Microsoft is performing a test where they are installing a suite of Office progressive web apps in Windows 10 without asking permission from the user.
A progressive web app, or PWA, is an application designed to be delivered via the web without installing executables on the computer.
When launched, PWAs will be shown in a browser window that displays a minimal browser interface to feel like the web app is running as an independent application.
Microsoft forcibly installs Office PWAs
Over the past week, Microsoft has been conducting a test where they have been forcibly installing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlooks PWAs into Microsoft Edge and registering them with Windows 10.
This appears to be an A/B test, with only some users receiving the new PWAs.
As these are Microsoft Edge PWAs, they will also be registered with Windows 10 as applications that can be uninstalled through the Programs and Features settings, as seen below.
When the PWAs are launched, they will open a minimalistic browser Windows and visit the web application's associated URL.
The URLs for each PWA are listed below:
- Excel: https://excel.office.com/
- Word: https://word.office.com/
- Outlook: https://outlook.com/
- PowerPoint: https://powerpoint.office.com/
Microsoft has already offered PWAs for Microsoft Office, but they have been usually installed as a single Office PWA and an Outlook PWA, rather than separated into individual ones, as seen in this test.
Those who do not wish to have these PWAs installed can uninstall them directly in Microsoft Edge through the edge://apps URL or via the Programs and Features Settings page.
BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft to learn more about this test but has not heard back at this time.
H/T WindowsLatest.com and BornCity.com
Comments
ken_smon - 3 years ago
Microsoft is performing a test where they are installing a suite of Office progressive web apps in Windows 10 without asking permission from the user."
Isn't that the definition of Malware? Or at least a PUP?
TanyaC - 3 years ago
Gross!
What happens if you already have office installed? And that office version is an older version, say 2013?
Is there a way to block it?
cknoettg - 3 years ago
You just solved a big mystery for me. I installed some piece of software yesterday. Then later yesterday, I clicked on the Windows Start button. Instead of seeing the new software listed under "Recently Added" at the top of the Start Menu, I saw PowerPoint, Excel, Word instead. It's been bothering me for almost a full day, and now the mystery is solved. And now I see what happens when I click on those items. I'm not sure if it happened immediately after I installed Windows Quality Updates last night or not, but I suspect that it did. I'm not currently on the Insider Track on this machine.
N0str0m0 - 3 years ago
Ah yes - App "Word" by publisher "Word" version 1.0. Seems legit.
TsVk! - 3 years ago
Since the last round of updates my computers have been very unhappy, trying many URL's belonging to MS to try and download updates and features that they never attempted before.
Proxy log went from 3MB per day to over 260MB per day before it ran out of space and started denying everything. All of the computers sending hundreds of MS update requests every second, all the while ignoring group policy denying internet downloaded and automatic updates.
Fun times.
Dominique1 - 3 years ago
Microsoft is setting up a solid base for the next waves of Malware Attacks! Why am I not surprised? :facepalm:
bluvg - 3 years ago
Paul Thurrott reports this is only for Windows Insiders Program: https ://www.thurrott.com/cloud/microsoft-365/242689/microsoft-is-testing-office-pwas-in-windows-10 (thus the A/B testing).
cknoettg - 3 years ago
Sadly, I am a regular, non-insider on one machine, and these updates appeared when I ran the latest Quality Updates to Win 10 Home 2004 on Tuesday. So, it is not just Windows Insiders.
Lawrence Abrams - 3 years ago
From what I understand, it is affecting non-Insiders as well.
bluvg - 3 years ago
If that's the case, seems Microsoft has some explaining to do....
pnamajck - 3 years ago
settings / windows-update / feature-update-version-20h2
non-insider here … it's given me the option to update or not to update for the past week or so … meanwhile, i continue accepting other updates … 20h2 remains completely optional (at this time). personally … i've always waited until microsoft forces me to install major updates … am not one of those types of people who installs the latest/ greatest immediately.
wait for the bugs/kinks to be eradicated.