Microsoft warns: "Don't get Scroogled by Gmail"

[nsane.forums]

Microsoft has once again launched a campaign against Google and their advertising practices, warning users not to get "Scroogled" by Gmail, which scans the contents of emails to tailor ads.

Microsoft is once again coming out on the offensive against Google, warning users not to get "Scroogled" by Gmail and its practices of scanning through potentially private emails for keywords it can use to sell ads. The campaign is an attempt to get users to switch to Outlook.com, which "prioritizes your privacy" and will not sell you ads based on the contents of your personal emails.



In a press release pushed out today, the Scroogled campaign is also an attempt to educate Americans on some of the bad practices used by email providers. A study commissioned by Microsoft reveals that 70% of consumers "don't know that major email providers routinely engage in the practice of reading through their personal email to sell ads", while a larger 88% disapprove of the practice.

As well as releasing a website to accompany the campaign - which you can visit at scroogled.com - Microsoft is encouraging people to sign a petition to get Google to stop violating privacy by reading emails to generate ads. The petition aims for 25,000 signatures, and naturally Microsoft are hoping that a number of signatories will switch to Outlook.com for their email.

Now Microsoft isn't exactly completely in the clear when it comes to email privacy, as the company does scan the subject lines of emails, as well as monitor web searches performed, to tailor advertisements in Outlook.com. On the Scroogled website, Microsoft are conveniently not advertising this fact, instead focusing on how Google scans the entire contents of your inbox, including the entirety of send and received messages, to sell ads.

Previously Microsoft has used the "Scroogled" catch-phrase to warn users against Google Shopping's practices, but today sees the campaign expanded into a much wider attack on Google and their advertising methods. Gmail has been targeted this time around, but it's likely more services will be highlighted in future campaigns.

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[kay3460]

Despite the fact that my email messages are being read - personally, I like having a @outlook.com account rather than a @gmail.com account. It just sounds more professional and pollished.

[vin3e]

Despite the fact that my email messages are being read - personally, I like having a @outlook.com account rather than a @gmail.com account. It just sounds more professional and pollished.

How do I get an outlook email kay? :3

[edwardecl]

I trust Google with my data more than I trust Microsoft with my data... plus Google already told us this in the first place, no need for Microsoft to.

Just because Google are up front about what they use your data for doesn't mean Microsoft don't do the exact same thing, Hell I know damn well governments read the emails anyway so if you don't want your emails read don't send emails in the first place or encrypt them.

This just seems like desperation to me.

Better stats would be to post the number of times hackers have compromised Microsoft servers compared to Googles...

[shought]

Also Google doesn't 'read' your e-mail... The algorithms programmers at Google wrote analyze the contents of your email to display relevant ads (so the algorithms analyze, not the programmers).

I don't have any issues with an automated system reading through my e-mail as long as this is solely for the purpose of serving ads (once data is actually extracted it becomes something else, of course).

The data extraction point I just made is quite illustrative of why this isn't an invasion of privacy: the input (your private data) generates output (the ads) which is (are) also private. As far as I am aware there is no output from this process which is stored or received by Google (other than for a brief moment, in the server's memory). If the data is actually stored I withdraw my point, obviously.

The way Google handles this is comparable to different ads on different TV channels; the process takes input (which channel you choose) and provides output (which ads to serve). I realize the process here is specific up to e-mail content, whereas it is otherwise only specific to a certain channel, but the analogy holds: someone (Google, TV provider) provides 3rd party content (e-mail, TV channels) and tailors the ads specific to the content (ads).

[kay3460]

Despite the fact that my email messages are being read - personally, I like having a @outlook.com account rather than a @gmail.com account. It just sounds more professional and pollished.

How do I get an outlook email kay? :3

Vin3e, there are two ways to do it. One, go to outlook.com and signup for a new microsoft account. Second, I don't remember exactly how, but if you have a @live.ca/com or @hotmail.com, you can change it to @outlook.com through settings or subsettings. I had a @live.ca account that I was able to covert to a @outlook.com. Been using it ever since!

[Gabben]

At lest Google is admitting that. Micro$oft spends millions of $ to create a perfect image to the users or to cover their true face.

[rudrax]

I trust Google the most. As shought has stated that a automated algorithm goes through one's personal things (email), I won't mind to offer him to have a look at my gf's n@ked pics* :lol:

*conditions apply.