Windows 10 Notifications Now Claiming Edge Is More Secure than Chrome

[Exterminator]

Earlier this month, Microsoft silently introduced what it calls “Windows Tips notifications” in Windows 10 in order to highlight some of the features of the OS, and now it looks like these messages are touting the security level of Edge browser.

We first reported about these tips in early November when users started seeing what they described as “ads on the desktop,” with a Microsoft spokesperson telling us that they were actually notifications supposed to help users discover the benefits of Windows 10.

And now according to posts on Reddit, these notifications show that Edge is actually more secure than Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and pop out whenever users launch the third-party browsers.

Is this fair play from Microsoft? Hard to tell, but the company is also giving users an option to block these tips should they feel bothered by them. All they have to do is go to Settings > System > Notifications and disable the option that’s called “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows.”

Microsoft says they’re helpful
And if you still think these notifications popping out from the taskbar are ads, here’s how Microsoft described them in a statement we received from a company spokesperson earlier this month:

“As we continue to improve Microsoft Edge, we want to inform our users of great new features that are available both in the browser and throughout Windows 10. Windows Tips notifications were created to provide people with quick, easy information that can help them enhance their Windows 10 experience. Windows 10 users can easily change default settings and preferences, should they wish, including turning off these Windows Tips and Tricks notifications in their system’s settings.”

It goes without saying that Microsoft is betting big on Edge browser, but this rather aggressive push could easily become a double-edged sword for Windows 10. Adoption of Edge is still at 5 percent according to third-party data, and using desktop notifications might not be the best way to increase it.

 

[Dirk41]

Yeah probably I never see these things because I disable those notifications months ago

 

[Wave]

Yeah probably I never see these things because I disable those notifications months ago

Notifications are enabled for me and I've never seen such a thing happen before; although as long as we can actually disable them, it's not a problem.

 

[RoboMan]

I've noticed a couple of automatic default browser change back to Edge, and when trying to switch back i got a message like "Are you sure? Edge is the best browser for Windows 10"............

 

[Entreri]

Microsoft is really touting their wares. Edge is meh, besides Netflix on PC.

I don't see any of this garbage since I gotten rid of the Win10 extras...from Cortana to apps to large majority of the spying.
Win10 = Win7 with fast booting times for moi.

 

[Fritz]

Got those infos turned off, too. They may elegantly call that "help" to discover benefits, but I like to call it what it is: a simple ad.

While probably perfectly legal, I don't appreciate ads in paid-for products. There's also a point where tooting your own horn goes a bit overboard and starts to sound desperate.

 

[Azure]

I'm not asking whether you guys use Edge as default or if you like it. But, do you guys think Edge is more secure than Chrome and Firefox?

 

[Fritz]

More secure? Maybe. But slap on just one extension like NoScript e.g. and it looks entirely different again. Hard to tell since few people use browsers as a stand-alone product without any extensions in the real world I guess. Didn't some Chinese kids just hack it within mere seconds recently?

 

[Wave]

More secure? Maybe. But slap on just one extension like NoScript e.g. and it looks entirely different again. Hard to tell since few people use browsers as a stand-alone product without any extensions in the real world I guess. Didn't some Chinese kids just hack it within mere seconds recently?

I agree with you.

They also need to make a "lockdown" mode which will protect the process from kernel-mode (like how csrss.exe is protected) and also prevent SetWindowsHookEx/SetWinEventHook from working with it (also used for keystroke logging sometimes). Protecting the process will prevent any user-mode malware from opening a handle with the necessary rights for it to "attack" the processes, also helping prevent attacks. As part of this "lockdown" mode, they can prevent the browser from accessing any objects it wouldn't normally need to access. They can also have MS Edge executed within an isolated environment so it becomes separated from the actual system objects itself, therefore in the case of an remote code execution exploit, not a lot can be done than what it could have done at first.

 

[Andy Ful]

Yeah probably I never see these things because I disable those notifications months ago

So do I.

....
And now according to posts on Reddit, these notifications show that Edge is actually more secure than Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and pop out whenever users launch the third-party browsers.

Is this fair play from Microsoft? Hard to tell, but the company is also giving users an option to block these tips should they feel bothered by them. All they have to do is go to Settings > System > Notifications and disable the option that’s called “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows.”

Fair play and Microsoft ?
But, to be honest: Google and fair play?
They both have many "fair plays" in the BANK , already.
The world of big corporations is the proof that 'Many Worlds' interpretation of Quantum Physics is really true (forgive me this off topic note).

 

[Andy Ful]

More secure? Maybe. But slap on just one extension like NoScript e.g. and it looks entirely different again. Hard to tell since few people use browsers as a stand-alone product without any extensions in the real world I guess. Didn't some Chinese kids just hack it within mere seconds recently?

Actually, I use Edge browser without extensions (I like AppContainer). But, also with Adguard DNS and system hardening. I do not think that Microsoft Edge is safer than Google Chrome.

 

[jamescv7]

As you know the numbers are likely fact where Edge and IE were not the most targeted of attacks.

Although the users by nature already knew basic security but it will not stop for them to use Chrome or Firefox.

 

[Ink]

I do not think that Microsoft Edge is safer than Google Chrome

Are you referring to the browser or built-in Malware and Phishing protection (ie. Smartscreen vs Safe Browsing)?

 

[Andy Ful]

Are you referring to the browser or built-in Malware and Phishing protection (ie. Smartscreen vs Safe Browsing)?

I was referring to the browser security. Both browsers are constantly being developed, both are using strong sandboxing technology and both are opened for testing against exploits. We will see what happens in the future.

 

[StopMalware!]

Yup i have seen this but i will still use Chrome Or Firefox

 

[DJ Panda]

I find Edge a tad more slower on certain sites with more ads (I don't use an adblocker and don't intend on using one either) so I switch to chrome for those. As for more security i'd say about the same. "Spying" doesn't really bother me as I just watch YT and such nothing personal about the computer I use. Currently using Edge because of its point system.

 

[Andy Ful]

Yup i have seen this but i will still use Chrome Or Firefox

Using the Internet Browser without a sandbox is like driving the car without seat belts. Some people do not like seat belts and this is more important for them than additional safety.