Microsoft is being accused of resorting to dirty tactics to try and get more systems to adopt the Windows 10 operating system. Apparently, the pop up at the lower right hand corner, something Windows users have been seeing for a very long time now, has a misleading close button.
The pop up, instead of closing when the “x” is clicked, actually starts the upgrade. This understandably causes long-time users of Windows to get annoyed and further fuels Microsoft's reputation for using nagware to force users into using Windows 10, BBC reported.
Microsoft launched an ambitious plan to convert a billion users to their latest (and greatest?) operating system yet starting last year. To “help,” Windows 10 was and still is being offered for free to existing Windows 7 and 8.1 users.
Microsoft has tried to clear up the issue and have said that the upgrade can still be canceled. However, this requires an additional step from users to go to the scheduled update and cancel from there.
Why in the world is this happening? Most users have “recommended” updates automatically configured for security reasons. And it is this gray area where the “nasty trick” happens—the update is now classified as “recommended.”
PC World senior editor Brad Chacos coined the term “nasty trick.” He said, “Deploying these nasty tricks only frustrates long-time Windows users who have very valid reasons to stick with operating systems they already know and love.”
It is worth noting that Microsoft's free upgrade to Windows 10 runs until July 29, 2016 only. In this regard, the company said, “With the free Windows 10 upgrade offer ending July 29, we want to help people upgrade the best version of Windows.”
They have also defended the “recommended” setting of the upgrade. “As we shared in October, Windows 10 will be offered as a 'recommended' update for Windows 7 and 8.1 customers whose Windows Update settings are configured to accept 'recommended' updates. … Customers can choose to accept or decline the Windows 10 upgrade.”
