Securing Microsoft Edge Begins with the Right Permissions

In the world of IT security, every setting matters. When it comes to securing the Microsoft Edge browser, there’s more than just locking down the basics. In this week’s webinar, Bill Campbell, CEO of BalanceLogic, joined Senteon to dive into the CIS Benchmarks and their role in fortifying Microsoft Edge, specifically focusing on permissions management and security hardening. Let’s break down what we discussed.

CIS Benchmarks: Why They Matter More Than You Think

Bill Campbell opens up the discussion by emphasizing the importance of CIS Benchmarks for proactive security. These benchmarks are globally recognized standards that set the foundation for securing not just browsers, but workstations and servers alike. The goal is simple: reduce the attack surface and eliminate vulnerabilities before they become an issue.

In this series, we focus on Microsoft Edge—a browser used in businesses across industries. However, without proper configuration, it can become a gateway for attackers. This is where permission management plays a crucial role. As Bill said, “even seemingly small settings can either safeguard your browser or open it up to significant threats.”

The Hidden Danger of Permissions: What You Don’t See Can Hurt You

Let’s get into one of the first and most critical settings: API access. Allowing APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to connect directly to hardware is convenient but dangerous. Bill points out that these settings, if left unmanaged, are like handing over the keys to your system. Disabling API access to enterprise hardware ensures that bad actors can’t manipulate your system resources. As Bill noted, “You don’t want anything connecting directly to your hardware—that’s just a big no.”

Next, we touched on audio and video capture permissions. Allowing these features unchecked can lead to more than just privacy issues. Attackers can capture conversations or sensitive information without you ever knowing. Bill humorously mentioned that leaving audio or video capture on is like “letting strangers use your personal toolbox—you have no idea what they’ll do with it.”

Sandboxing: Your Browser’s Safe Playground

A major takeaway from the session was the concept of sandboxing, which ensures browser activities happen in a secure, isolated environment. Bill likened sandboxing to a controlled area, like a child’s sandbox, where suspicious activity is monitored before it’s allowed to affect the wider system.

This approach to security applies to things like audio capture, where sandboxing ensures that what gets recorded can’t harm the system. It’s a controlled space where data is analyzed before it interacts with your sensitive assets.

Personalization vs. Privacy: What’s the Real Cost?

Another critical setting we explored was allowing Microsoft to use your browser history and data for ad personalization. This might sound like a good idea—tailored ads that suit your preferences—but the hidden cost is your data privacy. Bill broke it down simply: allowing companies like Microsoft to gather your data for ads creates unnecessary privacy risks. In Bill’s words, “No one wants to be tracked, and especially not for ads.”

By disabling this setting, you regain control of your data and stop companies from collecting more than they should.

Take Control: It’s About More Than Just Settings

As the webinar made clear, each of these settings plays a crucial role in protecting your browser from vulnerabilities. CIS Benchmarks give us a roadmap to secure browsers like Microsoft Edge, but it’s the consistent application of these configurations that ensures proactive threat mitigation.

If there’s one thing to remember from Bill Campbell’s insights, it’s that browser security starts with the small stuff—those granular settings that might seem inconsequential but are actually critical in keeping your data safe.

Call to Action:

Watch the full episode to get more details on how these settings work in practice and why they matter. Watch the Full Webinar Here

Register for the upcoming episodes of our CIS Benchmarks webinar series. Sign up here: Upcoming Episodes

Special Offer: Ready to see how your security configuration stacks up? Generate internal and external free reports and evaluate your browser with Senteon. Sign up with the comment “settings webinar” at Senteon.