An independent security test has revealed concerning results regarding Microsoft Edge's ability to protect users from malicious links. Despite ongoing efforts to improve security, the test showed that the browser failed to detect 30% of phishing attempts. In this article, we discuss the security test results conducted by AV-Comparatives, a comparison between Edge and other browsers, and the best security solutions for user protection.
Key Results from the Security Test: AV-Comparatives conducted a test between January 7–19, 2026, on 250 malicious URLs and 250 legitimate URLs, testing 6 major browsers and 9 security solutions. The results showed that Microsoft Edge was able to detect only 70% of the malicious links, placing it at the bottom of the browser rankings, behind Google Chrome (72%), Opera (74%), and Mozilla Firefox (75%).
Comparison with Specialized Security Software: While Edge's performance fell short, dedicated security solutions like Avast and Norton achieved a 94% detection rate against malicious links. These results may encourage many users to use third-party security software rather than relying solely on the browser's built-in protection.
How Do Browser Security Mechanisms Work? Modern browsers like Edge are designed with built-in phishing protection tools, but their security mechanisms only scan the links accessed during browsing sessions. In contrast, third-party security software like Avast and Norton scans all protocol layers (HTTP, HTTPS, HTTP3) more effectively, which increases the chances of detecting malicious links before they are fully loaded on the screen.
Future Developments in Edge Security: Despite the negative evaluation in this test, Microsoft announced in November 2024 the upcoming addition of an AI-based tool to detect scams more accurately in Edge. However, the current results indicate that this feature still requires further improvements to be more effective.
Tips for Users:
- Use specialized security software like Avast and Norton, which offer superior protection compared to browsers.
- Enable advanced protection in browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, which have shown greater effectiveness in detecting malicious links.
- Be cautious when opening links from emails or social media, even with protection tools in place.
Conclusion: In an increasingly complex online world, digital security remains one of the biggest challenges. Despite improvements from Microsoft, third-party security software is still the most reliable option. If you're using Microsoft Edge, it’s advisable to combine it with additional security solutions to ensure comprehensive protection against online threats.