.com/weblog/yahoo_badware and also reported to the stopbadware group.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Kudos for pointing this out, Andy (saw you on top of Reddit, too - nice work!).
I’d say that all’s fair in love and browser/search engine wars. I’m always concerned about Google’s domination of market share, and I hope this tactic, though a bit dirty, will help Yahoo! retrieve some of their share.
Of course, with Google being equally dirty with their “OMG, No! Don’t change away from us!” it’s not likely to cause much of a switch, IMO.
January 12th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
The thing that really steamed me about this was that I was not upgrading to IE7 for multiple reasons.
I upgraded to the new Yahoo IM because it is the IM we use for our internal ops.
The message that popped up about enabling auto-update said nothing about also updating Internet Explorer.
I was duped, and I’m sure there are plenty of others out there less internet savvy then I.
I’m not saying that other companies don’t do this, just that this seemed particularly sneaky.
The other funny part of it was watching the Google and Yahoo toolbars trying to prevent each other from changing setting. It was hilarious. One pop-up warning after the other. It would make a good comic strip.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
[…] I’ve written several drafts of my Yahoo IM “update” experience, but all turned into *major* rants. For a better summary see Marketing Pilgram’s post. […]
January 12th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Why does Google have a program solely dedicated to checking whether their search engine is the default? If you manually change from Google, it does the same thing.
I call FUD (a.k.a. bullshit) on this story.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Yahoo has always been a Hi-forced marketer. they might deliver your email to spamsters(just my opinion, since I got spam without ever giving out my email address at beginning signup). They allow bots in their chats, Advertising methods they use are IN-YOUR FACE. Google gmail and services do have advertising, but it is not offensive since they are useful programs that don’t overdo it(gmail,you can pause pointer over message and shows who’s it is from, Yahoo you can’t do that. That tells me Yahoo want’s you to open that spam because it is in Yahoo’s best interests. Your article does not suprise me.It is right on target.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Google has chosen itself to be the guardian of the user’s search settings and even a manual change of the search settings brings up the dialog box. I think that is a bit “Evil” on Google’s part.
The side column of the install clearly explains the consequences and I dont see it as “Dirty tactics” at all.
To label this story as currently titled is just pure sensationalism….
January 12th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I’d be more worried about Yahoo and other large internet companies and how they’ve been collaborating with the Chinese government and handing over details of dissidents and political opponents. This is nothing in comparison.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Why is this evil when Yahoo does it, but not when Google does it? It seems to me that they both do this.
So what’s the story? Why the Yahoo bashing?
January 12th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
[…] […]
January 12th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
This is what happens when you download the new IE7 “optimized for Yahoo.” The standard version of IE7 from Microsoft’s site doesn’t do this. If you don’t want Yahoo to optimize your browser, then don’t download the Yahoo-optimized version, idiot!
January 12th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
When Google “offers” to be your default search engine at least the request is in plain language and the options to decline are very clear.
Yahoo is sneaky, crafty, duplicitous, help me find the words.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
How about deceitful, deceitful, devious, dishonest, double-dealing, furtive, indirect, shifty, slippery, snaky, stealthy, unconscionable, unethical, wily?
When you download Yahoo’s version of IE7, that action alone implies that you want your browser to be optimized for Yahoo.
January 12th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
There are still a lot of people missing the point.
I did not download IE7. Yahoo automatically downloaded it for me as part of their auto-update program for Yahoo Instant Messenger. And nowhere, upfront, does it say that when you agree to let yahoo auto-update its Instant Messsnger, does it say that it will update other programs like IE.
But thats exactly what it did.
January 12th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
[…] Yahoo probeert met vieze spelletjes om je default zoekmachine te veranderen. Vooral de Firefox gebruikers zijn het doelwit. Tags: yahoo […]
January 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Ooooooh, ok. I guess I should have read the article more thoroughly. Apologies.
January 12th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
[…] […]
January 12th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Yahoo and Google have been doing this for years and years. This is not anything new. But now lets think about this for a second, Everybody is screaming about Yahoo making a few setting changes in your browser that you can easily change back but, Nobody seems to have a problem with google scanning your emails so they can serve you up with ads? Come on people, Sure what yahoo is doing might not be completely right, but google is just as bad if not worse. Google has become a straight up information whore, that knows more about what you do at your computer than you do! At least Yahoo smacks you in the face with it so your at least aware its happening.
January 12th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Confirmed.
YIM try to upgrade IE to IE7 (yahoo version) without permission and switch all settings from google to yahoo.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
I have a problem with any company that pulls this crap, including Google, Microsoft and a hundred others.
