How Safe Is Microsoft Edge Compared To Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox?

As it turns out, Microsoft did not oversell its replacement for Internet Explorer. The Microsoft Edge browser has recently been found to live up to its tagline as the “faster, safer browser for Windows 10.” In fact, the relatively new program from the Redmond giant was found to be the safest browser when compared to its biggest rivals, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

NSS Labs, the leading information security company in the world, published a report about web browsers this week. The report focused on how malware could penetrate computers through the program. As such, the company emphasized how the web browser should serve as the first line of defense against malware. The study was conducted in a span of 14 days — from Sept. 26, 2016 to Oct. 9, 2016. The main goal was to identify the competency of the web browser’s security.

Based on the report, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox were all subjected to the same set of malware. The study involved the use of 304 unique suspicious samples. Out of the three, Microsoft Edge managed to block 99 percent of the suspicious samples. Google Chrome came next after blocking 85.8 percent of malware, while Firefox finished last by blocking 78.3 percent of malware.

According to How To Geek, the main reason why the Edge browser did better was thanks to its SmartScreen feature. The feature was first introduced to consumers in Internet Explorer 7. Previously, it was referred to as “Phishing Filter.” It is responsible for showing users a red page that notifies users about the threat of accessing a website with malware.

When time or the readiness of a web browser to counter the threat is considered, Microsoft Edge still remained triumphant. NSS Labs stated in the report that Microsoft’s browser block the malware in less than ten minutes on average. Following behind is Chrome with two hours and 39 minutes. As for Firefox, it took more than three hours and 45 minutes for it to block malware.

Despite the positive news, users are still advised to obtain a good antivirus program if they want to boost their line of defense against attacks and malware. After all, having a safe browser is not enough at a time when online attacks have become rampant.