Bing Wallpaper App Review: A Stunning Visual or Privacy Risk?

As of November 20, 2024, the long-awaited Bing Wallpaper app has officially made its debut on the Microsoft Store, much to the delight of Windows enthusiasts who enjoy a rotating selection of high-quality wallpapers. Launched originally in 2020 as a direct download, this app has taken a significant four-year journey to get to this point, and the community has mixed feelings about its arrival. While some praise the stunning visuals, others express concerns about its user experience and privacy implications.

A Flashback to the Past​

When Bing Wallpaper first launched, it quickly attracted users with its promise of beautiful, daily-changing wallpapers featuring breathtaking imagery from around the globe. It became a favorite for those desiring a refreshing aesthetic on their desktops. However, this update has not come without controversies, some fueling skepticism about the app’s intentions.
Initially teased by Michael Schechter, the VP of Bing, the release announcement included a cheeky jab at paid wallpaper apps priced at a staggering $50 annually — implying that users can enjoy Bing Wallpaper without breaking the bank. But does this enthusiasm hold true when examining the app more closely?

A User Experience Woes​

As Windows Latest discovered after installing the app, the actual user experience might not match the sparkling promise of its launch. The first glaring issue? A user interface that feels outdated and disconnected from the sleek aesthetics of modern Windows 11. Instead of an immersive wallpaper gallery, the app operates almost invisibly after applying a wallpaper, retreating into the system tray without giving users a chance to explore or interact with their collection of images.

• Limited Options: Users found only a handful of wallpaper choices available. This stark limitation leads many to question its value compared to existing tools like Windows Spotlight, which similarly changes desktop imagery.
• Hidden Configurations: Right-clicking the app icon in the system tray reveals options for changing the previous wallpaper or altering daily settings, but does not allow for a broader exploration of what the app offers.

While these issues raise eyebrows, the most concerning revelations come from privacy advocates and developers who delve deeper into what's really happening under the hood.

Privacy Predicaments​

Rafael Rivera, a noted developer, shared insights that raise significant red flags about the app's functionality. Contrary to what one might expect from a simple wallpaper changer, the Bing Wallpaper app exhibits a strange penchant for surveillance, installing additional components that track browser activities. The app creates a registry entry at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\BingWallpaperApp\Switch, allowing it to continue operating in ways that some users might find intrusive. If users decide to opt-out by entering “KILL” in this registry spot, the app will turn itself off — but this behavior hints at deeper system integrations that are atypical for applications in this genre.

What’s the Real Sticking Point?​

The app doesn't just stop at gathering data from Edge; it also attempts to sniff around for cookies in both Chrome and Firefox, hinting at an aggressive marketing strategy nudging users to switch to Edge instead. Some users have reported its habitual reopening of closed browsers, populating them with Microsoft-centric ads and promotional pages.
In other words, to consider Bing Wallpaper simply as a wallpaper changer is to fundamentally underestimate its scope of operation. It's a comprehensive ecosystem pushing Microsoft’s agenda, even at the expense of user privacy.

Conclusion: Is It Worth the Download?​

In conclusion, the Bing Wallpaper app does offer an opportunity for fantastic visuals — but users seeking privacy and a pleasant experience might want to think twice. With its outdated user interface and questionable tracking features, it's reminiscent of a software relic that may have outlived its utility in today's privacy-conscious world.
Regardless, it's clear that this app aims to integrate into users' daily lives in a way that aligns with Microsoft’s broader business goals, blending wallpaper aesthetics with an underlying framework designed to promote its other services. For those wondering whether the Bing Wallpaper app warrants a place in their Windows ecosystem, the answer may very well hinge on personal priorities regarding privacy and user experience.
So, dear Windows users, as you ponder your desktop backdrop, evaluate not just the beauty of the images, but also the implications that might be lurking beneath those stunning visuals. After all, in this digital age of constant connectivity, the saying “if you're not paying for the product, you are the product” has never felt more relevant.

