One web browser spying on another? Certainly not ! However, if you use both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, Microsoft’s browser could take over your entire browsing history from Chrome every time you start it.
If you’ve decided to switch from Firefox Chrome, Firefox Edge, Opera Edge, or some other combination, you’ll probably benefit from the option to import browsing history, saved passwords, etc. But you probably don’t want this cross-browser communication to continue indefinitely. Here’s how to check whether this secret data exchange is happening in the background and, if necessary, how to stop it.
Although it may seem crazy, this spy is an extension of the data import feature that so many web browsers include to make it easier to switch from one browser to another. Microsoft has probably envisioned a scenario in which someone uses two browsers in parallel while deciding which one to use full-time, and it (kind of) makes sense that in this situation browser data would be shared to make comparisons and comparisons easier. Contrasts when switching between browsers during testing.
But it’s also a privacy nightmare, especially for those worried about data sharing between a Google product and a Microsoft product. There’s a little-known setting in Edge that controls this. One user noticed the following: A recent update to Edge gave me the ability to copy everything every time I open Chrome. I use Edge occasionally and every time it opened I noticed that in addition to the home page it also opened a new tab with content. Finally, I realized that this was the last page I had opened in Chrome. After diving into the settings, he shared his discovery and details on how to stop sharing:
How to delete data collected or stored by Microsoft Edge
To delete browser information stored on your device, such as cookies or saved passwords, follow these steps:
To delete browsing history collected by Microsoft:
- To view browsing history associated with your account, sign in to your account at account.microsoft.com. In addition, you also have the option to delete the browser data collected by Microsoft via the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard.
- To clear your browsing history and other diagnostic data associated with your Windows 10 device, select begin > Settings > confidentiality > Diagnosis and commentsthen select DELETE below Delete diagnostic data.
To delete individual passwords saved by Microsoft Edge on your device:
How to manage your privacy settings in Microsoft Edge
To change your tracking prevention level, clear your browsing data, help improve Microsoft Edge, and more, select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy and Services.
Select to choose whether websites can ask for permission to use your location, camera, microphone, etc Settings and more > Settings > Site permissions.
Select to choose which types of data to sync across your devices or to turn off syncing altogether Settings and more > Settings > Profiles > Synchronize.
Source: Microsoft
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See also:
Microsoft is trying to prevent users from downloading Chrome and wanting them to stay on Edge with a full-page ad
The new Microsoft Edge supports Chrome extensions thanks to the Chromium switch for browser development
The Edge browser sends images you view online to Microsoft for improvement, but this raises privacy and confidentiality concerns