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MS Toolkit to Block Auto-install of New Edge Chromium on Win 10
MS will begin to push out automatic installation of its new Edge Chromium browser on January 15, 2020. It will do this via its automatic Windows Updates, not via a voluntary download. You can delay this installation, but not prevent it indefinitely until now.
I note this new Edge browser is open source, based on Google's Chrome browser. I've seen a lot of glowing reviews of the beta release. I personally trust no Google software, and will not allow this browser on my computers until it has been thoroughly vetted.
Fortunately, MS has released a Toolkit Blocker that will prevent the automatic installation by Windows Update of this browser on Win 10 systems. It will not block installation of this browser via a user-initiated manual download. This blocker is user-reversible in the future. This blocker is not a simple fix, it requires registry changes. User beware!
More info:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-blocker-toolkit
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/how-to-block-windows-10-update-force-installing-the-new-edge-browser/
FWIW, I am glad to have this tool to block an unknown browser based on (IMHO) a known evil software monster. As always, YMMV.
ky331
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January 31st, 2020 06:00
As noted, the new EDGE is based on the open-source Chromium project. Chromium forms the basis of Google's Chrome browser. https://www.howtogeek.com/202825/what%E2%80%99s-the-difference-between-chromium-and-chrome/
Realizing that the "old" EDGE may not be supported much longer, I decided to try-out the new Chromium-based version [which REPLACES the original EDGE on one's system]. In general --- after tweaking several settings --- I'm pleased by the results.
On my home system, EDGE seems very crisp/responsive... loading much faster than Firefox. At work, for whatever the reason, EDGE is a bit slower... and so after a bit of testing, I have been using MyPal (PaleMoon based) at work instead.
joe53
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February 2nd, 2020 18:00
I appreciate that feedback, ky.
Based on your experience, I will allow Edge browser to update to Chromium only on my Win test laptop (recently upgraded from Win 7->10 Pro). That system has little or no personal info to harvest or exploit.
Until Pale Moon came along, IE had been my default browser for years. Now it is a lame duck. I suspect Edge Chromium will not be able to be uninstalled once it gets its hooks into your PC. Hence my proactive (but reversible) blocking of its installation.
Currently the only browsers I trust are Firefox and Pale Moon.