Microsoft Edge has a new tool to topple Google Chrome – but it’s nothing to do with ChatGPT this time
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Some Microsoft Edge users report accessing the new built-in VPN within the web browser’s stable build, despite the company not officially launching it after a build example (opens in new tab).
Officially known as the Edge Secure Network, users will see the VPN in their browser without a ‘preview’ tag, suggesting they have access to the fully working version.
A VPN reroutes your internet traffic, effectively masking your location to keep you anonymous and protect your privacy, by preventing all the powers that collect data from finding out about you. However, the Edge Secure Network works slightly differently than other third-party VPNs.
Three modes
The Edge Secure Network does not allow users to choose the server location, unlike most VPN services. However, there are three different operational modes they can choose.
First, there’s the ‘Select Sites’ mode, where users can specify that the VPN should only be active on certain websites, by adding them to the ‘Use VPN’ list – useful if you only need the VPN to access get to certain region-locked sites.
There is also an Optimized mode, so that the VPN is only active if you are on a public or unsecured network, or if the website in question does not have a valid certificate. To save data used by the VPN – the free limit is 1 GB per month – videos are also redirected outside the VPN.
Finally, there’s the Always On mode, which, as you might have guessed, keeps the VPN on all the time.
For those who have access to the Edge Insiders program, the free data limit for VPN is 15 GB (opens in new tab)but once the VPN rolls out to all users, the free limit should revert to 1 GB.
There will be an option to purchase additional data if needed, but Microsoft has yet to announce the price for this, but it is expected to be announced once full release approaches.