There are far more web and mobile browsers than the average internet user probably realizes. However, there are maybe just four or five major players today.
 
Apple’s Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and of course, Google Chrome, are the most popular ways to access the net from a computer or mobile device.

When it comes to market share though, there is only one name that stands out. Google Chrome has around 65.52% of internet users, and it is perhaps not surprising then that most searches are conducted via Google also. An estimated 92.47% of searches are done through Google search.
 
Yet lately, Microsoft Edge has been slowly taking a little bit more of the web browser market, and building up some momentum. One of the issues holding back this rival to Chrome is its rumored security flaws.
 
Is it true that Microsoft Edge has security problems, or is it a perfectly safe way to browse the web now?  

What should you look for in a web browser?

Perhaps it may be easier to decide what you want from your browser, and then choose the one that matches your needs the closest. For instance, common criteria for selecting a web browser may include the following:

1. Speed
2. Performance
3. Extensions
4. Privacy
5. Anonymity
6. Green credentials
7. Safety features

If you are already using Google for your online searches, and you demand high speeds for your browsing, then you will probably align with the majority and choose Chrome. Anonymity can be given by using Tor, and Opera is less demanding on your PC than on some other browsers.
 
Some internet experts are suggesting that you get a VPN for Edge browser for added security, but is this necessary? 

Is it true that Microsoft Edge is not secure?

Google Chrome has the lion’s share of the browser market, and it is hard to see anyone making serious inroads there. Yet, Microsoft has started to attract a lot more users for their browsers.
 
Initially, Edge was treated with some disdain. After years of being subject to a clunky, poor-performing, slow Internet Explorer, trust was low in any new browser that Microsoft might launch.
 
But, at the start of 2020, the new Edge browser was launched and it was based on Chromium. This year, Microsoft Edge crossed the 10% mark for market share for the first time. Though, there are still some concerns.
 
If you search online to see if Microsoft Edge is safe, the first return you will get is a link to MS themselves telling you how its browser is even more secure than Google’s. Of course, Google will tell you something quite different, and it is here that the security rumors may have started.  

Why has Google been saying Edge is not secure?

It was only a few years ago before Covid had everyone locking themselves indoors and shopping online as if they were survivalists, that this website reported on the state of Microsoft’s browsers.
 
At that point, Microsoft was losing its share of the browser market, and Edge had just 5.5% of internet users. This was despite MS bundling their browsers with Windows.
 
But, the revamped Edge based on Chromium shook Google up a little. It received solid reviews and the public liked it. So, Google started to put out warnings in 2020 that Docs, Translate, and a whole host of extensions wouldn’t run securely on Edge.
 
Interestingly, Google didn’t put out any similar warnings for lesser-used browsers. So probably Edge wasn’t unsafe to use, but Google was playing mind games to sow doubt.
 
To be fair, Microsoft also put out alerts warning Edge users to steer clear of the Chrome app store and not to download Chrome. Perhaps the biggest insecurities were with the developers rather than their products.  

How can you improve your security when browsing with Edge or another browser?

If you are concerned with online safety, and all internet users should be, then there are some easy ways to improve security.
 
The regular tried and tested methods are to use proxies, VPNs, firewalls, and some form of password protection such as a vault or manager. However, it might make sense to use a browser specifically designed by a cyber security company.
 
In 2020, not long after the new Edge launched, Avast released a new mobile browser with built-in encryption. However, a VPN, firewall, and anti-virus should be standard on anyone’s device today.  

Summary

Browsers come with all manner of features now, and they can detect suspicious downloads, or phishing websites before they become a threat to you. Extensions can be added for extra security or to remove annoying ads.
 
Microsoft Edge appears to be as secure as any of the other major browsers, but all internet activity should include some extra protection. At a minimum, a VPN extension can be added to Edge or Chrome to provide better online security.
 
If you would like to protect the planet as well as your data, then you can even add an eco-friendly search engine today.