Skip to main content

Microsoft brags about browser security at Edge Summit event

1150218 autosave v1 2 microsoft edge win 10 icon
coffeemate / 123RF Stock Photo
Microsoft made no bones about its intention to use Windows 10 as part of an attempt to consolidate as many of the millions of PCs active around the world as possible down to one version of the OS. At its core, this strategy is part of an effort to tighten up security, the idea being that it’s easier to concentrate on developing countermeasures for a single OS than it is to split resources across several different iterations.

The creation of the Edge browser was another component of this plan, intended to erase some of the consternation tied to the Internet Explorer brand with something fresh and safe to use. While it’s difficult to say whether the application has shaken off the shadow of its predecessor, a new report suggests its security is beyond reproach.

Recommended Videos

The second annual Edge Summit was held in San Francisco yesterday, and Microsoft used the event to brag about the project’s successes. In the year since it was first made available as Project Spartan in March 2015, the software has had no zero-day exploits and no known exploits targeting it, according to a report from WinBeta.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

A zero-day exploit is a vulnerability in software that’s unknown to its creator at the time it’s distributed to users. The significance of this type of exploit is that hackers and other cyber-criminals can begin developing and delivering malicious code, while the software publisher is forced to rush a fix out to its users — once the exploit has been spotted.

Part of Microsoft’s success in making Edge secure has to be attributed to the company’s cautious approach. Preliminary support for extensions was only added to the browser in March of this year, with the company citing security concerns as the reason behind the delay.

Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Microsoft is, once again, trying to force users into using Edge
Microsoft Edge on a laptop on a couch.

Microsoft has deployed no shortage of tactics to get Windows users onto its Edge browser, and although some of the more nefarious methods of trying to force users to pick up the browser have failed, the company is still experimenting with new methods. The latest route launches Edge automatically on your PC on startup and prompts users to continually import data from Chrome, including your history, bookmarks, and tabs.

Richard Lawler from The Verge spotted the prompt, which showed up earlier this year without explanation before disappearing. It's back now, and in an official capacity from Microsoft. "This is a notification giving people the choice to import data from other browsers," said Microsoft's Caitlin Roulston in a statement to The Verge.

Read more
My quest to fully remove Microsoft Edge is finally complete
Microsoft Defender and Edge Security settings are open on a PC monitor.

I'm on a mission to eradicate Microsoft Edge from my PC.

It's not a slight against Microsoft -- I just don't particularly care for the Edge browser compared to some of the other best browsers out there. But Edge is different because Microsoft has tried -- and mostly failed -- to court its massive Windows user base, with some unsavory tactics, including making it nearly impossible to set a different default browser to massive, screen-overtaking popups when searching for the Chrome installer.

Read more
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Is it finally time to update?
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 sitting on a table.

Windows 11 is the newest version of Windows, and it's one of the best Windows versions ever released. It draws on its predecessors, like Windows 10, but today it's very much its own operating system, with a unique look, advanced features, and the most secure and stable platform for modern Windows application.

If you've been holding out on upgrading, or aren't running the latest version, we have everything you need to know about the most recent version of Windows 11.
Windows 11 2024 update (24H2)
The latest version of Windows 11, is the 2024 update known as 24H2. It initially rolled out to Windows Insiders in February 2024, but has since been released to the wider Windows user base starting October 1. It introduced a number of new and enhanced features to Windows, improving its fundamentals, as well as adding new capabilities, especially those running it on Copilot+ PCs and laptops.

Read more