Microsoft's latest search trick: making people believe they are using Google instead of Bing

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Facepalm: Despite being the world's second-largest search engine, Bing continues to hold a minuscule market share compared to Google. Microsoft is clearly dissatisfied with this disparity and is making every effort to drive even a modest increase in user traffic, even if it borders on being unethical.

Microsoft recently introduced another tactic in its ongoing efforts to encourage users to choose Bing over Google. The Redmond-based corporation seems acutely aware that many users search for "Google" on Bing, and it has devised a strategy to capitalize on this behavior, setting up what can only be described as a clever "trap" for this specific query.

As first reported by Windows Latest, users who search for "Google" on Bing without being signed into a Microsoft account encounter a uniquely designed page. This page features a central search box styled to resemble a Google Doodle, while standard Bing search results appear below.

Interestingly, the design conceals the traditional Bing search box at the top of the page, steering users toward the central box to process their queries through Bing's servers. The imitation Google page appears across Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers, disappearing only when the user logs into their Microsoft account.

Microsoft has employed various tactics to force users into adopting Bing and Edge in the past, but resorting to imitating Google's homepage marks a new low for the Redmond company. Even the recently released official Bing app has been observed engaging in questionable, malware-like behavior on users' PCs to further advance Microsoft's business agenda.

The real issue lies in Microsoft's monopolistic approach to technology – though it's worth noting that many other companies employ similar strategies to maximize profits and minimize expenses. Google, for instance, which was recently declared a monopoly in the search engine market by US authorities, is also notorious for leveraging its dominant position to stifle competition.

Google often displays notifications on its websites, encouraging users to download and use the Chrome browser instead of Edge or Firefox. However, even in light of the US Department of Justice's recent ruling, Google's tactics appear significantly less aggressive compared to Microsoft's relentless push to promote Bing.

Permalink to story:

Microsoft's latest search trick: making people believe they are using Google instead of Bing

 

[unoficialoficial]

Some thoughts about the default page on Bing. The bottom of the page is full of small thumbnails, which can be a bit hard to focus on and they are not very engaging. It would be nice if they could make them a bit bigger and hidden by default, with the labels also hidden. Only when the user clicks on the top arrow should they be shown.
I'd suggest making the logo in the upper left corner in a circle or with slightly rounded corners and make it’s design more visually attractive. It'd also be great to add small neon style icons before the labels at the top and bring to the front the translation label, which is currently hidden. Another idea is to remove the location and replace it with the mail icon and label (they have already Outlook domain, but maybe they could create and a new fresh domain with the name of the engine ex bingmail). I'd also recommend removing the NSFW filter by default and of course, improving the copilot's model. Even their Phi4 14B is smarter, as you can see in the screenshot below.

 

[noel24]

At this point Google Search is useless, one big advertisement of not-the-thing-You-looked-for, but for what They-wanna-sell-You.
DuckDuckGo gives more hassle-free experience, mostly based on BingSearch, so in the long run They don't have to fight too hard, should just let Google destroy Itself.
Until one day They take Google's place as the bad guy and destroy themselves.
Big circle of life.

 

[NumberNine]

This will certainly work on the type of person who accesses google by searching for it.

 

[arrowflash]

I don't think Bing/Microsoft did this in bad faith, attempting to actually deceive users.

I actually laughed out loud the first time I saw it. Feels more like a light jab from Bing mocking their rival, with the typical soulless Corporate Memphis-style doodle and all. Most people in the online groups I visit have interpreted it this way, too.

 

[p51d007]

At this point Google Search is useless, one big advertisement of not-the-thing-You-looked-for, but for what They-wanna-sell-You.
DuckDuckGo gives more hassle-free experience, mostly based on BingSearch, so in the long run They don't have to fight too hard, should just let Google destroy Itself.
Until one day They take Google's place as the bad guy and destroy themselves.
Big circle of life.

I've been using DDG for years. For what I look for, if I can't find it on DDG, I probably don't need to find it anyway. ESPECIALLY without all the garbage associated with google.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I use DDG, but man it's hopeless. Often it just links to every product on 1 website and repeats over and over.
We are now in a situation where search is utterly broken be it Bing or Google search.

I at least use custom search string for Google search that stops you getting AI results when I find DDG useless. Sometimes it makes little difference, as Google is often useless, but sometimes it gives better results.

 

[spottedme]

I get that competition in tech can be cutthroat, but imitating Google like that feels really sneaky. It’s a shame that users have to navigate these tactics just to find what they’re looking for.

 

[Skully]

I really do dislike Microsoft and Google (Alphabet). I've been using Linux lately on the hopes to move away from Windows. But I can't find any search engine that's even close to Google. I've tried all the popular ones, If anyone has recommendations, I'm all ears.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I really do dislike Microsoft and Google (Alphabet). I've been using Linux lately on the hopes to move away from Windows. But I can't find any search engine that's even close to Google. I've tried all the popular ones, If anyone has recommendations, I'm all ears.

There are only 3 search engines: Google, Bing and Yandex and Yandex is Russian trash that no one will use. or trust. The state of affairs is deplorable. Apparently though it costs enormous sumes to build a search engine. Until Google is broken up and search team is spun off and returns to its original roots before a mercenary money grubbing CEO ruined the engine nothing will change. Even Apple won't do a search engine.

 

[Underdog]

I am a lot less of a Google enthusiast these days since having to wade through all the new boxes, images and totally unrelated "paid for" priority results on the first page. I might even go so far as to say I am getting sick of commercialisation touching pretty much all aspects of the internet. I want (true) information, and sometimes entertainment, but least of all being force-fed with advertising for crap that some cookie factory has decided I need.