The point is that this is semi-new crap, and is worthy of being reported.
I want to hear every time one of these companies makes a major move like this.
It is important for people to hear about it.
And for any of you doubting this was a major move think about the tens of millions of Yahoo Instant Messenger users that got “auto-upgraded”.
I’m willing to bet that there were at least a few idiots like me that clicked on that seemingly harmless “Accept” button… It’s easy to assume that Yahoo & Microsoft gained millions of IE7/Yahoo users from this one stunt.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I can easily go through and switch everything back. but that’s not the point. I shouldn’t have too…
This is only the start of the year. We will have plenty of things to report on!
January 12th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
The point here, again, is that this is Yahoo Messenger, the chat function, doing a major screwing with the rest of your environment.
There was another update problem a few weeks ago, which I didn’t partake in. This is a new update.
This week’s Messenger Update window does not have a tickbox to say “leave me alone for a while about this update”.
I agree that Yahoo has been getting uglier for a while now, but many people like the yahoo life.
I agree that they are preying and underhanded in their tactics toward naive users.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
yahoo is nub, lol
January 12th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
This really seems so typical of the adjustments done by so many applications that share the browser, or use of certain file extensions.
Google does some very sneaky things, such as their attempts at invasion of privacy, and I see very little of the outcry that I see for even the most minor questionable things that Yahoo or the original evil empire, Microsoft, does. Its a Conspiracy!!!!
Some of you here should go back to your Google-shrines and continue worshiping your new God.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
John,
I’m sure Andy will be covering plenty of Google’s screw ups this year.
The year is still young.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
[…] Via Scobleizer i found this article at Marketing Pilgrim entitled "Exclusive - Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google & Firefox Users?". […]
January 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Hey, Google does the same thing. In Firefox, their toolbar resets the RSS mime type to Google, instead of my default (thunderbird). Let he without rocks…
January 12th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Brian,
We can list 100 more ways Google has messed up. I personally hate the fact that I’m still using Google Analytics. If I wasn’t already a user of Urchin win it was switched to Google, I probably would have never have used it.
Now I’m stuck with years of Analytics history in a program that takes me 3-6 hours to get updates from. I’m just now seeing the few clicks that trickled in from this post early this morning (over 6 hours ago).
Anways, we can rant on Google another time.
What ever happened to being able to bash a company for doing something shady, without having to bash all of its competitors too at the same time.
There are plenty of stories out there talking about what Google and Microsoft have done thats been shady.
It’s ok to bash just one company at a time folks….
January 12th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
This story is a lie. Messenger does *NOT* install IE 7. If you look at the video below, you’ll see it installs the Yahoo! toolbar, changes the search engine setting, and changes the home page. That’s it. And of course you can turn them off if you choose.
http://news.com.com/1606-2-6144280.html
It seems odd to me that people are too lazy to click a button and a few checkboxes, but will spend the time to bitch about the evil install experience on a forum like this.
January 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
[…] Yahoo using dirty tactics: switching default homepage […]
January 12th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Holy Crap DaveC,
You’re right. I’m looking at the version number in IE. It’s still IE6. I assumed that the new “Tabs” I was seeing were because of an upgrade to IE7. I have had IE6 for years now, and did not plan on upgrading.
The new tabs I am seeing are part of Yahoo’s new toolbar. Don’t I feel like an Ass.
So it appears that the only story here is how clever they were to get me to “Agree” to letting them install their new Toolbar and messing with my Browser settings.
So I guess I’m the fool for not over analyzing every little message Yahoo throws my way. I guess I just trusted that after 2 years of using their product they would treat me with a little more courtesy.
Yahoo, Google, MSN… Please dont assume I want you to switch my browser settings everytime I download, or upgrade, one of your other tools.
And if your going to make me go dig through custom settings in order to prevent you from changing all my shit, you should expect more rants like this.
January 12th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Why is google informing the user when its search has been changed? Yahoo is guilty for this, but Google is also guilty for monitoring the default search page - I don’t care whether its for security or not - that uses memory (maybe a small amount, but polling still takes up memory).
Plus Google isn’t doing this for our security, but moreso to ensure that it makes it trickier to change the default search page away from them. Toolbars suck, especially Google, Alexa and Yahoo bars. You don’t need them in this day and age - all browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera) have addons that can give you whatever feature you need and want.
January 13th, 2007 at 12:44 am
[…] Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | live it! Filed under Internet Explorer 7, I ain’t happy aboutthis….. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 12:45 am
[…] More details can be found on Andy Beal’s blog. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 1:35 am
[…] O artigo original pode ser encontrado aqui. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 1:45 am
All these little toolbars and additonal thingies are useless garbage. Screen clutter. I see so many people’s computers with a bajillion icons all over the desktop for programs they do not use but were installed “as a courtesy” and oh-so-helpfully plastered shortcuts to themselves all over the place. Just a pain in the ass if you ask me.
