Microsoft is being criticized for a new feature it started testing unbeknownst to Edge users. A new feature in the browser will automatically take screenshots of the websites you visit. In cases where you are offline, the website will be shown based on these screenshots.
Microsoft Edge will take screenshots for internet-free use
The new feature, which is being tested in the Microsoft Edge Dev and Canary channels, is called “Save site screenshots for history”. When enabled, Edge automatically takes a screenshot of every website a user visits and stores it on the device.
The screenshots will allow users to revisit sites without an internet connection. It will also be possible to see a preview of the page by hovering over it while looking at the browsing history.
For Edge, the feature aims to make it easier for users to navigate through their browser history. However, its naming and description have raised some privacy concerns. Taking screenshots of every page a user visits could raise privacy concerns.
However, Microsoft says that screenshots are only stored on the user’s device and are not sent to Microsoft’s servers. Users will also have full control over whether to enable or disable this feature.
The company also said that certain websites can be excluded from the screenshot program in the future.
If you want to test the new feature, you first need to join the Canary or Dev program. You can then enable the feature in Edge’s settings under Privacy and Services.
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