This week, information broke that Microsoft Edge is seemingly leaking all of the URLs we go to to Bing—that’s, on to Microsoft itself. Discovered by Reddit and reported by The Verge, the bug seems to be tied to a brand new function in Edge that permits customers to observe their favourite creators. But as an alternative of notifying Bing of choose net addresses, like YouTube and Reddit, it’s beaming all the things again house to the mothership. This isn’t the primary downside tied to Edge’s torrid tempo of latest function releases, both.

Microsoft is conscious of the difficulty, telling The Verge in a press release that it’s investigating the experiences and “will take appropriate action to address any issues.” (Don’t fear, The Verge subtly reassured everybody that visits to grownup web sites stay a secret, because of a grasp filter blocking sure URLs from being despatched. Apparently Microsoft doesn’t wish to know that information, both.) In the in the meantime, nevertheless, you’ll be able to nip this downside within the bud by turning off the function:

1. Type edge://settings/privateness into your tackle bar, or click on on the three-dot menu and select Settings > Privacy, search, and companies.
2. Scroll right down to the Services part.
3. Flip the toggle for Show recommendations to observe creators in Microsoft Edge to off. This will flip off the function for observe recommendations and notifications for brand spanking new content material.

While you’re in that a part of settings, you might discover (as I did) one other function with privateness considerations—the Shopping software. Set on by default, it collects shopping historical past and web page content material to be used in additional product growth. This a part of the settings is a little bit of a microcosm for the general Edge expertise—options with good intentions however potential points, and never all the time simply discovered or clearly defined. This method is a pity, too, since a few of Edge’s many options over time have been groundbreaking and/or progressive.

Take 4K support in Netflix again in 2017. At that point, different browsers had been caught at 720p, however not Edge. Heck, most individuals didn’t actually have a 4K monitor but both, as a result of availability and value—it was extraordinarily forward-thinking on Microsoft’s half. (That’s not the case as we speak, as you’ll be able to see by glancing at our roundup of the best monitors.) Edge additionally presents tight integration with Xbox Game Pass, permitting you to leap straight into cloud-gaming titles when signed into your account. And extra just lately, Microsoft’s AI chatbot, Bing Chat, was made out there via Edge (together with cell platforms), as was the integration of an AI-art generator.

On the flipside, Edge has gone in questionable instructions as nicely. This concern with URL leakage isn’t the one stain on its file. Back in 2021, Microsoft experimented with a tool that recommended a loan service while shopping. (Ick.) More just lately, rumors of a cryptocurrency wallet for Edge surfaced—a controversial function, given the uncertainty about crypto in some circles. (GPU pricing through the pandemic, ahem.)

Microsoft

And let’s not overlook the doubtful sources of “news” that Edge makes use of to populate its feed if you open a brand new tab. I personally have complained about this on one particularly terrible day filled with sensationalist headlines. (That one concerning the child nonetheless actually upsets me.)

Obviously, the Edge groups are working arduous to tell apart their browser from Chrome and different Chromium-based choices. And some options are genuinely useful. (I nonetheless dig vertical tabs.) But as of late, what I search for (as many others do, I feel) is simplicity and trustworthiness in software program. I desire a clear, easy-to-understand interface paired with sturdy protections for my privateness and safety. Edge stays a secondary browser for me as a result of it’s a bit of disorganized in the way it presents options, a lot much less one’s potential to remain on high of managing all of them. It additionally typically forces new ones on you as default. 

Hopefully, this sighting on Twitter of a capability to pick and choose which of Edge’s options get put in will develop into a factor. Let me select a streamlined, bare-bones model of Edge, please. Leave the opposite options in a working checklist inside the settings. I’ll get to them at my leisure.