January 13th, 2007 at 3:15 am
What a suprise??
What you are saying is done by Yahoo! has been the standard for a long time! nothing new here!
January 13th, 2007 at 5:30 am
I guess that is Yahoo’s response to Google’s copying of their IE7 update page!!
January 13th, 2007 at 6:42 am
[…] Yahoo using dirty tactics: switching default homepage […]
January 13th, 2007 at 8:43 am
@53. Soooo…lemme get this straight. A guy that has a career built around the internet didn’t even THINK to do “Help About” to confirm whether his browser was really updated or not before informing the world? Brilliant!!!! Typical of the blogosphere now. In the rush to link whore simple fact checking goes out the window. Good luck finding that credibility you just lost.
January 13th, 2007 at 10:06 am
[…] … and hijacks settings WITHOUT ASKING END USER as you can read here. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 10:38 am
DP,
Yep, I got duped.
1 up for Yahoo’s clever new toolbar and auto-update feature..
January 13th, 2007 at 11:43 am
i have had the problem of yahoo and google trying to be my search browser i am using msn and i find yahoo and google in my computer programs i deleat them as it it is sneaky way to gather more data.i feel they have enough info on me in ther data base why do the want to control other peaples choices
January 13th, 2007 at 11:44 am
ALL of this reminds me of why I personally dumped the Windows platform years ago…
I never see this problem on the LINUX or Mac machines I maintain; it’s only a problem on the Microsoft OS.
January 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
[…] This article on a website called Marketing Pilgrim is quite a disturbing one. It tells of some sneaky tricks being played on users of Yahoo Messenger. Ask yourself this: if you, or your friends and family, or colleagues at work, were faced with the options “Yes, fix settings” or “No, allow change”, would you always think very hard about which to click? All the blurb above the choice tells you is that your browser settings have been changed. I know so many people who would click the “fix” button in a trusting way, only to find that their homepage is changed and the default search browser in Internet Explorer is also changed. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Well I haven’t tried it really. I don’t like toolbars. But I tried Yahoo Messenger just before IE7 was released and it came with many bundled options. It sounds like Yahoo can’t believe someone really downloaded their software and they want to make the most out of it. It will be interesting to hear their comments.
January 13th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Sadly, default search in Opera Mini was also suddenly changed to Yahoo a few days ago, without any prior notification and without an easy way to change it back.
January 13th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I haven’t installed Yahoo Mess(enger) on this computer since I bought it a couple of months ago. But I experienced this on my last computer. A friend stayed with me for several days last year and during the visit decided to install Yahoo Messenger on my computer. I guess she figured that since we had used it to chat in the past, that I wouldn’t mind if she installed it. And normally I wouldn’t except she didn’t change any of the options during the install.
Yep, I got the Yahoo Toolbar (that I don’t use). I got some crap for Yahoo mail (that I don’t use). I got three or four other things that I also un-installed via Ad/Remove Programs. I also had to change my default search engine back to Google (took me a little while to figure out.
The most annoying thing, though, was some weird translation tips or something. When you hovered over some words in the browser, you would get a pop-up tip with some translation in a language I didn’t know. I have no idea exactly what it was and couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it. It stayed on my PC until it died a couple of months back.
January 14th, 2007 at 1:08 am
[…] Andy Beal details a very interesting action Yahoo! seems to be doing when people upgrade the Yahoo Messenger. Not only do you get the Messenger updated but you also get the new IE 7 with most of the settings set to Yahoo as the default. […]
January 14th, 2007 at 1:19 am
I wouldn’t call it duped. I would call it jumping to conclusions without all the facts. Been using internet tools very long?
