Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: PROCON

I began using Brave ~ 1 year ago - best browser I ever used.

Yesterday I “upgraded” to Win11 - and my apps incl Brave run noticeably faster. Color me shocked.

Bottom line, Win11/Brave works great together.


41 posted on 12/16/2021 3:22:32 PM PST by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy

Yeah I’m currently using Vivaldi as well after Freeper recommendations, and like it. Current versions of both Opera and Vivaldi are Chrome-based.


42 posted on 12/16/2021 3:22:45 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: newfreep
I used MS's app to see if my Win 10 'puter is worthy of upgrading to Win 11 and they said no, I need to do this and this and this, sheesh, my computer is only 2 years old.

Is it worth the upgrade?

43 posted on 12/16/2021 3:24:48 PM PST by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: newfreep

I just bought a new laptop which came with W11 (no choice), and I tried it but the new UI just sucks. At least WX plays nice with Open Shell to let you have a decent desktop. It will install on W11, but no Quick Launch bar by default, and if you do the workaround, it does work, but on every boot W11 screws the placement up and puts itself to the left of the QL bar so you have to fix it. Again. Every boot. And a bunch of other stupid stuff. Off it came and on went WX Enterprise. WX installed just fine but couldn’t get the M.2 Intel Killer Wifi card to work, even with the WX drivers. Weird. After a couple hours gave up and installed a USB Wifi adapter, WX automatically recognizes and installs, and guess what — Now all of a sudden the Intel adapter is discoverable!! [shrug]


44 posted on 12/16/2021 3:29:02 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

I was pleasantly surprised with the bump in speed with Win11.

I have an ASUS “Zenbook” laptop with 8GB memory - purchased about 2 years ago.

It does use an Intel I7 (Gen10) processor and the Win11 update went smooth with zero problems.


45 posted on 12/16/2021 3:29:36 PM PST by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

No it sucks. Avoid it like a mask.


46 posted on 12/16/2021 3:29:39 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: carriage_hill

Same here, plus I got Linux Mint installed. I use Windows 10 VERY LITTLE, and I will not let my computer incur anymore updates to the O/S.


47 posted on 12/16/2021 3:30:41 PM PST by ducttape45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

I also have Linux Mint v18.3, and shut down all MS Updates the day support ended.


48 posted on 12/16/2021 3:39:17 PM PST by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: fruser1

You’re correct. It’s funny, I can recall exactly when that happened as that was when i got my first pc in 1996, ora year or 2 later when the anti trust lawsuit happened and that only seems like a few years ago.


49 posted on 12/16/2021 3:39:31 PM PST by Blue Highway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

Why would I care if it is the default browser for MSwin 10-11.

I use brave and it is MY default browser.


50 posted on 12/16/2021 3:40:43 PM PST by Ouderkirk (The democRATS are not looking to govern, they intend to RULE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

I really like Brave and Vivaldi for 99% of browsing. Edge only in private browsing. I used to use Waterfox when i ditched Firefox 10 years ago now. Seems like Waterfox’s popularity has waned. Also used Palemoon but both that and Waterfox have been surpassed by the better Brave and Vivaldi. I used to use Opera but it was always a fringe browser for me and I mainly used it in the early 2000s as an alternative to the bloated Firefox.


51 posted on 12/16/2021 3:49:36 PM PST by Blue Highway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

It’s just forcing EDGE when using links from within the MS ecosystem. Like the widgets. No one uses widgets.

Keep using Brave you probably won’t notice anything.


52 posted on 12/16/2021 3:50:19 PM PST by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blue Highway

Ever since I installed “No Script” on Edge I’m using it more and more now. I use Brave a lot but Edge is becoming my go to alternate (and even preferred sometimes) browser.

Key is no script really does help a lot in making things more secure.


53 posted on 12/16/2021 3:51:34 PM PST by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: carriage_hill

I use W7 for most of my Internet browsing. W10 for only financial transactions, but I’ll be migrating to Linux Mint 20.1 to do all that soon. The reason W10 will be on my computer is if I absolutely have to use it for some unknown reason. So in effect I have a tri-boot computer, W7, W10 and Linux.


54 posted on 12/16/2021 3:55:09 PM PST by ducttape45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: for-q-clinton

What’s the difference between running no script and just disabling Java script in the browser settings?


55 posted on 12/16/2021 3:55:27 PM PST by Blue Highway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

Remember the old Microsoft saying: “Windows isn’t done until Netscape won’t run”.


56 posted on 12/16/2021 4:01:18 PM PST by captain_dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ducttape45

I read some comments that 20.1 was not that good. Mint 20.2 is the current, and it is pretty good. (I use Mint occasionally.) Mint 20.3 is supposed to be released sometime in December.


57 posted on 12/16/2021 4:02:41 PM PST by TomGuy (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Blue Highway

No script allows you to enable sites to run it as you need.

The hardest thing to remember is once you start using it and all your regular sites are setup to work. Then you go to a new site and it doesn’t work...you need to remember to look at no script settings and see which sites you want to allow to run.

You can block per site it goes to. You’ll be amazed at how many sites some pages hit just to load.


58 posted on 12/16/2021 4:09:17 PM PST by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: PROCON

I turned off MSFT updates long time ago. I hav no problems of the sort MSFT fixes address.


59 posted on 12/16/2021 4:12:49 PM PST by arthurus (covfefe *)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PROCON
According to the techie's comments at the end of the article there are workarounds.

I worked around Windows 15 years ago. Linux>Debian>Ubuntu and current flavor of Ubuntu is Kubuntu.

60 posted on 12/16/2021 4:14:32 PM PST by Pollard (PureBlood -- youtube.com/watch?v=VXm0fkDituE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson