New Edge Browser By Microsoft Will Combat Crypto Malware

The new Edge browser by Microsoft will aim to protect the users from unintentionally downloading crypto mining scripts and thus getting exposed to malware. In our crypto news today, we learn more about the new browser that is designed to block this type of malware.

Microsoft recently released the full version of its new Edge browser that is chromium-based with a few design improvements. For example, it brings new security features to protect users from downloading automatically unwanted apps such as ads and other malicious programs that can do harm to a computer. Being aware of the ‘’increasing threat of cryptocurrency miners’’ the new browser has been designed to block these types of malicious scripts.

Crypto mining malware uses a software program and malware components that are programmed to seize a computer’s resources and to later use them in crypto mining such as Bitcoin, but without the computer owner’s consent. Don Sharp explained:

‘’Microsoft Edge users will soon be able to navigate the web without the risk of unintentionally downloading crypto miners. This feature targets the ‘less reputable’ sources that infect sites or online ads with crypto-mining code, which executes stealthily after loading in the victim’s browser.’’

Eric Lawrence, the Microsoft Principal Program Manager, believes that the new Microsoft Edge blocker will be superior to the cloud-based anti-phishing and anti-malware SafeBrowsing and SmartScreen blockers. He explained:

 ‘’Base SmartScreen and SafeBrowsing both block malware. The feature shown here goes further by optionally blocking downloads that contain potentially unwanted (but not technically malware) code– think a utility app that also bundles in a crypto miner or notification spammer.’’

Microsoft started encouraging users to migrate towards the new browser. The mining attacks have been on the rise for a few years now and this is one of the reasons why the security experts were alarmed. For example, the Cyber Security Report noted that crypto-mining attacks will dominate the cyber-criminal activity. The report also concluded that the infrastructure of the cryptosystems will be a big target for crypto-mining attacks. The Microsoft security intelligence unit reported at the start of the year that the Cybercriminals installed a monero cryptocurrency mining malware in a wallpaper of the late superstar Kobe Bryant.

This malicious script mentioned CoinHive which is an in-browser crypto mining program and the hackers prefer it to mine Monero coins maliciously. Sharp, however, warned the Windows 10 PC users:

‘’While the ability of Edge to detect and thwart crypto miners is welcome, users should still watch out for non-browser-based ways to infect a Windows 10 PC with such code.’’