January 14th, 2007 at 11:46 am
[…] There has recently been some arguing back and forth between the big search providers from the US. Topic of discussion are the nasty tricks that the companies use when you install some of their software products. Currently, Yahoo is being accused of dirty tactics to switch the default search provider when people install a new version of Yahoo Messenger. I totally agree that Yahoo is not behaving very well here, but hey… all the big search engines do exactly the same! So why does everybody point the finger at Yahoo? […]
January 14th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
[…] .Did you know that Hunt means the act or sport of hunting: an enthusiast for the hunt.. Okay, okay you may have heard on the news: is Yahoo Employing Dirty Tricks In The Search Wars As the search engine wars have heated up, the browser’s search box has become some valuable real estate. Last spring, Google threatened Microsoft with anti-trust complaints due to Microsoft’s making its own search engine the default of IE7’s search box. And of course, Google has sewn up deals with Firefox and Opera to be the default on those browsers. The battle over the search boxes appears to have hit a low, as there are claims that Yahoo is surreptitiously changing the default search engine to its own, in IE7, when users download an update to their Yahoo IM software. Aaccording to the people making the claim, Yahoo lets users check an “auto update” box, which then messes with the makes several changes to a user’s defaults. It’s not clear yet whether this was an isolated incident, or whether Yahoo has some sort of legitimate explanation, but if it has no defense, then it’s a pretty bad and invasive tactic for a company of its stature to be using.Did you know that Tricks means a prostitute’s customer. this is worth your time […]
January 14th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
this is ridiculous… I haven’t read thru all the comments but how can Yahoo think they can get away with this in the age of scrutiny?
January 15th, 2007 at 5:27 am
[…] Be careful when updateing Yahoo! Messenger. Yahoo is switching settings in an underhanded way. If you are not careful your default browser will be changed to Internet Explorer 7 and homepage and default search engine will be changed to Yahoo! Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
January 15th, 2007 at 10:41 am
[…] [Fonte: Marketing Pilgrim] […]
January 15th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
[…] En Marketing Pilgrim recibieron un comentario del vocero público de Yahoo, Terrell Karlsten, explicando que esta táctica la emplean porque en su opinión es lo más común. […]
January 15th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
[…] Desde [Marketing Pilgrim: Exclusive - Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google & Firefox Users? ] […]
January 15th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
[…] con el update del yahoo messenger […]
January 15th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Here is intresting people… Lets talk…
January 15th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
[…] Yahoo knows what homepage, browser and search engine you want. Makes it very clear that to fail to dis-un-re-non-activate this change, please do not fail to enjoy un clicking here. […]
January 16th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
“The point here, again, is that this is Yahoo Messenger, the chat function, doing a major screwing with the rest of your environment.
Bullshit.
This happens IF YOU CHOOSE TO INSTALL THE YAHOO TOOLBAR.
Google does the EXACT SAME THING.
January 18th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
[…] Yahoo, fighting off falling search share, is fighting back by downloading IE7 and changing user preferences if you try to upgrade Yahoo! Messenger. […]
January 29th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I knew they were evil. It doesn’t stop there, you should see what they did to our account when we switched over to the Panama platform. We now have keywords in places they do not belong, ads without headlines and descriptions and new rules invoked upon our site. They have obviously turned into a puppet of Microsoft, and are willing to be Microsoft’s lap dog for a few extra searches. It is sad how a once promising company has stooped so low.
January 31st, 2007 at 2:36 am
[…] As the search engine wars have heated up, the browser’s search box has become some valuable real estate. Last spring, Google threatened Microsoft with anti-trust complaints due to Microsoft’s making its own search engine the default of IE7’s search box. And of course, Google has sewn up deals with Firefox and Opera to be the default on those browsers. The battle over the search boxes appears to have hit a low, as there are claims that Yahoo is surreptitiously changing the default search engine to its own, in IE7, when users download an update to their Yahoo IM software. According to the people making the claim, Yahoo lets users check an “auto update” box, which then makes several changes to a user’s defaults. It’s not clear yet whether this was an isolated incident, or whether Yahoo has some sort of legitimate explanation, but if it has no defense, then it’s a pretty bad and invasive tactic for a company of its stature to be using. […]
February 4th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
[…] Here is the article detailing the situation. It includes screen shots. […]
February 10th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Lol….
I think the wars between google and the others are just starting to heat up.
Who knows what they will start doing next
jMan
http://searchengine.jeremygaul.com/
February 12th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I would appreciate it if I could have a google home page without yahoo popping up over it
March 17th, 2007 at 7:54 am
I use a mix of yahoo and Google. i will search with Google but i have a yahoo account. I did not like it though, when my homepage was changed and IE7 was installed.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I just want to get rid of the advertising. Yeah, I know, Yahoo’s TOS doesn’t allow that. Regardless, I bet someone has written a blocker and I’m looking for one. If I don’t find one, I’m dumping YM and sticking with Trillian.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:55 am
[…] » noticia original […]
April 18th, 2007 at 7:27 am
There is no power struggle between Google and Yahoo. The very concept in 2007 is a joke. Market share numbers alone reveal that (surprise lol) Google has won hands-down. Microsoft has kept Yahoo in business which is what last year’s “strategic partnership” was all about. Since that agreement and major cash payment to Yahoo, all of Yahoo’s important programs (except search) like IM are licensed from Microsoft; there’s little question that Microsoft will end up buying Yahoo ~ it’s just a matter of time. Google isn’t any angel but Yahoo’s behavior this past year make them look like one. Here’s the thing I like about Google most beside the fact that they’re the largest and most powerful software company on earth by market capitalization alone ~ (1) unlike anyone else, they have Microsoft’s respect (some would say fear lol); (2) unlike Yahoo or Microsoft, Google puts their TOS / EULA’s in plain language that even you and I can read ~ heck, 99.9% of ppl using Windows can’t even understand the what each of 3,000+ programs in Windows Vista Ultimate/Enterprise DO. XP wasn’t much better in the verbiage catagory. Microsoft and its baby clone Yahoo don’t want you to understand this stuff because if you did… well, you fill in the rest of that sentence from your own experience with Windows. Maybe you adore Windows and think Microsoft actually cares even the tiniest bit about you ~ fine, can you understand their TOS / EULA’s? My husband’s a corporate attorney and even he can’t. This to me is not a good sign of honorable intentions on Yahoo and Microsoft’s part. The one major difference between Yahoo and Microsoft is that Yahoo lies right to your face ~ at least Microsoft is shrewd enough to obfuscate the truth.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:30 am
^^^sorry for typo, Microsoft of course is the largest software co, Google #2^^
May 7th, 2007 at 5:48 am
This is not a good idea, bad luck Yahoo!
May 14th, 2007 at 11:08 am
The war between Yahoo and Goole was good for users.
I was pleased with that.
June 6th, 2007 at 10:58 am
You know, this isn’t much different to what the Google toolbar, or most of the other things that Google creates. They all let you import settings from other companies products in an automated fashion, but not export them to other programs.
June 7th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
It’ll only get worse. At least Google uses clear language when they want real estate on your desktop. Yahoo uses “Microsoft-speak” the purpose of which is to confuse you and set Yahoo as default everything. Yahoo’s Microsoft strategic partnership wants to push IE on you ~ if you ask Yahoo customer service, they’ll acknowledge that their IM client works best with IE. You can just say no to all of them and set wikipedia or an search engine “without tracks” like ixquick as your default browser in FF.
June 21st, 2007 at 9:35 am
Ok..so when does the lawsuit start? Isn’t that where situations like this normally end up? Then everyone gets publicity and blog traffic.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:14 am
[…] Yahoo Using Dirty Tactics to Switch Google Users Andy Beal with a very popular post on Yahoo with some shifty ideas […]
September 10th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Yahoo! seems to do strange behaviors in the last decade! Every time they do this, they lose recognition and reputation…
September 27th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Yahoo Search Marketing will do anything to take your $$$.
They are very sneaky into getting you to pay big $$$ for each “click” without you even realizing it. 24 hours later…you’re down at least $50.00….even $100…on up…with nothing to show for it!
Google Adwords and MSN are so much better!
October 11th, 2007 at 11:17 am
[…] Andy Beal details a very interesting action Yahoo! seems to be doing when people upgrade the Yahoo Messenger. Not only do you get the Messenger updated but you also get the new IE 7 with most of the settings set to Yahoo as the default. […]
November 24th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
[…] yahoo and LiveSearch aggressively compete to be the default engine on computers and participate in “covert” switches during software installs. Google has done a little of this, […]
December 29th, 2007 at 4:04 am
[…] Give this little article a read. Becareful if you use that Yahoo toolbar thing. I know it comes packaged with some new computers these days. Mine did, and I promptly uninstalled it before ever hooking up my Internet. If you do uninstall it, make sure you uninstall all the Yahoo compontents except the one you want to keep. The toolbar is completely useless in my opinion. Plus, with Yahoo using annoying spyware tactics, makes me not want to use their products. Oh well, their e-mail and messenger are useable, but that’s about it. […]
January 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
How is that related specifically to Google? If toolbar “fixes” settings it will change whatever search engine you have there.
February 12th, 2008 at 3:47 am
they are ba****rds of the first degree,using such lowdown tactics,should be ashmed of themselves.now on i swiched all my emails to gmail.yahoo lost its respect i hope others will follow my way soon.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
yahoo search has hijacked my firefox address bar (use to type in any word and firefox would go to the most obvious place or redirect to google). i’m pissed.
March 30th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Google are a front for all the 3 letter government agencies to spy on people. Since 911 Google has come from nowhere to a point where people now say google this and that like it’s mainstream language.
Microshaft don’t care what you do as long as you buy their products. They are like Boyscouts compared to Googles agenda.
For a clean search engine I use searchalot.com as I have for years.