Threat Actor: Microsoft | Microsoft
Victim: Internet Users | Internet Users
Key Point :
- Users searching for ‘Google’ on Bing are presented with a Google-like interface, misleading them about their actual search engine.
- The custom search page promotes Google’s services while hiding Bing’s branding, creating confusion.
- This deceptive practice is not applied to searches for other engines like DuckDuckGo or Brave Search.
- BleepingComputer reached out to Microsoft for clarification but has not received a response.
Microsoft Bing displays what is being categorized as a misleading Google-esque search page when users search for ‘Google,’ making it look like you are on the competing search engine.
When performing searches on Microsoft Bing, users are shown a standard search page consisting of a search field with your search term at the top, followed by various user interface elements, such as the different Bing features, advertisements, and search results.
Source: BleepingCompuer
When searching for Google directly from the Bing homepage, users are now presented with a Google-like doodle with an additional search field underneath it. All other content on the visible page also promotes Google’s services, making it feel very much like you are on Google.
The only visible clues you are not on Google is that bing.com shows in the address bar and there is text promoting Microsoft Bing under the search bar.
Source: BleepingComputer
One user who shared the change with BleepingComputer said that they find this new page misleading, as it may trick people into thinking they are on another search engine.
“When you search for ‘Google’ on Bing, you are presented with a fake Google-esque search page,” X user Sepher tweeted.
“Microsoft is misleading people into thinking that they are on another search engine by not propagating the search query into this search field.”
What makes this even more deceptive is that this Google search listing page is automatically scrolled down so that you do not see Bing’s normal header, further disguising that you are in the Bing search results.
Source: BleepingComputer
In BleepingComputer’s tests, this alternate search page is also shown for Yandex, Russia’s largest search engine. However, Bing does not show the custom search page for DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, or Start Page.
BleepingComputer contacted Microsoft to ask about this custom search page but has not received a reply.