Virus protection is not enough. Edge will also block annoying applications
Edge from the very beginning has a built-in optional scanner that protects the Internet user from malware. Microsoft, however, is already testing an additional module. The one that will defend us against adware and other crapware.
Edge - and before it Internet Explorer - has long been equipped with the first module of defense against malware. It's called SmartScreen and scans files before they are even saved in our computer's memory. This module is optional due to the controversy it raises - it often consults the cloud regarding the analyzed data, which can be treated as a breach of privacy - but it is very effective. And soon it will gain a companion.
The second protection module, also optional, does not have such a fancy name as SmartScreen. This is a new option in Edge's settings, present for some time in its early version of Canary, and today introduced to the Beta test channel. It's called Block potentially unwanted applications and the name is correct ... well, it doesn't explain everything. What are Microsoft unwanted applications?
Edge will alert you if the crapware you are downloading is known for installing unwanted toolbars, ad modules or other unwanted activities.
Applications that secretly copy cryptocurrency, which spam us with ads through the browser notification mechanism, or those that insist that we need to use this strange search engine are not considered malware, and therefore are not blocked by antimalware filters. They are not dangerous, just annoying.
https://twitter.com/ericlaw/status/1223085949892136960
Microsoft, as shown in the tweet above, believes that thanks to this Edge will provide a greater level of productivity and security than browsers using solutions such as Google Safe Browsing or a filter from Mozilla, precisely because of the optional blocking of such programs.
I hope that cyber security specialists will verify its operation in practice, but even if its effectiveness is limited, this additional and quite unique protection is undoubtedly very much appreciated. And because it appears in the Beta channel, it will go to the production version of the browser in a few weeks.
Virus protection is not enough. Edge will also block annoying applications
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