Proactively Hardening Microsoft Edge Communication Risks You Might Not Know Exist

It’s easy to assume that your browser is secure, especially with all the built-in protections modern browsers offer. But as Roddy Bergeron from Sherweb pointed out in the latest episode of Senteon’s webinar series, there are hidden communication risks lurking beneath the surface of Microsoft Edge. In this final installment of our blog series, we dive deeper into how fine-tuning communication-related settings in Edge can offer an extra layer of security while keeping the user experience intact.

Shutting Down Unnecessary Browser Communications

One of the most critical areas Roddy covered was the control over how Microsoft Edge communicates with external servers, services, and platforms. The web is filled with useful features, but not all of them are necessary for every user or organization. Allowing Edge to communicate freely with external services can open the door to potential vulnerabilities, especially when default settings are left unchanged.

Roddy highlighted the CIS Benchmark recommendation to disable experimentational communication in Microsoft Edge. This refers to beta-level features or experimental services that Microsoft may use to collect feedback or test functionality. While these features may seem harmless, they introduce unnecessary risk, sending data to external servers without explicit user control. Disabling these experimental services ensures your browser isn’t part of any testing process, keeping your data under tighter control.

Controlling Synchronization for Safer Browsing

Next on the list was controlling synchronization—a feature most users overlook. By default, browsers like Microsoft Edge sync everything from passwords to browser history across multiple devices. While convenient, this can present a serious security threat if these settings are not carefully managed.

Roddy emphasized that CIS Benchmarks recommend ensuring certain types of data—such as form entries, passwords, and autofill data—are excluded from being synchronized between devices. Why? Because once that data is synced, it’s no longer fully under your control, potentially opening up risks if one of those devices is compromised. Instead of allowing broad synchronization, businesses should limit what types of data are shared across devices to reduce the attack surface and prevent accidental data leakage.

Securing Edge’s Use of Serial APIs

Another vital point Roddy made was about Serial APIs, a feature that allows Microsoft Edge to communicate with hardware attached to the device, such as USB drives or serial bus devices. This is especially risky for organizations that deal with sensitive data or use specialized hardware, like medical devices in healthcare settings or data terminals in government sectors.

While this feature is necessary in some environments, most businesses can disable it without losing essential functionality. Roddy recommended following the CIS Benchmark guidance to disable the Serial API, ensuring that only authorized devices interact with your browser. This adds another layer of security by reducing the number of ways a potential attacker can interact with your hardware.

Automating the Hardening Process

As with all of the settings discussed in this series, Roddy stressed the importance of using automation tools like Senteon to continuously enforce these configurations. Manually applying CIS Benchmarks can lead to configuration drift over time, meaning settings that were once secured might revert due to updates or human error. With an automated solution in place, you can ensure that your browser security remains consistent, no matter how many updates or changes occur in your environment.

The benefit? Continuous real-time security monitoring and automated configuration management ensure that any misconfigurations are corrected immediately. This prevents security gaps and reduces the chances of an attacker exploiting overlooked settings.

Putting It All Together

Roddy’s insights on controlling communication and limiting access through the CIS Benchmarks are a perfect reminder that browser security doesn’t have to be complicated. By taking the time to configure these settings—especially those involving background processes, synchronization, and Serial APIs—businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to threats.

CTA:
For a more detailed look at Roddy Bergeron’s approach to browser hardening, watch the full episode here. Stay ahead of emerging risks by registering for upcoming episodes here. Ready to evaluate your current security settings? Reach out to Senteon with the comment “settings webinar” here to generate free internal and external reports and see how your configurations stack up.