Microsoft slams Google again, claims privacy settings in Internet Explorer bypassed

In yet another attack towards Google, Microsoft claims that the search engine giant has been placing ad-tracking cookies without permission and bypassing the default privacy settings in Internet Explorer. The fix? Use Internet Explorer 9.

Just recently, Microsoft claimed that Google has been tracking users of Apple’s Safari browser while they surf the web via an iPhone, iPad, or Macs. From what Microsoft says, these attacks are not new and Google has circumvented the privacy protections built into Apple’s Safari browser in a “deliberate, and ultimately, successful fashion.”

Now, Microsoft claims that Google is circumventing the default privacy settings in Internet Explorer. “Google is employing similar methods to get around the default privacy protections in IE and track IE users with cookies,” the company stated in a blog post. Google is apparently bypassing the P3P Privacy Protection feature in IE. Basically, Google is placing ad-tracking cookies without permission, in both Safari and Internet Explorer. Microsoft recommends the use of Internet Explorer 9’s Tracking Protection feature which is not susceptible to this type of bypass. Microsoft continues to brag about how Internet Explorer 9 is the “browser of choice” as it was designed to give the fastest, safest, and most private browsing experience.

With the recent changes in privacy policies that Google has ushered across its line of products and not offering any opt-out, users have raised concern over the lack of privacy and choices. For these users grappling with the changes, Microsoft has been advertising “better alternatives” to Google products as well as recently releasing a video that “shows you” just how much Google cares more about advertising revenue than privacy.