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Source: Windows Latest Bing Wallpaper arrives in Windows 11 Store, but it still wants you to ditch Chrome, use Edge

 

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The much-discussed Bing Wallpaper app has officially made its way to the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 users. While the app is heralded for being a free option to enhance your desktop aesthetics with daily Bing images, it’s also drawing criticism for allegedly engaging in invasive tactics. So what’s the buzz? Let’s dive in and demystify the controversy engulfing a seemingly harmless wallpaper app.

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Bing Wallpaper: What Is It Really About?​

At its core, the Bing Wallpaper app is straightforward. It provides users with stunning, daily wallpaper images sourced from Bing in up to 4K resolution. Microsoft’s VP of Bing, Michael Schechter, took to social media to trumpet not only its convenience but also its cost-free nature. With rivals like Wallpaper Engine or similar apps charging a premium, the Bing Wallpaper app might seem like a no-brainer for anyone who wants dynamic, frequently updated desktop backgrounds at no cost—at least on the surface.
But just like a Hollywood thriller, the shiny exterior may hide something darker lurking beneath: several users and developers claim the app is doing more than just jazzing up your desktop.

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Hidden Costs: Privacy Concerns and Unrequested Features​

When the news hit, it wasn’t long before eagle-eyed critics began discussing some eyebrow-raising alleged behavior by the app. The first warning shot came from Rafael Rivera, a well-known developer and Microsoft MVP. Rivera pointed out that the Bing Wallpaper app quietly installs "Bing Visual Search" in tandem, a hidden feature that begs the question—why the hijack? He didn’t stop there, claiming the app includes functionalities to sift through and decrypt cookies from not only Edge and Chrome but also Firefox.
Wait…what? Cookies from your browser? Why would a wallpaper app be prying into your browsing data? According to Rivera, there’s also an extension, actively pushed for Chrome users, that nudges search engine preferences toward Bing. These pushes aren’t happening overtly either. Rivera provided evidence showing the app secretly alters your default browser's behavior, sometimes opening new tabs in Chrome to promote using the Microsoft Bing Search engine.
To make matters worse, this activity may not even be benign. It involves a process ominously named “BGAUpsell”, with "BGA" reportedly standing for "Bing Growth Apps." This background process tries to switch browsers to Bing search, leaving users not only pestered but presented with fewer options for customization.

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The Past Versus Now: Has Bing Wallpaper Changed?​

Here’s where the story takes a curious twist. According to Reddit threads and other community discussions, the Bing Wallpaper app used to be much more innocuous. Users describe older builds of the app as straightforward and free from Bing promotions or intrusive behavior. However, more recent updates allegedly modified the app to include intrusive processes like "BGAUpsell." In essence, users were excited to embrace an initially respectful app, only to find something more aggressive after updates.
A Redditor summed it up well:

“It used to be great and never gave pop-ups for Bing, but over the past few months, it has become a bit aggressive with recommending Bing.”

If true, these changes have prompted users to reconsider installing what should have been a harmless piece of software.

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Alternatives—Do You Really Need Bing Wallpaper?​

Before you rush to click the download button, consider this: Windows 11 includes Windows Spotlight natively. For those unfamiliar, Spotlight operates in much the same way, bringing the beauty of Bing images directly to your desktop, customized for your preferences. Activating it is easy:

• Go to Settings.
• Select Personalization > Background.
• Choose Personalize your background > Windows Spotlight.

It works seamlessly, and there are no reported cases of intrusive tracking, upselling, or nagging from Spotlight. While Microsoft has remained tight-lipped on the allegations dogging Bing Wallpaper, it’s safe to say Spotlight covers a lot of the same ground—without the drama.

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Implications for Microsoft’s Image and Strategy​

Microsoft’s reputation for coaxing users toward Bing and Edge has already faced scrutiny. From Windows 11’s initial rollout forcing Edge as the default browser to the heavy-handed pushing of Microsoft 365, users are becoming increasingly wary. This latest controversy with the Bing Wallpaper app follows a similar pattern: a free, seemingly helpful feature comes loaded with invisible strings attached.
What’s more alarming is the apparent targeting of rival platforms like Chrome and Firefox through cookie decryption. Although Microsoft tightly integrates its ecosystem across platforms, the aggressive tactics surfacing around Bing Wallpaper could backfire, particularly among privacy-conscious users and IT admins.

