Microsoft's Edge Web Browser is Getting a Free Built-in VPN

Microsoft has revealed that it is adding a free built-in VPN to the Microsoft Edge web browser. The feature will be called 'Microsoft Edge Secure Network'.

Microsoft Edge helps keep you safe online. However, the networks you join may not be adequately secure. Microsoft Edge Secure Network can help you protect your device and sensitive data as you browse.

Features:

● Encrypts your connection: Encrypts your internet connection to help protect your data from online threats like hackers. When using Microsoft Edge Secure network, your data is routed from Edge through an encrypted tunnel to create a secure connection, even when using a non-secure URL that starts with HTTP. This makes it harder for hackers to access your browsing data on a shared public Wi-Fi network.


● Helps prevent online tracking: By encrypting your web traffic directly from Microsoft Edge, we help prevent your internet service provider from collecting your browsing data like details about which websites you visit.

● Keeps your location private: Online entities can use your location and IP address for profiling and sending you targeted ads. Microsoft Edge Secure Network lets you browse with a virtual IP address that masks your IP and replaces your geolocation with a similar regional address to make it more difficult for online trackers to follow you as you browse.

● Is free to use: Get 1 gigabyte of free data every month when you sign into Microsoft Edge with your Microsoft Account.

The Microsoft Edge Secure network is powered by CloudFlare. Given that the service is free and capped, Cloudflare will collect a limited amount of diagnostic and support data acting as Microsoft’s data subprocessor. Cloudflare says it will permanently delete the diagnostic and support data collected every 25 hours.


Although Microsoft has revealed how to turn on the service (Settings and more > Turn on Microsoft Edge Secure Network), it's not yet available. Presumably, it will roll out to Microsoft Edge insider channels first. You can join a channel and download the browser here. You will need to sign into a Microsoft Account to use the VPN.

While it's great to see Microsoft make an effort to improve privacy for users, we strongly recommend users have access to a more fully featured VPN. A subscription to NordVPN is currently on sale for 51% off and will work across platforms and browsers without the data cap. Additionally, NordVPN will let you choose your location and it can stream geo-restricted content which early testers say is not possible with Microsoft Edge Secure Network.

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