Yahoo is expected to announce a new service Tuesday that uses free software to divert surfers from Microsoft"s Web properties by changing the preferences in Internet Explorer.
Parts of the service quietly launched on Monday in conjunction with an upgrade to Yahoo"s Instant Messenger (IM) software. When downloading the update, consumers were given the option to receive the new IM client on its own or as part of a comprehensive package called "Yahoo Experience."
Among other things, people electing the second option were directed to Yahoo"s search page rather than Microsoft"s MSN search service when they typed a word or phrase into the browser command line.
Yahoo"s move comes as companies are increasingly usurping Web browser preferences such as homepage settings, often without the explicit consent of consumers. Free software downloads are a common tool in the battle, giving programmers the ability to quietly change browser options.
Electing to install Yahoo Experience also changed the settings in IE, harnessing the command bar as a Yahoo search tool. For example, a person typing the word "travel" would be taken to a Yahoo search page. Without Yahoo Experience, the person would be directed to MSN"s search page.
The changes to IE appear to be a direct challenge to Microsoft"s control over the command bar--power it has wielded to push its own MSN search service past rivals, including Yahoo.