Microsoft says it plans to run a series of newspaper adverts this week, taking advantage of concerns over Google's updated privacy policy while advertising its own alternatives. The adverts will run in major US newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and USA Today, and will highlight the recent changes in Google's privacy policy. Google introduced a simpler universal privacy policy last month, but some customers were left confused and concerned by some of the changes.

Microsoft isn't pulling any punches with the adverts:

"The way they’re doing it is making it harder for you to maintain control of your personal information. Why are they so interested in doing this that they would risk this kind of backlash? One logical reason: Every data point they collect and connect to you increases how valuable you are to an advertiser."

Google has attempted to clarify some of the worries, but has not yet addressed the concerns over the sharing of activities across all Google's products. Microsoft says the changes make it harder for "people to stay in control of their own information," and the company is voicing its own "concerns" through full page newspaper articles, seen below, while advertising rival services like Hotmail, Bing, Office 365 and Internet Explorer.

(Click to enlarge)