Chromium-based web browser
Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based web browser developed by Microsoft. Though it is tied in with the Microsoft Cloud, it takes privacy seriously. It is fitted with a tracker blocker and malware detector to ensure that your browsing activity and personal information remain safe. Even as you’re signed in to your Microsoft account, Edge will not store your browsing history, internet files, and cookies in your device. Other security features include InPrivate tabs and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen. These keep you away from websites that show suspicious activity connected to phishing and viruses. Edge’s combination of security and accessibility tools will help you browse securely and efficiently.
Microsoft Edge has three major security features: Tracker blocker, InPrivate browsing mode, and the Defender SmartScreen. Together, they prevent users from seeing or accessing your data. For example, Edge blocks trackers from gathering your browsing behavior. This includes monitoring the content you click on and the functionality you enable. There are three levels of tracking prevention: Basic, Balanced and Strict. Microsoft recommends the Balanced level to prevent websites you have not visited from tracking you. You will have less personalized content and advertisements. You can assign websites exempted from the blocker.
Security
Similar Google Chrome, Edge allows you to browse in incognito mode. This prevents your device and Edge developers from keeping a log of your internet activity. When you are not in InPrivate browsing mode, Microsoft will collect data regarding your feature usage, memory usage, and performance. For example, it will keep a log of the kind of websites you bookmark and how many milliseconds it takes for you to open a new tab.
SmartScreen is Microsoft’s cloud-based anti-phishing and anti-malware scanner. It is already built-in the Edge browser so it can analyze web pages before you click on them. Once it has been detected, it will display a warning page. This gives you an opportunity to report that the site does or does not contain threats. Edge will give you access to the website when you have confirmed that it is a safe site.
Smart Browsing
Collections is Microsoft Edge’s web research tool that allows you to collect, organize, share and export web content to Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and other Office 365 programs. You can add content in two ways: add a current page and context menu. Adding a current page is only possible when you’re in the Collections pane. The context menu allows you to select an image, text, and hyperlink, and add it to your collection.
All the content gathered in Collection will be presented on a visual card. This will make it easier for you to tell pages apart. You will see its image, page title and website name displayed on the card. When you want to refer back to the saved web page, simply click its corresponding visual card in the Collections pane.
Suited for the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft Edge focuses more on integrating with the Windows environment rather than directly competing with other browsers. Its features want you to focus on browsing and keeping notes on your web search. As far as security, it is capable of blocking trackers, malware, and phishers, and deleting browsing activity. These are basic security features that can prevent you from interacting with malicious websites while you’re on your mobile device. If you have an Android device running Android 7 and higher, you can use Microsoft Edge to carry your web search from Android to Windows desktop.
