Microsoft’s new Edge web browser is based on the Chromium project. As a result, it has become much more interesting and blazing fast – much faster in loading webpages than the older Edge web browser that was bundled in earlier versions of Windows 10. As far as version 1909 of Windows 10 is concerned, the new Chromium based Edge browser has to be manually downloaded and installed on your computer. Perhaps in the future major updates of Windows 10, it will be pre-installed and replace the older Edge.
In the new version of Edge browser, Microsoft has added some extra security features such as blocking of unsafe or unwanted apps. You can enable blocking of these potentially unsafe apps in new Edge browser in the following manner:
- Launch new Edge web browser, click on the menu icon and select Settings from the menu.
- On the settings screen select Privacy and Services from the categories.
- Scroll down a little and you can enable Block potentially unwanted apps from under the Services section.
According to Microsoft this new feature can block downloading of some apps that have a low reputation or the apps that could show unexpected behavior. When this feature is enabled, it will prevent the installation of programs that serve no useful function and only abuse the system resources, displays unwarranted advertisements, engaged in the mining of crypto-currencies without user consent, add toolbars in the web browser and other potentially unwanted apps (PUA) or potentially unwanted programs (PUP).
Even if you don’t enable this setting, you can still block PUP/PUA from making their way on to your computer by installing a good security software. For example, ESET NOD32 Antivirus or ESET Internet Security both have settings to block these unwanted apps. Even free security products like Panda Cloud Antivirus can block PUP/PUA from being installed or used on your PC.