[jonplackett]

Why do they get passwords by viewing your mailbox

[CommieBobDole]

The new Outlook is just an Electron-style interface to a Microsoft webmail app - it's not an email client anymore. So if you want to get email from other providers, you give your credentials to the MS web app and it downloads and stores them on Microsoft's servers.

It's not particularly different from other web email apps, the issue is Microsoft is changing models from email client to web app and they're not being very upfront about it.

[gpvos]

They get the password for your mailbox, and store it on their server (instead of locally on your own computer like with a local Outlook installation).

[jonplackett]

Ah I see. The way it was written seemed like they're getting all the stored passwords. That makes more sense.

[gpvos]

Also, they apparently store a copy of all your mails.