Why trust VPN Guider
Microsoft recently used its official Edge account on X to highlight the Edge Secure Network VPN—a free, built-in privacy option that doesn’t require extra apps or subscriptions. This post brought attention to a lesser-known Edge feature, especially among privacy researchers. Microsoft promoted the feature as a simple way to boost browsing security on public Wi-Fi, encouraging users to enable it in Edge’s settings.
Edge Secure Network VPN is fully integrated into the Edge browser, so users don’t need to install other software. However, the feature has a monthly bandwidth cap. A privacy researcher quickly responded to Microsoft’s post, offering a technical analysis. According to the researcher, Edge Secure Network works differently from a typical VPN. This sparked a debate about how browser privacy features should be described and what protection users can reasonably expect.
To clarify, Edge Secure Network is not a traditional VPN. Instead, it uses Cloudflare’s Privacy Proxy Platform, which acts as an HTTP CONNECT proxy. Sooraj Sathyanarayanan, a privacy researcher from Brave Browser, explains that the feature only tunnels traffic inside the Edge browser. We are waiting for Microsoft to clarify its description of Edge Secure Network VPN.
Microsoft describes Edge Secure Network VPN as a “lightweight, browser-level protection feature” that uses “VPN technology” to encrypt traffic generated inside Edge. This setup helps conceal browsing activities from third parties, trackers, and malicious actors. Edge redirects browser traffic through an encrypted tunnel, which protects sensitive data like login credentials and payment information, especially on public Wi-Fi. The feature also masks users’ IP addresses when they visit websites.
To activate the feature, click the three dots in the upper-right corner of Edge, select “More tools,” and then “Secure Network.” After signing in with a Microsoft account, click “Get VPN for free.” Edge users get 5 GB of free data each month. Once the quota is exhausted, the protection ends until the next monthly reset. To conserve this data, Edge does not enable the feature for high-bandwidth activities like video streaming.
Edge Secure Network VPN is not available on managed or corporate devices and is unavailable in some locations. Users cannot choose a server location; the service automatically connects to the nearest server. Microsoft says the feature is sophisticated enough to activate automatically when it detects greater risks, such as when visiting unsecured websites. Users can also customize its behavior, choosing to enable it for specific sessions or all browsing.
Microsoft positions Edge Secure Network VPN as a basic protection feature that doesn’t require external programs. Even though Microsoft uses terms like “free VPN data protection every month” and “uses VPN technology,” it does not claim the feature is a substitute for full VPN services.
Sooraj Sathyanarayanan provided an in-depth response to Microsoft’s marketing language. He argues that Edge Secure Network VPN functions more like a proxy than a VPN. The feature only encrypts traffic that originates from the Edge browser. Other traffic—such as DNS requests, OS updates, and background services—travels over the regular network. Edge Secure Network uses Cloudflare’s Privacy Proxy architecture, protecting only Edge sessions and not your entire device.
Edge Secure Network comes set to an “optimized” mode by default. This means users must change settings to enable protection in every browser scenario, like using public Wi-Fi or visiting non-HTTPS sites. You need a Microsoft account to activate the feature, which ties the protection to your identity instead of being anonymous. Microsoft says this requirement helps enforce the 5GB monthly data cap. Sathyanarayanan notes that the system relies on trust in both Microsoft and Cloudflare, as there is no independent verification of their privacy claims.
The researcher points out a lack of transparency in routing, missing protections found in full VPNs, and the inability to select regions manually. Although Microsoft and Cloudflare claim they do not inspect user traffic or account names, users must trust these assurances without public audits.
Many browsers, including Opera, offer built-in privacy features like VPNs to protect users from common threats, especially on public Wi-Fi. These tools are convenient and avoid the setup hassles and performance issues of system-wide VPN software. However, browser-level privacy features are not substitutes for dedicated VPN services.
For users to trust these features, companies must clearly explain their coverage and limitations. Whether users see Edge Secure Network VPN as helpful or overstated will depend on Microsoft’s future clarifications and user experiences.
