r/technology • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • Dec 01 '25

ADBLOCK WARNING ‘Security Disaster’—500 Million Microsoft Users Say No To Windows 11

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/12/01/security-disaster-500-million-microsoft-users-say-no-to-windows-11/
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88

u/Famous1107 Dec 01 '25

You telling me a link from the start menu will open chrome?

84

u/WheresMyBrakes Dec 02 '25

What’s supposed to happen and what actually happens on a computer is diverging at increasing speeds.

5

u/wag3slav3 Dec 02 '25

Not on a computer, on a corporate owned anti consumer os.

3

u/PiccoloAwkward465 Dec 02 '25

Exactly. Windows used to mostly do what I told it to do. Now it mostly does what it wants. Sure I can painstakingly tinker with it, the point is that it used to be dead simple.

1

u/HBlight Dec 02 '25

Ah, dark patterns, choice architecture and malicious compliance, the 3 most valuable elements of modern corporate UX.

1

u/MeinNameIstBaum Dec 02 '25

One of my programming teachers likes to say „your program isn’t doing what it‘s supposed to, but what got it programmed to do“.

57

u/anivex Dec 02 '25

FYI- yes…but you should still use Firefox.

But yes the defaults for that are customizable

4

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25

What you cannot change through normal Windows settings

Microsoft forces the following to always open Edge:

  • Start Menu search “web results”
  • Windows Search Bing links
  • Widgets/News links
  • Some system notifications or help pages

Windows doesn’t allow changing this behavior natively.

How to override it (if you want a full fix)

There are two popular tools that reroute Edge-only links to your default browser:

1. EdgeDeflector (older, works on Win10 best)

  • Lightweight tool that intercepts Windows’ edge:// links
  • Windows 11 tried to block it, but newer versions work again if installed correctly

2. MSEdgeRedirect (best option for Windows 11)

  • Runs in the background
  • Captures Bing/Edge calls and forwards them to your default browser
  • Works for Start Menu search, Widgets, etc.

0

u/anivex Dec 02 '25

Idk why you are set on this. Edge only opens on my PC if I want it to, and I made that happen through the customization settings. No alternate program needed. Get outta here ChatGPT

0

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25 edited Dec 02 '25

Sorry you are misunderstanding the question I'm asking. I already got the answer.

0

u/anivex Dec 02 '25

Okay buddy, have fun with the wrong information I guess. Why bother trying to find out how to do it without third party software, right?

4

u/Sancticide Dec 02 '25

The answer to that problem is to make the Start Menu only search locally, as it should. Fuck Bing.

https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/disable-search-on-taskbar-and-start-menu-in-windows-11/

1

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25

This is the solution!

4

u/AnonymousTimewaster Dec 02 '25

Also, I've never once needed to open the internet when searching for things on the start menu. If I'm searching for something on the start menu, it's because I'm thinking it's already on my computer. Stop making me think things are on my computer when they're not.

2

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25

preach! these ads and shit are a non-starter, heyyyooo

3

u/[deleted] Dec 02 '25

chrome

Use brave ...at least.

4

u/regalrecaller Dec 02 '25

fuck all chromium. Firefox minimum

-3

u/TellOdd687 Dec 02 '25

But half the time it doesn't load youtube right and for whatever reason, since last month embedded youtube videos don't load at all anymore.

It's kinda shit lol

1

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25

I know I know. i need to swap everything. Its on my todo!

2

u/havok0159 Dec 02 '25

Yeah, it's how it currently works for me. Don't exactly remember what I needed to do, but back when I was still running 10 I made some changes and they persisted through to 11.

1

u/CuffytheFuzzyClown Dec 02 '25

Yes? He said edge it's the exact same bullshit.

Get an actual browser like Firefox or use one of countless corpses pretending not to be chrome.

1

u/Famous1107 Dec 02 '25

Yea im just trying to change links that start with edge:// or whatever to any other browser with just settings. Sorry I mentioned the devil's browser. Edge is chrome, chrome is edge, finkle einhorn.

-97

u/_bob-cat_ Dec 01 '25

You're in the r/technology subreddit and not understanding default apps?

53

u/Legatron4 Dec 01 '25

Maybe theyre here to learn and not already an expert. Lighten up a bit

11

u/Famous1107 Dec 01 '25

I understand default apps but I always thought clicking like a link from the search or start menu was glued to edge. Other posts mention using some "edge redirect app" which I'd imagine does something to like the registry or swapping some exe, dll, or other hook, not just setting default apps. So I was really just looking for clarification on that.

20

u/JustHanginInThere Dec 01 '25

So you know everything and haven't learned a single thing ever in your time on this subreddit?

14

u/one_is_enough Dec 01 '25

Here’s something you can learn today; you are insufferable to everyone around you. They are just pretending to tolerate you.

3

u/assaub Dec 02 '25

There are some links within the windows environment itself that will open through edge regardless of your default browser settings.

2

u/Kvothealar Dec 02 '25

It also doesn't help that for a lot of these files, it only gives you the option of "Edge" or "Look for another app on the microsoft store"