Security News > 2022 > April > Hands on with Microsoft Edge's new built-in VPN feature

Microsoft is working on a built-in VPN functionality for the Edge browser called 'Edge Secure Network', but there's a catch - it is not a proper replacement for your VPN. Edge's Secure Network is powered by Cloudflare - one of the most trusted DNS hosts in the industry - and it aims to protect your device and sensitive data as you browse.

The feature is in the early stage of development available to select users in Edge Canary and it's not a full-fledged VPN service offered in rival browsers like Opera.

So how does Microsoft Edge's Secure Network actually work? As per the support document and our tests, Edge uses Cloudflare's routing to encrypt your internet connection and protect your data from online threats like hackers.

Microsoft says Edge Secure network feature sends your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to create a secure connection, which means even HTTP URLs are accessed securely in a bid to make it harder for attackers to obtain your browsing data and it also eliminates any possibilities of online tracking.

While Edge Secure Networks sounds like an appealing solution, it isn't like a regular VPN. In fact, it's possible that the feature uses Cloudflare's Warp - a free service that ensures all your traffic is kept private between your device and the origin server.

In the above example, we were able to use Edge Secure Network to access a Torrent site blocked by the ISP. However, the Cloudflare-based Edge Secure Network isn't good for streaming.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/hands-on-with-microsoft-edges-new-built-in-vpn-feature/