If you know about HTTPS, you’ll know how important it is to keep your personal details safe online. As such, you’ll know how great it is that Microsoft Edge’s new “HTTPS-only” mode has finally released onto the preview builds.
What Is Microsoft Edge’s HTTPS Only Mode?
As reported on the Microsoft Edge blog, HTTPS-only mode is coming to the browser. When enabled, Edge will force browsers to only communicate over HTTPS if possible.
This feature is significant for privacy, as HTTPS is a lot more secure than HTTP. HTTP sends everything over “as-is,” but HTTPS puts a layer of encryption over everything you send. This means nobody can snoop on what you’re doing.
You’d think that if companies had the choice between using HTTP or HTTPS for their website, they’d opt for the latter. But, unfortunately, not everyone has hopped on the HTTPS train yet, and some sites still use the more insecure version.
This is what Microsoft is trying to fix with Edge’s new HTTPS-only mode. Once enabled, your browser will try to connect over HTTPS where possible.
If a website doesn’t support HTTPS, Edge will use regular HTTP instead. You can tell Edge to force an HTTPS connection for every single website, but some websites will throw a connection error as a result.
If you want to give this a trial run for yourself, the update should now be live on the Microsoft Edge Dev and Canary builds. These builds are specifically for testing and may include bugs, so if you prefer a more stable browsing experience, it’s probably best to hang tight until Microsoft Edge 92 arrives on the main branch.
A More Secure Edge for All
Microsoft Edge’s new HTTPS-only mode looks like an effective and unobtrusive way for people of all skill levels to protect themselves online. The feature has now made its way onto the preview builds, so it won’t be long now until it’s available for everyone to enjoy.
If you’d like to stay on top of Edge’s new features, it’s worth giving the Dev or Canary build a try, even if you only use it to satiate your curiosity. Microsoft uses them as a testbed for its cool new additions, such as its revolutionary vertical tabs feature.
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