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Microsoft has blocked all default browser workarounds in Windows 10 and Windows 11
betanews.com ^ | Dec. 16, 2021 | Sofia Wyciślik-Wilson

Posted on 12/16/2021 1:40:27 PM PST by PROCON

When Patch Tuesday rolls around, we can usually expect a series of Windows problems to be fixed (and perhaps to see some new ones introduced), as well as new features added. But Microsoft also uses such updates to take things away -- and this is precisely what has happened with the latest updates for Windows 10 and 11.

Microsoft, quite understandably, would like everyone to use its Edge browser, and has taken endless steps to ensure that it stays the default browser on as many computers as possible. With the latest operating system updates -- specifically the KB5008212 and KB5008215 updates -- the company has implemented a block on workarounds used by the likes of EdgeDeflector and Firefox to force links to open in a browser other than Edge.

Browser developers have played something of a game of cat and mouse with Microsoft, finding ways to prevent Edge from hijacking links. In various places within Windows, Microsoft has used the microsoft-edge:// protocol to force links -- such as those in Windows 11 widgets -- to open in Edge.

(Excerpt) Read more at betanews.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: browsers; edge; microhitler; microsoft; updates; windowspinglist
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To: mad_as_he$$

One should keep at least two browsers active and up to date on their machine. In case on goes wonky you can still access the net.

Good point. Sometimes a website gets updated and your regular browser of choice suddenly doesn’t work with it. Always good to have a “backup browser”.


21 posted on 12/16/2021 2:18:36 PM PST by Flick Lives
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To: carriage_hill

“My 2009 Win-7 Pro x64 just keeps going and going, and doing what I tell it to do.”

That’s me too. Win 7 from circa 2009

Unfortunately I put on Brave and Brave won’t upgrade without error. Brave overloads machine within a day or two and requires to be closed.

I put on Waterfox and that has a time bomb in it too. A couple of days and machine is dead meat.


22 posted on 12/16/2021 2:18:47 PM PST by George from New England
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To: George from New England

Try Opera, which I’ve used since 2012. It had Speed Dial and other kewl features.

https://www.opera.com


23 posted on 12/16/2021 2:21:40 PM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: Rurudyne; PROCON

“Run Linux. Or can you manage a Hackintosh?”

Yep, time to dump that abuse as a CUSTOMER. That is YOURS not microsofts.

And you can bet Apple is right behind them with the same business model.


24 posted on 12/16/2021 2:22:16 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: fruser1
Didn’t windows already get sued for this once before in the 90s, trying to prevent netscape from being used?

Yes they did. And at that time Microsoft wasn't playing the political game. I think it was Janet Reno that went after them. This is what happens when you don't suck up to the government. I think it finally went away after about 10 years and millions of wasted taxpayer dollars.

25 posted on 12/16/2021 2:23:38 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: PROCON

I bet. LOL!


26 posted on 12/16/2021 2:24:35 PM PST by KosmicKitty (i am not responsible for gremlins attacking this tagline)
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To: PROCON

“the company has implemented a block on workarounds used by the likes of EdgeDeflector and Firefox to force links to open in a browser other than Edge.”

Isn’t this the exact type of thing that brought an anti-trust suit against Microsoft in the 90s? Where’s the DoJ???


27 posted on 12/16/2021 2:24:43 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: PROCON

“I just don’t like being told I have to use it”

Exactly. Edge was horrible when it debuted; it might be great now but I’ll never know because I won’t use it on principle. Try to force something on me with coercion or trickery and I’ll never use it.


28 posted on 12/16/2021 2:26:24 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Flick Lives

The Brave Browser is faster than greased lightning. But on my iphone I can’t use it for reading FR because the font is too small to read and it won’t enlarge. It works ok for other sites.


29 posted on 12/16/2021 2:28:49 PM PST by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: PROCON; Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; AppyPappy; arnoldc1; ATOMIC_PUNK; ...
Windows 10/11 browser bummer... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to PROCON for the ping!

30 posted on 12/16/2021 2:43:51 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.")
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To: PROCON

But they still have not fixed printing. This shows what they value.


31 posted on 12/16/2021 2:50:00 PM PST by ClayinVA ("Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it")
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To: PROCON

Interestingly, I use it as my default browser in Windows 10 Professional 21H2. At least the streaming sites I use actually work reasonably well.


32 posted on 12/16/2021 2:51:20 PM PST by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
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To: PROCON

Brave browser, DuckDuckGo as the search engine (Firefox as #2 browser). No Edge, No Chrome, No forced utilization of MS products, no Joogle.

Once upon a time long ago IE was a good browser, at least sites *looked* good in it.


33 posted on 12/16/2021 2:54:32 PM PST by PermaRag (We have SO many targets, and -- for now -- the means to see they get what they deserve.)
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To: entropy12

Does WUB do more than just turn off the Windows Update service? Cause that’s easily done just from the PC management dialog (unless of course Microshaft has something that keeps turning it back on or something).


34 posted on 12/16/2021 3:00:08 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Still Thinking

PC management dialog is cumbersome and requires many manual steps. I used to use that method, and was getting unpredictable results many times. WUB is so ridiculously easy to use, just 1 click operation, and has never failed for me to do what I wanted to happen.


35 posted on 12/16/2021 3:03:15 PM PST by entropy12 (President Trump was the best president in my life time of 81 years and counting..)
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To: alancarp

that is exactly what triggered the 2000 nasdaq crash ... I remember the day ...


36 posted on 12/16/2021 3:11:27 PM PST by bankwalker (Repeal the 19th ...)
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To: PROCON

Edge is rather like Internet Explorer — about 3 generations behind in development.

I find Vivaldi (based on Opera) to be my preferred browser. I also use Firefox ESR and Seamonkey. Only occasionally do I use Edge in Win10.


37 posted on 12/16/2021 3:13:21 PM PST by TomGuy (!)
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To: PROCON

MS tried similar a couple of decades ago by pushing IE on everyone — until the EU sued them and banned Windows-requiring-IE.


38 posted on 12/16/2021 3:17:14 PM PST by TomGuy (!)
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To: entropy12

OK. Doesn’t seem hard to me, I’m in there fairly often recycling the VPN service etc., but each to his own.


39 posted on 12/16/2021 3:17:28 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: ClayinVA

Well they can either compete with an open market mentality and make their dog food the one you WANT to eat, or they can (attempt to) force you to eat it. Apparently they think Option 2 is easier.


40 posted on 12/16/2021 3:21:18 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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