With the “Super Duper Secure Mode” for “safe surfing”, which appeared for the first time in August in an early test version of the browser, Microsoft Edge now has a new function for more data protection when surfing donated on the Internet. The feature has now been integrated into the daily build of the Canary Channel.
Optionally more security when surfing the Internet
The new security feature, which was previously to be found in the settings of the preliminary version of the browser as “Super Duper Secure Mode”, is now called “Security compensation for a safer browsing experience” and is activated via “Settings ➝ Data protection, search and services” in Edge .
… with Microsoft Edge (Image: Deskmodder) The new feature of the Deskmodder website caught the eye for the first time and has already tried out “Safe Surfing”. If users activate this function, the previous JIT compiler is deactivated and the new security measures such as ACG and CET take effect. These security precautions can make surfing a bit slower, reports the site.
Microsoft itself writes about this on its official project page on the GitHub developer platform:
The advantages are not only in the reduction of the attack surface. Because of the way V8 JIT works, several effective damage limitation technologies cannot be used in the rendering process.
For example, the Control Flow Enforcement Technology (CET), a new hardware-based one Intel's exploit protection, disabled.
Likewise, Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG) was not activated due to the use of RWX memory pages in the process. This is unfortunate as the renderer process is handling untrustworthy content and should be sealed off as much as possible.
By deactivating JIT, we can activate both remedial measures and make it more difficult to exploit security gaps in a renderer process component.
Microsoft
Microsoft Edge for Insiders
Experienced users who want to try out the new security feature themselves can download the latest build of Get Microsoft Edge from the Canary Channel for Microsoft Edge Insider, which is updated daily.
The “Safe Surfing” feature will soon be included in the Dev Channel and Beta Channel and then flow into the stable release of the Chromium-based browser.