Big update coming to the default Windows browser

Apr 29, 2022 20:11 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft is working on integrating a free VPN service into Microsoft Edge, a feature that’s already available in some other browsers out there, including Opera.

Microsoft calls the new service “Microsoft Edge Secure Network,” with the company explaining that it’ll be offered in partnership with Cloudfare.

One of the first questions that come to mind when hearing about a VPN service is whether Microsoft is going to store any logs or not.

Well, the company says some information will indeed be collected, but it’ll be entirely removed after 25 hours. In other words, no traces would be available after a little bit more than one day.

“Microsoft Edge Secure Network is a service provided in partnership with Cloudflare. Cloudflare is committed to privacy and collects a limited amount of diagnostic and support data acting as Microsoft’s data subprocessor in order to provide the services. Cloudflare permanently deletes the diagnostic and support data collected every 25 hours,” the company says.

Rollout underway

The VPN option will come with 1GB of data for free, as long as users sign in with a Microsoft account.

“A Microsoft account is required to access Microsoft Edge Secure Network and is retained to keep track of the amount of Microsoft Edge Secure Network data that is used each month. This data retention is necessary to provide 1GB of free Microsoft Edge Secure Network service and to indicate when the data limit has been reached,” the company says.

Like every other VPN, the new service bundled with Microsoft Edge will encrypt your connection, prevent online tracking, and keep you anonymous while browsing the web.

“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,” the company says.

Microsoft hasn’t offered an ETA as to when the rollout could start, but some users have already received the VPN service, so it’s probably just a matter of time until everybody gets it as well.