I’ve never been one to bounce around between browsers. I was an ardent Firefox user for many years but started to consider an alternative after encountering more and more web pages that Firefox failed to render properly. I have never considered Chrome, Chrome is Google… enough said. Then, when the new Chromium-based Edge browser came along I decided to give it an extended trial and have stuck with it ever since. Edge includes a lot of nice features and options, one of which is an “Enhanced Security” feature.
Edge includes a tracking prevention feature that is enabled by default but, for some reason, the Enhanced Security feature is disabled. I’m going to show you where to find this feature and how to enable it.
Enabling Edge’s Enhanced Security
You’ll find all Edge’s security features under Settings > Privacy, search, and services. At the top of the page you should see the Tracking Prevention feature enabled and set to “Balanced” by default:
Scroll down the page until you see “Enhance your security on the web” — it’s the last item under the “Security” section:
“Turn on this mode to browse the web more securely and help protect your browser from malware”
Toggle the switch to On and then select a mode — either Balanced or Strict:
- Balanced: in this mode, frequently browsed sites will be left out. The feature will only turn on when you browse sites that you don’t engage with often or are unknown to you
- Strict: turns on the feature on all sites
You can also turn the feature off for specific sites — click Exceptions and then click the Add a site button:
A new dialogue box will open — type in or copy and paste the URL and then click the Add button:
You can add as many exceptions as you like but selecting Balanced mode in the first place should pretty much exclude all those sites you visit regularly and trust.
Edge got off to a very shaky start but, since moving to the Chromium base, Windows’ built-in browser has improved out of sight. And Edge is under constant development with new features and enhancements being added on a regular basis.
What browser do you use and why?
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Jim, I am still a Firefox user, since I hardly experience problems. Those I encounter are security related, like site certificate in not up-to-date, something I can live with. But, the more I hear about Edge, and why you use it now (finding nice gems), the more I might consider giving Edge a retry in the New Year (fingers crossed), Mindblower!
Edge is not for everyone MB. Richard, who is also a long time FF user, tried it and it didn’t suit him. Edge is quirky but I’ve utilized several extensions to make it behave the way I want it to.
Jim, I wonder if this does the same thing in Edge, that you go into flags and turn on…” Super Duper Secure Mode”, or is this a more different security you’re creating. I have not had a chance to look at it properly…sorry.
I’m a Firefox and Brave user, but I will say this now, I think if Microsoft would stop mucking around with Edge, keep beefing up security, and stop adding controversial things to it; in my opinion, Edge could be better than Firefox and Chrome both. The only thing that would worry me would be the privacy!
Hey Don,
Yes, it’s the same thing as what was known as Super Duper Secure Mode when it was an experimental feature. It has since been integrated as a full-blown feature.
What “controversial things” have been added into Edge Don?
I know a lot of users are privacy conscious but, in all honesty, it doesn’t bother me all that much. I am more concerned over security than privacy any day. Besides, as far as I am concerned, the minute a user decides to connect to the internet their privacy is pretty much out the window.
We are all different animals. 🙂
Jim, the controversy I was talking about was the “Buy Now Pay Later” with Edge. It helps when you have more information doesn’t it…smiles. I’m not sure that can be disabled/removed. Some people say it has been integrated into Edge; I don’t know that. Microsoft did not do its homework on that one. It has been a target for criminals (CNBC) https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/18/criminals-exploit-buy-now-pay-later-services-like-klarna-and-afterpay.html, it is nothing but a lending scheme on Edge, as someone said…smiles.
I’m going to dev more into Edge in the next couple of days. Maybe I can get it the way I want it.
Jim, I’m curious, who do you think out of the box has more security, Edge or Chrome. (opinion). We all are going to have different extensions.
Hey Don,
I have the latest Edge version and I see no reference anywhere to BNPL. Ah, I just researched it online and, apparently, BNPL in Edge is only available to U.S. residents at the moment, I am in Australia. I agree, this is a bad idea by MS. Mind you, everywhere I shop these days includes some sort of BNPL option, often multiple BNPL options.
I think all browsers are fairly secure these days, certainly a lot more secure than they used to be. Not much to pick between them really. That said, I have the Malwarebytes Browser Guard extension installed in all my browsers but, then again, I am often randomly surfing the web when researching material for articles. Did you take a look at the article I linked to above: https://davescomputertips.com/4-must-have-extensions-for-edge/
Hi Jim,
I’m glad the BNPL has not made it to you. Maybe it will be put to rest over here in the US. ;=)
I looked at that link you had and downloaded some things I liked, so thank you. Here is one you may like I use, is ClearURL’s ext.
Thanks for all the info above…Don.
I like the sound of ClearURLs, now added into Edge. Thanks for that Don.
I was a confirmed and happy Firefox user for years. Then Firefox developed so many problems that I switched to Chrome. Chrome is now proving to be problematic so now I’ll try Edge. Thanks for the information about Edge. So it goes.
Hi JacB. What problems did Firefox develop? Just curious as I hardly experience issues, and I am a long time user as well, Mindblower!
Hello Mindblower. It’s been so long that I’ve blotted out the problems I had with Firefox. They may have been self-inflicted as I am still having problems getting used to Edge. I am wondering if the devil I know is better than the devil I don’t and am thinking about switching back to Firefox. I never uninstalled it and keep it updated, just in case! JacB
First, my apologies for going off-topic. JacB, I need to set the record straight. I did abandon Firefox indirectly by switching to Waterfox years ago, might have occurred when you had those problems. Only when sites would not recognize Waterfox, and Firefox added 64bit, did I switch back. I am considering re-trying out Edge on one computer, but believe Firefox will remain my main browser. Right now my back-up browser is Opera, Mindblower!