Microsoft's latest move to pay people to use Edge looks desperate — and an odd new Bing app is worrying too
An app has been spotted that makes Bing your default search, and some users see it as another reason to leave Windows 11.
Microsoft has devised a scheme to incentivize the use of its Edge browser by offering reward points for inviting friends. The mobile version of Edge now features a referral program, providing users with 500 Microsoft Rewards points for each successful referral, up to a monthly limit of 7,500 points. The invited friend must sign up for Edge and use it for at least two days within two weeks of being referred.
Additionally, a standalone app called "Microsoft Recommended Search" has been spotted, which switches default search engines to Bing, potentially affecting browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Brave, and others. This app is currently hosted on Microsoft's official download server but is not yet deployed to Windows 11. The move comes amid Microsoft's efforts to promote Edge and Bing, a strategy that has been met with skepticism and counterproductive reactions from users, leading some to switch to Linux.
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