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Microsoft Tests a Secured Edge Browser For Business (techradar.com)

Posted by msmash on from the sandbox-ftw dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft is in the testing stage of a new feature in its Edge browser for Windows 10 that is malware-proof as it partitions the browser window from the rest of the computer. This will be a welcome addition for users who are worried about the legitimacy of sites they want to visit. The new feature, catchily dubbed Windows Defender Application Guard, is part of the recently launched Windows Insider Previews. In order to access it you'll need to be a member of Microsoft's business service Enterprise, and have your settings calibrated so you're in the testing group called Fast Ring. Application Guard works by creating a virtual PC that is entirely separate from all storage, other apps, and the Windows 10 Kernel, meaning that the browser should be completely impervious to malware.

6 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Is it only me that reads this as by Pope+Raymond+Lama · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Microsoft attests Edge browser is insecure by nature" as it does try to develop a separate "secure one"?

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    -><- no .sig is good sig.
  2. Re:So in other words... by freeze128 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You know what else is "separate from the kernel"? Every other web browser.

  3. Still trying to force feed browsers... by evolutionary · · Score: 3, Insightful

    MS never learns. they are still trying to force feed their browser and are probably going to get slapped by the EU commission and possibly a few others fro anti-trust violatios. Windows 10 S was a real interesting POS. "Get Windows 10 Professional to get default browser change ability". WTF. Time for Linux, unless you are a gamer I guess.

    --
    "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Einstein
    1. Re:Still trying to force feed browsers... by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm not able to remove Safari from my iPhone. How is this different?

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      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
  4. "Challenge Accepted" by kdekorte · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hackers around the world are now saying "Challenge Accepted...". With all the corporate VPNs that work via the browser, I'm sure this is going to cause some compatibility issues somewhere.

  5. Re:So in other words... by the_skywise · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well if you (and I know this is slashdot) RTFA...

    "Application Guard works by creating a virtual PC that is entirely separate from all storage, other apps, and the Windows 10 Kernel, meaning that the browser should be completely impervious to malware."

    Except.. .you still need to be able to download files and I presume those would be in shared spaces outside the VM and install web apps/plug-ins which have to be saved outside the VM too. (Presuming you destroy/recreate the VM if it gets corrupted as you'd still want to keep the apps, cookie settings, bookmarks, passwords etc between nuke and paves so they have to be stored outside the sandbox.) That's still the exact same security risk as browsers have now... they're just moving the access points.