Yahoo is pretty serious about trying to get users to choose its search engine as their default experience. Since last fall, we’ve seen the company try a variety of strategies. Now, they’re even trying to get people to switch to Yahoo when they…install Java updates.
That’s the word form The Wall Street Journal, which reports that the company announced a partnership with Oracle that will see users (starting this month) who install or update Oracle’s Java software getting prompted to make Yahoo the default search for their web browser. This is a big deal considering that Java is the most popular programming language and Java software is reportedly installed on 89% of desktop computers.
The Journal shares a screenshot of what users will see, which is a dialog box prompting them to “Get the best of the web with Yahoo” with a checkbox to “Set Yahoo as your homepage and default search engine on Chrome and Internet Explorer, plus get Yahoo as your new tab page on Chrome.”
It continues: “By clicking “Next” and accepting Yahoo Search offerings, your use is subject to the Yahoo Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. De-selecting the checkbox above declines these optional search offers and proceeds with the rest of the install process.”
So you’ll even have to uncheck the pre-checked box to avoid having Yahoo take over your browser.
A Yahoo spokesperson told the publication, “We have definitely made sure that our onboarding process is one that is highly transparent and gives users choice.”
This is only the latest in a series of movies Yahoo has made to try and increase its users through the changing of their default browser search experiences. As you probably know, Yahoo became the default experience in Firefox in the U.S. through a deal with Mozilla.
Since then, it has displayed a link at the top of its homepage telling visitors to “Upgrade to the new Firefox” if they’re using another browser such as Chrome.
We recently found that they were emailing users to tell them to “stay secure & protected across the web” by downloading Firefox. These emails said nothing of search, and were all about how Firefox is “loaded with features that protect your personal information and keep you safe online.”
These were sent by Yahoo. Not Mozilla.
Google has responded to some of Yahoo tactics by also trying to convince Firefox users to switch back. I’d imagine that as Yahoo continues its aggressiveness, Google will likely ramp up its own. This is an interesting battle to watch for sure.
Lead image via Wikimedia Commons
