Microsoft Edge is getting a free built-in VPN, powered by Cloudflare

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Tudor Cibean

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In a nutshell: Microsoft is testing a new feature for its Edge browser called Secure Network. It's essentially a built-in VPN service powered by Cloudflare, although, unlike other VPNs, you're going to be limited to 1GB of data a month.

Microsoft Edge has become a capable browser since becoming Chromium-based in 2019. It even recently overtook Safari as the second most popular desktop browser, albeit Microsoft's decision to make it a headache to switch to an alternative in Windows 11 might have played a part in that.

On a recently discovered support page, Microsoft details a new feature coming to the browser that it hopes will give it a leg up over Google Chrome. The "Microsoft Edge Secure Network" is essentially a built-in VPN powered by Cloudflare.

While Microsoft isn't explicitly calling it a VPN service, the description gives it away. The company claims that enabling the feature will help prevent online tracking by encrypting your web traffic while also keeping your location private by masking your IP address.

You have to first sign in to your Microsoft account to use the feature. This requirement is because you only get 1GB of free data per month, which is tracked with your account. Microsoft doesn't mention if there'll be any options in the future to pay for extra data.

Cloudflare claims that it won't retain or sell any user information, and it will delete all data related to browsing sessions within 25 hours. Secure Network is not yet available, but it'll probably appear soon in Edge Canary or Dev.

It's worth noting that having a VPN built into your browser isn't anything new, as Opera has included one ever since 2016.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/94411-microsoft-edge-getting-free-built-vpn.html

 
Geralt said:
I won't use Edge even if they give it to me with diamonds. Full MS garbage. The problem is not the browser itself but the MS policies behind it. That's why I wiped it off my rig forever.
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It's your choice to not your Edge... meaning it's your choice to limit yourself.
 
Is it really necessary to complain about the privacy aspect of microsoft edge while you're already using windows 10/11? Seriously I don't get it. The fact that there's a data limit on this vpn is a joke though.
 
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I have actually just ditched Firefox for Edge. It’s so much faster and sleeker. I hear it’s like Chrome but I don’t want Google profiting from my data…
 
Edge is unironically decent now and has been for some time, I still don't use it as my main browser because I don't like Microsoft and there's no reason to switch when I'm used to Brave or Chrome.
 
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Geralt said:
I won't use Edge even if they give it to me with diamonds. Full MS garbage. The problem is not the browser itself but the MS policies behind it. That's why I wiped it off my rig forever.
Click to expand...

Talking about Edge cases - I suppose it's super rare that something doesn't work properly in say Chrome . The other advantage of 2 browsers - that I don't need now- is having 2 different accounts opened with same service - sometimes hard to use n 1 browser - eg your business one and your personal one
 
Geralt said:
The problem is not the browser but MS all the time tricking you into using it. I don't like their tricks.
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Like it or not, the minute you have installed Windows as your computer's OS you are Microsoft's prisoner. Edge is just another way MS is refining their data profile of its users. It is not just Microsoft that is doing it. Apple, Google, etc. are also data mining its users. They are all using this data to control how you use your computer, phone and other electronic devices.
 
flee2020 said:
Like it or not, the minute you have installed Windows as your computer's OS you are Microsoft's prisoner. Edge is just another way MS is refining their data profile of its users. It is not just Microsoft that is doing it. Apple, Google, etc. are also data mining its users. They are all using this data to control how you use your computer, phone and other electronic devices.
Click to expand...
While I do think it's silly to cite privacy concerns as a reason to avoid Edge if you're a Windows user, this seems pretty hyperbolic. How is a Windows user Microsoft's prisoner, and in what way does Microsoft's telemetry control how one uses one's computer?
 
flee2020 said:
Like it or not, the minute you have installed Windows as your computer's OS you are Microsoft's prisoner. Edge is just another way MS is refining their data profile of its users. It is not just Microsoft that is doing it. Apple, Google, etc. are also data mining its users. They are all using this data to control how you use your computer, phone and other electronic devices.
Click to expand...
My problem isn't about data mining in Edge. My problem lies in MS tricks. For example: I set Google Chrome like the default browser, but all of a sudden a link opens in Edge, and things like that. Tricks that continue while Edge is in my computer. Solution: Full uninstallation of the damned browser.
 
Any policy on logging? Most VPN's do or do not log. The ones who really need to be off the grid are the ones that dont log. Since this is attached to an account (You have to login using your Live account) what happens with the data?
 
It would only make sense if they clearly communicate zero log policy. As far as I go there is no VPN as a Free VPN.
 
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