Microsoft uses Google privacy gaffe to lure Safari users

SOFTWARE HOUSE Microsoft is using the fine levied against Google for its Safari privacy gaffe to tempt Safari users to use Bing.

The firm has added a 'Privacy Protection' page to its Bing website, and there it reminds anyone that will listen that earlier this year Google was fined $22.5m by the FTC.

Google was tracking Safari users through what it called a mistake. It was fined a relatively small amount and promised not to do it again.

This was a while ago, but if you are Microsoft and are keen to get people to use your Google alternative, well, things like that don't matter.

"If you are a Safari user, Google may have recently tracked you even though it promised it would not. Want to do something about it?," says the splash on the Bing webpage.

"Stop searching with Google and start searching with Bing. Better yet, make Bing your homepage and start every search with Bing."

In a cheeky move Microsoft has added a big, orange "Try Bing" button. Clicking that launches a search about Google, Safari and the FTC fine.

Earlier this month Microsoft started what it calls "Bing it on". This sees it ask punters to pit a Bing search against a Google search. It reckons that Bing results will be faster and more accurate and is willing to give people a free Xbox or equivalent hardware prize if it is proven wrong. µ