Microsoft discards its Docs.com search feature after getting reports of exposed sensitive files

Tech giant Microsoft took a decision to eradicate its online document sharing service and search functionality from Docs.com. If a report from ZDNet website is to be believed, the feature has been removed as it unintentionally allowed users to search through millions of file, as well as other users' personal information. The flaws identified by few users over a week allowed public files that are saved on the website to be searched. It's worth noting that some of them were private documents such as password lists, job acceptance letters and even credit card statements.

Though Microsoft has detached the search functionality from a week, the other users found the same files available by means of cached searches through Google search and Bing search. A Microsoft representative said that the company was "taking steps to help those who may have inadvertently published documents with sensitive information." It also recommended users to modify their Docs.com settings.

It was also reported that the tech giant was planning on pushing advertisements in its Windows 10 OS. Spotted by Extreme Tech website, a build of Windows 10 was mentioned as having ads in File Explorer. The ad promoted Microsoft's own OneDrive cloud storage service, along with paid subscription for Office 365.

The ad was evident as a banner on top of File Explorer and could also be release by clicking the 'Not Now' button. Inserting the ads inside Windows 10 is not a new concept. It has been while the company has been helping advertising on the Windows 10 lock screen, as notifications in Edge browser and even in Google Chrome.

Well that’s not all; there is special add-on as the ads in File Explorer can be turned off. All that users have to do is head to View > Options, and disable the 'Show sync provider notifications' option . This will immobilize all the notifications for the currently synced Microsoft account.