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What You Can Do to Stay Safe​

If you're reluctant to let go of the Bing Wallpaper app but don’t want these intrusive extras, you’ll need to take matters into your hands:

• Block Extensions: Rivera has shared a list of browser extensions users or IT admins can block to cut down on invasive behavior.
• Monitor Processes: Keep an eye out for processes like "BGAUpsell" via Task Manager and consider disabling them.
• Revisit Permissions: Always question why a non-browser app needs access to your cookies, browsers, or other sensitive data.

Alternatively, you might choose to uninstall Bing Wallpaper altogether and lean on Spotlight or other trustworthy wallpaper services.

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The Final Verdict​

Is the Bing Wallpaper app ingenious or insidious? At first glance, it feels like a gift designed to enhance the user experience in Windows 11. But a deeper dive reveals plenty of reasons to pause. Between aggressive upselling behaviors and eyebrow-raising privacy concerns, what started as a promising feature risks becoming yet another black mark on Microsoft’s growing list of user grievances.
If you value clean, hassle-free functionality—or care deeply about privacy—the Bing Wallpaper app, as it stands, might not be worth the risk. Instead, take the simpler road and explore safer in-built features like Spotlight. Or maybe even support some of the paid offerings from the competition; at least they make their intentions clear.
What are your thoughts on this development? Are Microsoft’s efforts to grow the Bing ecosystem fair game—or is it time they reevaluated their approach? Share your perspective in the thread below!

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Source: TechRadar Bing Wallpaper app arrives on Microsoft Store in Windows 11, and it’s free – but there could be hidden costs here

 

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Introduction: When a Wallpaper App Becomes a Security Concern​

Imagine downloading an app to beautify your desktop with stunning wallpapers, only to discover that it's doing more under the hood than making your screen pretty. Microsoft’s Bing Wallpaper app is causing waves in the tech industry for reasons that go far beyond aesthetics. Although many would expect a free wallpaper app to be nothing more than friendly decoration for their Windows experience, recent revelations suggest that this application is treading dangerously close to 'malware-like' behavior. Here’s why you might want to avoid installing this app on your PC.

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The Controversy: A Wallpaper App That Does Too Much​

The Bing Wallpaper app, available on the Windows Store, offers high-resolution imagery to refresh your Windows 11 machine’s desktop background. However, it doesn't stop there. A deeper dive into its hidden functionalities uncovered something unsettling: the app reportedly decrypts Chrome and Edge cookies, forcefully pushes Bing Visual Search, and prompts users to set Bing as the default search engine on multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. All of this adds up to a broth of sneaky data practices that feels eerily aggressive—enough for some cybersecurity experts to draw comparisons to potential malware behavior.
Here's what sparked the outrage:

• Background Operations: Cybersecurity researchers, including Windows developer Rafael Rivera, claim that the Bing Wallpaper app engages in activities like accessing browser cookies and performing a 'Bing cookie check.' This check ostensibly ensures you aren’t nagged to install Bing again if it’s already deployed, but the deeper access levels prompted concerns.
• User Manipulation: Screenshots surfaced on X (previously Twitter) showing persistent push notifications from the app, urging users to switch to Bing for web searches. This level of persistence might border on invasive for those more comfortable with Google or other search engines.
• Defensive and Limited Response by Microsoft: When questioned, Microsoft denied decrypting "all" cookies from Chrome and Edge, subtly leaving room for interpretations regarding data handling.

Yes, it’s “just a wallpaper app,” but, as the saying goes, "if the app is free, you’re the product." The true costs here could be measured in privacy, not dollars.

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How Does It Work? Cookie Decrypting 101​

So, what exactly does it mean when an app like Bing Wallpaper decrypts browser cookies? Let’s break it down:

• What Are Cookies? Cookies are small files stored by your web browser that hold information about your online behavior, such as login credentials, browsing history, and preferences. They are essential tools for websites to provide a personalized browsing experience.
• What Does Decryption Do? Typically, sensitive cookies—such as those holding user session information—are encrypted for security reasons. Decrypting them requires specific permissions or exploits. If the Bing Wallpaper app indeed decrypts cookies, it could hypothetically access private information like search history or login tokens, giving it insights into user habits. It may also tailor Bing search services based on these habits.

