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Microsoft to Make Edge Run in Virtual Machine for Improved Security on Windows 10 Enterprise


Guest_Jim_*

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A sad fact of modern times is that any computer is at risk of being attacked by malware, but just because we are all targets does not mean we have to make it easy. There are several ways to protect our machines and Microsoft will be rolling out a new one for Windows 10 Enterprise users that use the company's Edge browser. In the future, Edge will be made to run within its own virtual machine, isolating it from the rest of the operating system, so even if the browser is comprised, your computer can still be safe.

For those who do not know, virtual machines allow someone to run one operating system from within another by virtualizing a second machine. For example, you could have a distribution of Linux running within a version Windows, but because of how the virtual machine exists, the Linux OS will not have full access to your files or even your hardware. The virtual machine Edge will be running in will not be a complete operating system but just the features necessary for Internet browsing. This feature is called Application Guard and no, there will not be an API released for other applications to utilize. There are too many variables to consider for that to be a realistic possibility, at least in the foreseeable future. As it is, Edge with Application Guard is going to lose certain features, such as the ability to keep persistent cookies, as each virtualized session is destroyed when it is done, and even the clipboard might not be accessible. A system administrator will be able to set certain websites as trusted of course, and allow them to be accessed without the virtual machine in place.

Application Guard is expected to be added to Insider Builds of Windows later this year, so we may see it release for Windows 10 Enterprise next year.

Source: Ars Technica



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