Microsoft has released the Bing Wallpaper app, which updates your desktop background daily using images from the Bing home page. However, underneath this seemingly harmless tool are hidden features that threaten the security and privacy of users. Among them: automatic installation of extensions, interference with browser settings and tracking the user’s geolocation without his consent.
Image source: bingwallpaper.microsoft.com
Available on the Windows Store, Bing Wallpaper offers users a collection of images from around the world previously featured on the Bing homepage. At first glance, the application seems like a convenient tool for personalizing your desktop, but the results of an analysis conducted by expert Rafael Rivera indicate otherwise. The program seamlessly integrates Bing Visual Search, decrypts cookies from third-party browsers, and adds a geolocation API that allows you to track the user’s location. All this happens without notification or consent of users, which raises serious concerns.
The app also tries to change system settings, forcing Microsoft Edge to be the default browser. If Edge is not installed, Bing Wallpaper will initiate the launch of your current browser after a while, prompting you to activate the Microsoft Bing Search extension. These actions, according to Rivera, are aimed at imposing the Microsoft ecosystem on users. He published a list of extensions that the program automatically adds to the Chrome and Firefox browsers, emphasizing the need to block them to minimize the risk of data leaks and protect privacy.
Image Source: @WithinRafael/X
In addition, Bing Wallpaper uses server-side settings that allow you to manage its functionality discreetly. Features discovered include: a registry key that allows you to forcefully uninstall an application. Rivera calls this feature the “self-destruct function” and points out its potential danger. Such mechanisms call into question the ethics of Microsoft’s actions and increase users’ suspicions about the real goals of a given software solution.
User reaction to Bing Wallpaper has been extremely negative. The Internet community criticized Microsoft for imposing its product, comparing Bing Wallpaper to malware. One user noted that if something is free, then you are the product. Some Windows users even proposed organizing a class action lawsuit, arguing their decision was a violation of privacy and interference with personal space.
For those looking for safe alternatives to Bing Wallpaper, there are proven solutions. Apps like Wallpaper Engine and Dynamic Wallpaper give you plenty of options to customize your desktop without compromising your privacy. In addition, Windows 11 already comes with a built-in automatic wallpaper changer feature that allows you to update your desktop background daily without the need for third-party software.