Microsoft Shakes Up The Web Browser With The All-New Edge

Microsoft made an announcement that sent shockwaves around the Web. The company was tearing down the Edge browser and rebuilding it from the ground up.

Now, there’s an all-new Microsoft Edge browser that you can download on your PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android device.

Building a web browser is an incredibly complex task, so you might wonder how Microsoft pulled it off in such a short amount of time. The answer is that the company didn’t start from scratch.

The new Edge was built with the Chromium code base, the same code that forms the foundation of Google Chrome.

Despite its struggles to gain market share, Edge was already a very good browser. The brand new Edge is even better. It might be Microsoft’s best ever.Today In: Innovation

Edge is fast, stable, secure, and it loads websites just as cleanly as Google Chrome does. That has everything to do with the choice to use the Chromium code as a starting point, which also allowed Microsoft to focus its efforts on details that would make Edge stand out.

The Edge privacy dashboardLEE MATHEWS/FORBES

One way they did that was by putting an emphasis on privacy protection. By default, Edge blocks invasive tracking scripts. I tested it on several sites against Firefox and the Privacy Badger add-on and Edge stopped more tracking attempts.

To make sure you hit the ground running, Edge has a built-in import tool that can pull in important bits like favorites and passwords from your current browser. Synchronization makes sure your profile follows you whether you’re surfing on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone.

Edge also offers enhanced security while you browse. Edge is hooked in to Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, which uses reputation- and behavior-based protection against malware and phishing attacks.

The new Edge is also more customizable. Again, this is the result of its Chromium roots. You can install add-ons from Microsoft’ dedicated site or from the Chrome Web Store. Flip the switch for dark mode when you want to give your eyes a break.

Microsoft’s new browser provides a great experience right out of the box and it’s well worth taking for a test drive.

You can download Edge from Microsoft by clicking here. There’s also a massive collection of tips you can browse to get yourself acquainted with all its new features.