We all want to know that our identity and data are safe from prying eyes. Fortunately, browsers like Microsoft Edge have various protective features that help keep your online experience safe and secure.
From features that prevent you from accessing malicious websites to settings that allow you to create unreachable passwords, here are some of the top security features that make Microsoft Edge a safe web browser.
1. Edge Secure Network VPN
When it comes to online privacy and security, one of the first tools that comes to mind is the VPN. These services create an encrypted connection over a less secure network, which nowadays is standard, especially since public Wi-Fi networks are so popular.
That said, Microsoft Edge comes with a feature calledEdge Secure Network, which uses the same basic principles of a VPN to protect your online identity. It hides your IP address (and, therefore, your real-life location), and the best part is that it’s programmed to activate whenever you connect to a public network, such as an airport’s Wi-Fi, or whenever you access a website withoutHTTPS certification.
Thus, any operation in which you input sensitive information, such as filling out forms or making online purchases, will be just between you and your browser.
To benefit from this feature’s protection, all you need to do is log into your Microsoft account, go to eitherEdge SettingsorBrowser Essentials, and toggleEdge Secure Networkon.
Currently, Edge Secure Network gives you 5 GB of data automatically every month for free.
2. Password Monitor
Data breaches are no laughing matter, especially when you find out about them long after you’re able to do anything about the passwords you use.
Microsoft Edge comes with a solution to this problem, and it’s calledPassword Monitor. In short, this security feature does three things:
As for how active Password Monitor is, know that it will always do a complete scan of your saved passwords when you first activate it. Additionally, it will check every single username and password combination the first time they’re added to Password Monitor’s database.
There’s also always the option of manually scanning your saved passwords for leaks, which you can do as many times as you want.
3. Password Generator
Those of you who focus on online privacy and security are probably well aware of the risks of reusing the same passwords repeatedly for all the websites and services you use.
Microsoft Edge comes with aPassword Generatorthat can help you avoid this mistake, and it’s easy to use.
Whenever you open a web page that contains a sign-up form or a field for changing passwords, Microsoft Edge will activate Password Generator by default. Just clicking the password field will cause Password Generator to create a drop-down list of strong passwords for you to choose from. You then select whichever password you like and use it on that website.
Microsoft Edge will also automatically save your chosen password, and Edge will use the autofill function to write it for you whenever you need to input it again. Besides, you’ll be able to use this generated password on all your synced Edge devices, regardless of whether they’re on desktops or mobile devices.
4. Password Health
There’s more toa password’s strengththan choosing a word no one would ever think of using. Using upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters can all contribute to a password’s strength, making it impossible to crack.
For example, while Password Monitor may help you find passwords that may have already been leaked, Password Health can help you prevent that from happening in the first place.
In simple terms, it shows you a list of all the passwords you saved in Microsoft Edge, and it determines its overall strength. Additionally, it will provide users with tips on what to do in case a password is deemed weak or at risk.
5. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
One of the more active protective features in Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen’s role is to protect you from phishing and malware attacks. For example, the most common way to get yourself exposed and infected with malware is through suspicious attachments and misleading call-to-actions.
Thanks to Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, an adaptation of theWindows OS SmartScreen, anything you download through Microsoft Edge will be checked before you open it.
As for malicious websites, whenever you access a website that Microsoft deems unsafe, you’ll be greeted by a red screen with the following warning: “The site has been reported as unsafe!”.
You can still access websites that were flagged, but keep in mind that you’re doing it at your own risk.
Additionally, users have a chance to help improve Microsoft Defender SmartScreen by reporting anywebsites that they deem fraudulentor even links to harmful software. Microsoft continuously crosschecks and verifies its database of safe websites, using reputable sources to verify them.
6. Enhanced Security Mode
Enhanced Security Modeis an extra protective layer that works well with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. By activating the feature, you’ll browse the web more securely and help protect your browser from malicious software.
It does this by running unfamiliar websites without theJIT (just in time) compilation, enhancing your browser’s resistance to exploits. It also includes three protective features already present in the Windows OS:
Enhanced Security Mode allows you to choose between two levels of protection, Balanced and Strict, with Balanced being the recommended setting. Balanced mode adjusts to the user’s behavior online, while also limiting or blocking features on certain websites for safety. Strict mode limits or blocks certain features on every website you visit, though you can adjust which sites are restricted manually. This can be tricky to configure and can be very inconvenient, which is why most users are better off with Balanced mode.
7. Typo Protection
At first glance, some may wonder how typo protection can be considered a security feature. Well, for starters, many malicious websites rely onusers making a typowhen writing down the URL to access them. This type of phishing is called “typosquatting,” and it’s becoming an increasingly prevalent problem for internet users.
Typo Protection acts like a typical browser’s autocorrect feature, except it keeps a database of reputable website URLs, preventing users from making typos while writing URLs, and thus ensuring that they always navigate to the websites they want to visit.
Whenever you visit a website that Microsoft has flagged as a typosquatting site, you’ll receive a warning message (similar to the one from Windows Defender SmartScreen) warning you that you may have misspelled the website’s name.
Additionally, most typosquatters usually create malicious websites with few dangerous elements to avoid being detected by services like Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.
While Microsoft Defender SmartScreen protects you from websites with suspicious content, Typo Protection will protect you against websites that look legit but have questionable URLs.
8. Tracking Prevention
No one likes it when websites use trackers tocollect info about your browsing, and if you find Edge Secure Network VPN to be too limited for your taste, then Edge’s Tracking Prevention is a great alternative.
The great thing about this feature is that it’s very beginner-friendly since there’s no actual micromanagement involved in using it. All you have to do is select between the three levels of Tracking Prevention: Basic, Balanced, and Strict.
This feature also lets you see which websites attempted to track you, and you can also add websites that you like to the exception list.
9. InPrivate Browsing
InPrivate Browsingis Microsoft Edge’s version of Incognito Mode, and for all intents and purposes, it behaves accordingly as well.
For example, just like with other browsers' Incognito or Private tabs, Microsoft Edge will delete your entire browsing data the moment you close the InPrivate tab. This includes browsing history, credentials, form data, or site data.
One thing it does save, though, is websites that you’ve added to your Favorites list, as well as any files you’ve downloaded via InPrivate windows. Additionally, you can still access the data stored in your browser from regular windows, such as the form data, or saved passwords.
However, like with Incognito and Private tabs, InPrivate Browsingcannot keep your activity completely private. For example, those monitoring your network, such as your ISP, school, or work network managers, can still see what you’re doing.
Microsoft Edge Is Full of Features That Protect Your Data
All in all, Microsoft Edge has features that will keep you safe from all online threats. It warns you about dangerous websites, blocks trackers and dangerous downloads, and even makes sure that all of your passwords are bulletproof. Thanks to the features mentioned above, Edge ensures you’re protected while surfing the web
