``The new Outlook is Microsoft's data collection service pursuing advertising revenue,'' encrypted email service ProtonMail warns.
Microsoft is rolling out a new
Outlook is Microsoft's new data collection service | Proton
https://proton.me/blog/outlook-is-microsofts-new-data-collection-service
The new Outlook, which Microsoft recommends switching to, is suspected of sending IMAP and SMTP credentials, email addresses, contacts, etc. to Microsoft servers. Although the traffic between Outlook and Microsoft servers is protected by TLS, the data itself is sent as plain text.
New Outlook sends user credentials to Microsoft's servers - GIGAZINE
ProtonMail points out that Microsoft not only collects user data, but also shares it with a large number of third parties. In Europe, where the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is in effect, users who download the new Outlook will see a message informing them that their data can be processed by 772 third parties, not just Microsoft.
According to the notice, Microsoft and third parties will use the data for purposes such as:
・Store or access information on your device
・Used for product development and improvement
・Personalize ads and content
・Measure ads and content
- Derive audience insights
・Obtain accurate location information data
・Identify users by scanning devices
'This latest version of Outlook confirms that much of Big Tech's profit margins are increasingly dependent on collecting personal data,' ProtonMail said. We're asking them to make a choice and making it clear that advertising is an important part of the deal.' In fact, Microsoft's advertising business revenue reached $10 billion (approximately 1.4 trillion yen) in 2021, but Microsoft plans to double its advertising business revenue to $20 billion (approximately 2.8 trillion yen). are
Mac users who are logged in to Outlook will also see ads like the one below in messages in their inbox. Some of the advertisements are related to Microsoft applications, while others are from third parties selling products.
Microsoft's advertising policy states that the content of emails, chats, video calls, voicemails, documents, photos, and other personal files will not be used for targeted advertising. However, it may display targeted ads based on your interests, favorites, location, business transactions, usage of Microsoft products, search queries, content viewed, etc.
ProtonMail, like big tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple, has recognized that the collection and analysis of user data will become a major source of revenue for Microsoft, and the appointment of Satya Nadella as CEO in 2014 was a turning point. It was pointed out that it became. According to market research results announced after Nadella became CEO, ``Companies that utilize data have the potential to generate $1.6 trillion in revenue compared to companies that do not. '', according to Shoshana Zuboff's book `` Surveillance Capitalism: The Battle for Humanity's Future .''
In fact, it caused controversy when it was discovered that Windows 10 was sending data to Microsoft's servers even when privacy settings were turned off, and it was pointed out that Windows 11 was also sending data to various third parties. It has been.
``Windows 11 has become spyware'' and Microsoft's privacy violation is pointed out - GIGAZINE
ProtonMail argues that Big Tech, including Microsoft, is motivated by advertising and ad revenue, justifying their business model of monitoring user data in the name of profit. 'By rolling out the new Outlook as a data collection and ad serving service, Microsoft has revealed itself to be no different from Google or Meta. Making privacy the default for these companies means they are addicted to it. That means losing out on advertising revenue.'
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in Web Service, Security, Posted by log1h_ik