Microsoft testing integrated VPN ‘Secure Network' in Edge powered by Cloudflare

Microsoft Edge could soon receive an integrated VPN service called the “Microsoft Edge Secure Network”. The VPN (Virtual Private Network) service would work very similar to commercial VPN services, but it could be deeply integrated within the Microsoft Edge browser.

Microsoft seems ready to deploy the Microsoft Edge Secure Network service. The VPN service will be powered by Cloudflare. The company assures it permanently deletes the diagnostic and support data collected, every 25 hours.

Some of the salient features of Microsoft Edge Secure Network Service:

• Encrypts connection: Encrypts internet connection to help protect user data from online threats like hackers.
  When using Microsoft Edge Secure network, user data is routed from Edge through an encrypted tunnel to create a secure connection, even when using a non-secure URL that starts with HTTP. This makes it harder for hackers to access browsing data on a shared public Wi-Fi network.
• Helps prevent online tracking: By encrypting web traffic directly from Microsoft Edge, Microsoft helps prevent users’ internet service provider from collecting browsing data like details about the websites users visit.
• Keeps user location private: Online entities can use user location and IP address for profiling and serving targeted ads. Microsoft Edge Secure Network lets users browse with a virtual IP address that masks users’ IP and replaces their geolocation with a similar regional address to make it more difficult for online trackers to follow users as they browse.
• Is free to use: Microsoft offers 1 gigabyte of free data every month when users sign into Microsoft Edge with their Microsoft Account.

Microsoft Edge Secure Network Service isn’t available to all users yet. The Microsoft VPN service should be available in an upcoming version of the Edge browser. Once Microsoft rolls it out, a new menu entry will be available in the Hamburger menu located in the upper right-hand corner of the browser.

It is important to note that users will need to sign in to their Microsoft account to use the VPN service. The feature will turn off automatically when the user closes the Edge window. Users will need to turn on Microsoft Edge Secure Network again for their next browsing session if they wish to use it. A shield icon will indicate if the service is active.

As mentioned above, Microsoft is limiting the VPN service to 1GB data. The company hasn't mentioned any subscription model that could allow users to extend the service beyond the free data cap.