Boost privacy: Learn to disable MS Edge’s image sharing feature

While Microsoft Edge offers commendable features that are easy to love, there’s an intriguing element we believe you should know about.

Understanding the behind-the-scenes activities of your web browser is a smart move. For Microsoft Edge users, there’s a particular setting that has been catching some attention recently. This setting allows Edge to send the images you access online to Microsoft.

At first glance, it may not appear as a significant concern since this is done to boost the quality of the images you view. However, for small- and medium-size business owners who prioritize privacy, this may raise an eyebrow or two.

Not the Dr. Evil eyebrow; more like a parent catching their five-year-old with a hand in the cookie jar.

It’s always crucial to know who might have access to your browser history. The reassuring part is that it’s quite simple to switch off this setting if it makes you uneasy. Here are the steps:

1. Launch Microsoft Edge and locate the three dots, termed “More actions,” at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Choose “Settings” from the ensuing drop-down menu.
3. Navigate downwards and click on “Privacy, search, and services.”
4. In the “Services” category, disable the toggle switch adjacent to “Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to use information about websites you browse to improve search suggestions, or to show you more relevant advertising.”

Voila! You’ve successfully turned off the feature that sends images to Microsoft. And it only took a few easy clicks!

There are more settings within Edge worth exploring, such as those that regulate data collection preferences or those that limit annoying pop-ups and redirects.

Why should you invest time in familiarizing yourself with your browser settings? Well, primarily, it helps you fortify your privacy and security online. By knowing the workings of your browser, you can make educated choices about the data you wish to share and what to maintain privately.

Exploring browser settings can also be an enjoyable and enlightening activity. You might stumble upon new features or hidden gems that you were previously unaware of.

No need for concern if you’re not a tech guru. Microsoft has done an excellent job in simplifying these settings, providing clear explanations and useful pointers along the way.

Should you encounter any roadblocks, our friendly and reliable local IT services team is ready to assist. Feel free to contact us.