The internet is a vast and wonderful place, but it also comes with some risks and challenges. You may encounter online threats, such as hackers, malware, phishing, identity theft, etc. You may also face geo-restrictions, censorship or surveillance that limit your access to certain websites or content. How can you protect yourself and enjoy the internet without worries?
One of the best solutions is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A Microsoft Edge VPN is a service that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and a remote server. This way, you can hide your IP address, location and online activity from anyone who might want to spy on you or harm you.
What is Virtual Private Network (VPN)?
A VPN is a service that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and a remote server. This way, you can hide your IP address, location, and online activity from anyone who might want to spy on you or harm you. You can also bypass any blocks or filters that prevent you from accessing your favorite sites or services.
Microsoft Edge Secure Network Service
Microsoft Edge is a fast and secure web browser that offers many features and benefits for its users. One of these features is the Secure Network Service, which is essentially a built-in Microsoft Edge VPN service that Microsoft provides inside the Edge browser.
The Secure Network Service helps to obscure your IP address and encrypt your connection, boosting privacy and security when browsing the web. The service reroutes your traffic through a specially configured remote server powered by Cloudflare (a reputable web infrastructure company), making it more difficult for third-party services to track your activities online.
The Secure Network Service is free to use for all Microsoft Edge users who have a Microsoft account. You don’t need to download any additional software or pay any subscription fees. You can easily turn it on or off from the browser settings and choose from different options to suit your needs. Also read Microsoft Copilot: Everything You Need to Know
Enable Microsoft Edge VPN Feature
To enable the VPN feature on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge browser
Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your device. You can find it in your Start menu, taskbar, or desktop.
Step 2: Go to Settings and more
Click on the Menu button (three horizontal dots) in the top-right corner of the browser window and select Settings and more from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Choose Secure Network from the drop-down menu
On the new tab that opens, click on Privacy, search, and services from the left pane. Then, scroll down to the Security section and click on Secure Network and choose Optimized.
By default, the VPN service is set to Optimized, which means that it will automatically activate when you are using an unsecured public Wi-Fi network or visiting a site that does not have an encrypted HTTPS connection. This option provides a balance between security and performance.
However, you can also choose from other options by clicking on the shield icon and selecting one of them:
- Always On: This option will enable the Microsoft Edge VPN service for all websites and browsing activities, regardless of their security level. This option provides the highest level of security and privacy, but it may also affect your browsing speed or compatibility with some sites or services.
- Custom: This option will allow you to choose specific websites or domains for which you want to enable or disable the VPN service. You can add or remove websites from the list by clicking on the Add button or the Remove button. This option provides more flexibility and control over your VPN usage.
- Off: This option will disable the Microsoft Edge VPN service completely. You can use this option if you don’t want to use the VPN service at all or if you encounter any problems with it.
Disable Microsoft Edge VPN Feature
To disable the VPN feature on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge browser
Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on your device. You can find it in your Start menu, taskbar, or desktop.
Step 2: Go to Settings and more
Click on the Menu button (three horizontal dots) in the top-right corner of the browser window and select Settings and more from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Choose Secure Network from the drop-down menu
On the new tab that opens, click on Privacy, search, and services from the left pane. Then, scroll down to the Security section and click on Secure Network.
Step 4: Turn off the VPN service
On the next tab that opens, click on the shield icon in the browser frame and select Off from the options. This will disable the Microsoft Edge VPN service for all websites and browsing activities. You will see a broken shield icon and a pop-up message that confirms this.
Benefits of Microsoft Edge VPN Service
- Enhanced privacy and security: The VPN service protects your online activity from anyone who might want to spy on you or harm you. It also protects you from hackers, malware, phishing, identity theft, etc. that might try to steal your personal or financial information.
- Access to restricted sites: The VPN service allows you to access content that is not available in your region, such as streaming services, news sites, social media platforms, etc. You can also bypass any blocks or filters that prevent you from accessing certain websites or services.
- Free of charge: The VPN service is free to use for all Microsoft Edge users who have a Microsoft account. You don’t need to download any additional software or pay any subscription fees.
- Easy to use: The VPN service is easy to use and manage from the browser settings. You can easily turn it on or off and choose from different options to suit your needs.
- Integrated with Microsoft Edge: The VPN service is integrated with Microsoft Edge browser, which means that you can enjoy all its features and benefits without switching to another browser. You can also sync your settings and preferences across your devices using your Microsoft account.
Limitations of Microsoft Edge VPN Service
- Data cap: The VPN service provides a limited amount of data per month, depending on your region and availability. For most users, the data allowance is capped at 1GB per month. Once this limit is reached
- Availability: The VPN service is currently available only to Edge Insiders, meaning general users may have to wait for some time before accessing it. The service is also not available in all regions or countries, and it may vary depending on the local laws and regulations.
- Compatibility: The VPN service is compatible only with Microsoft Edge browser, meaning that it will not work with other browsers or applications that you may use on your device. You may also encounter some issues with some websites or services that do not support or recognize the VPN service.
- Performance: The VPN service may affect your browsing speed or quality, depending on the server location, network congestion, or other factors. You may also experience some lag or buffering when streaming content or playing online games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Microsoft Edge’s Secure Network Service is a built-in VPN feature that offers some security and privacy benefits for its users. It helps to obscure your IP address and encrypt your connection, making it more difficult for third-party services to track your activities online. It also allows you to access content that is not available in your region, such as streaming services, news sites, social media platforms, etc.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to enable the built-in VPN on Microsoft Edge and what are its benefits and limitations. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.
How to Use Microsoft Edge VPN