This week, information broke that Microsoft Edge is seemingly leaking all of the URLs we go to to Bing—that’s, straight to Microsoft itself. Discovered by Reddit and reported by The Verge, the bug seems to be tied to a brand new characteristic in Edge that permits customers to observe their favourite creators. But as a substitute of notifying Bing of choose net addresses, like YouTube and Reddit, it’s beaming every part again house to the mothership. This isn’t the primary downside tied to Edge’s torrid tempo of recent characteristic releases, both.
Microsoft is conscious of the difficulty, telling The Verge in a press release that it’s investigating the stories and “will take appropriate action to address any issues.” (Don’t fear, The Verge subtly reassured everybody that visits to grownup web sites stay a secret, thanks to a grasp filter blocking sure URLs from being despatched. Apparently Microsoft doesn’t need to know that information, both.) In the in the meantime, nevertheless, you possibly can nip this downside within the bud by turning off the characteristic:
- Type edge://settings/privateness into your tackle bar, or click on on the three-dot menu and select Settings > Privacy, search, and providers.
- Scroll down to the Services part.
- Flip the toggle for Show solutions to observe creators in Microsoft Edge to off. This will flip off the characteristic for observe solutions and notifications for brand new content material.
While you’re in that a part of settings, you might discover (as I did) one other characteristic with privateness issues—the Shopping instrument. Set on by default, it collects shopping historical past and web page content material to be used in additional product growth. This a part of the settings is a little bit of a microcosm for the general Edge expertise—options with good intentions however doable points, and never at all times simply discovered or clearly defined. This strategy is a pity, too, since a few of Edge’s many options over time have been groundbreaking and/or modern.
Take 4K help in Netflix again in 2017. At that point, different browsers had been caught at 720p, however not Edge. Heck, most individuals didn’t actually have a 4K monitor but both, due to availability and value—it was extraordinarily forward-thinking on Microsoft’s half. (That’s not the case at this time, as you possibly can see by glancing at our roundup of the very best screens.) Edge additionally affords tight integration with Xbox Game Pass, permitting you to bounce straight into cloud-gaming titles when signed into your account. And extra just lately, Microsoft’s AI chatbot, Bing Chat, was made obtainable by Edge (together with cell platforms), as was the combination of an AI-art generator.
On the flipside, Edge has gone in questionable instructions as properly. This difficulty with URL leakage isn’t the one stain on its file. Back in 2021, Microsoft experimented with a instrument that really helpful a mortgage service whereas purchasing. (Ick.) More just lately, rumors of a cryptocurrency pockets for Edge surfaced—a controversial characteristic, given the uncertainty about crypto in some circles. (GPU pricing throughout the pandemic, ahem.)
Microsoft
And let’s not overlook the doubtful sources of “news” that Edge makes use of to populate its feed once you open a brand new tab. I actually have complained about this on one notably horrible day filled with sensationalist headlines. (That one in regards to the child nonetheless actually upsets me.)
Obviously, the Edge groups are working exhausting to distinguish their browser from Chrome and different Chromium-based choices. And some options are genuinely useful. (I nonetheless dig vertical tabs.) But lately, what I search for (as many others do, I feel) is simplicity and trustworthiness in software program. I desire a clear, easy-to-understand interface paired with sturdy protections for my privateness and safety. Edge stays a secondary browser for me as a result of it’s somewhat disorganized in the way it presents options, a lot much less one’s capacity to keep on high of managing all of them. It additionally typically forces new ones on you as default.
Hopefully, this sighting on Twitter of a capability to choose and select which of Edge’s options get put in will change into a factor. Let me select a streamlined, bare-bones model of Edge, please. Leave the opposite options in a operating checklist inside the settings. I’ll get to them at my leisure.
Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor
Alaina Yee is PCWorld’s resident discount hunter—when she’s not protecting PC constructing, laptop elements, mini-PCs, and extra, she’s scouring for the very best tech offers. Previously her work has appeared in PC Gamer, IGN, Maximum PC, and Official Xbox Magazine. You can discover her on Twitter at @morphingball.
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