While Microsoft insists the practices are benign and essential for its app features, critics argue that decrypting cookies can violate user privacy. For instance, if these cookies pertain to websites unrelated to Microsoft services, the justification becomes murkier.

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The Broader Implications: Where Is the Line?​

Microsoft has long faced criticism for leveraging Windows to drive adoption of its own services. For example:

• Edge Promotions: New installations of Windows display pop-ups trying to convince users to abandon Chrome for Edge, even offering automated bookmark transfers.
• Enterprise Justifications: Under the guise of big, friendly security banners, enterprise tools often prompt similar nudges toward Bing, Microsoft Defender, or Edge.

This is not the first time Microsoft’s practices have been labeled as aggressive. But as Neowin bluntly puts it, the Bing Wallpaper app’s behavior is “borderline malware,” raising eyebrows even among Microsoft troubleshooters.
It begs the question: where’s the red line? At what point does bundling, pushing, and deeply integrating Microsoft apps with Windows cross the boundary from competitive marketing into invasive territory?
The answer likely lies in user choice—or lack thereof. If users lack simple ways to opt out or decline these integrations, trust burns away faster than one's Chrome cookies.

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Microsoft's Position: Is It Plausible?​

In a statement to The Register, Microsoft argued that the Bing Wallpaper app does not decrypt "all" cookies and reiterated that it uses cookie reads only to streamline Bing setup on devices where it was already installed. Critics, however, pointed out the careful wording of Microsoft's response, which avoids fully denying the data-gathering allegations.
Microsoft also highlighted that the app only performs “Bing cookie checks," linking user actions with scenarios like repeated installation nags. While this is plausible, it sheds little light on the deeper problem: the app’s lack of transparency in informing users what it’s doing behind the scenes.

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Insights: Microsoft vs. Google—Two Sides of the Same Coin?​

Ironically, Microsoft’s attempt to push Bing comes just as Google found itself in privacy-related hot water. Google recently faced backlash for automatically inserting its own search links in third-party websites, sparking accusations of overreach. This highlights how tech giants across the board have shifted toward hyper-aggressive strategies to gain market share.
Despite these parallels, Microsoft appears to draw sharper ire for tactics tied intimately to its operating system. After all, owning Windows means owning the primary gateway to most users' computing experiences. With great power comes great responsibility—or, in this case, great scrutiny.

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Practical Advice: To Install or Not to Install?​

Given the current landscape, here’s some advice:

• Avoid Bing Wallpaper: If an app is causing such a furor around data access, the simplest solution is to skip it altogether. Better safe than sorry.
• Stick to Trusted Alternatives: Many wallpaper apps exist that only do what they promise. Explore options like Wallpaper Engine or visually stunning open-source alternatives.
• Educate Yourself on App Permissions: Always read app permissions carefully before installation. Know what data it plans to access, and only proceed if you accept the trade-offs.
• Keep Browsers Updated and Secure: Vulnerabilities in Chrome, Edge, and other browsers can allow apps to decrypt cookies. Ensure you’re always running the most recent software versions.

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Conclusion: Beauty Isn’t Always Skin Deep​

Who knew a simple wallpaper app could stir up this much drama? At surface level, the Bing Wallpaper app appears benign, offering a gallery of gorgeous images for your desktop. But dig deeper, and you're met with questionable behind-the-scenes activities that make users question their trust in Microsoft's intentions.
In this saga, Microsoft may be trying to give Bing a lifeline in its long-standing battle against Google. However, invasive methods—no matter how well-disguised—often backfire. If an app’s primary value proposition begins to involve privacy compromises or user manipulation, it’s time to hit "uninstall." Maybe that $50 wallpaper alternative Rafael Rivera joked about doesn’t sound so bad after all.
Have you encountered suspicious activity using Bing Wallpaper or other seemingly benign apps? Share your insights and stories in the forum below—let’s get the conversation rolling!

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Source: Forbes Is This Microsoft Windows Wallpaper App Really Malware?