April’s Patch Tuesday brings us several, security-related, Microsoft Office updates and some small changes in UX and accessibility. In addition, Microsoft has also announced the much-needed retirement of the “legacy”, non-Chromium-based Edge Browser. The changes will come into effect at 10:00 PST. The decision to remove EdgeHTLML, by actively replacing it with Chromium, following the March end-of-support Edge announcement. At the same, Microsoft has encouraged organizations and consumers to upgrade to the latest Edge version.
April Patch Tuesday Highlights
On the 6th of April, Microsoft has pushed the KB4486672 update for Office Standard 2016, Office Professional 2016, Office Professional Plus 2016, Office Home and Business 2016, and Office Home and Student 2016.
Microsoft has expanded the Windows Update rollout of Chromium-based Edge from Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 and the unsupported Windows 7. The company began pushing new Edge to Windows 10 users in. Jun 17, 2020 Microsoft has released a new Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge. This new version provides best in class compatibility with extensions and websites. Additionally, this new version provides great support for the latest rendering capabilities, modern web applications, and powerful developer tools across all supported OS platforms. The truth is that the current version of the Edge browser is not available for Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1. However, Microsoft is building a new Chromium-based Edge browser, and it will be available for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. We will update this guide when the new Edge is made available to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. Also, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, for the three or four of you out there still on that debacle of an OS. Because there was no earlier Edge on those platforms, there's nothing to remove when the new. If you already use Selenium 3, you may have existing browser tests and want to add coverage for Microsoft Edge (Chromium) without changing your version of Selenium.To use Selenium 3 to write automated tests for both Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) and Microsoft Edge (Chromium), install the Selenium Tools for Microsoft Edge package to use the updated driver.
As Askwoody’s MS-DEFCON columnists pointed out, Office 2016 was the only EOS MS product to receive an update. We would like to remind the users that Microsoft officially ended mainstream support for the 2016 business and home versions of Office on the 13th of October 2016. End of Support is scheduled for the 14th of October 2025. As expected, the vendor encourages all clients running any of the above-mentioned products to deploy the update as soon as possible.
So far, there’s just one issue associated with the KB4486672 deployment. Some users (i.e., Microsoft has yet to disclose if the issue predominantly affects home or enterprise end-users) might experience Office application stability or non-responsiveness issues. Microsoft stated that the problem lies in the registry code writing process and proposes the following fix:
- Download the KB4486672 update manually and execute the .msi pack. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft’s Update Center to automatically download and deploy the pack.
- Run Regedit.msc with administrative rights.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0General.
- Find the value EnableAdvancedRegistryHangDetection.
- Set value type to DWORD and Value data to 1. Save changes.
Note: if you are unable to locate the General key in 16.0, you will need to create one. When you’re done, define EnableAdvancedRegistryHangDetection under General by right-clicking on the right panel, highlighting new, and left-clicking on the DWORD button.
As mentioned in the intro, Patch Tuesday also delivers several UX and accessibility improvements. To name a few, as of the April roll, Microsoft fixed an issue with the zoom function that appears when a user utilizes the Microsoft Edge IE Mode on a multi-mon high DPI setup.
In addition, MS also fixed a minor HDR-related issue that made the display appear darker. Some child account-related issues were patched – users are now notified when a child account defined in the Family Safety section attains andor requests administrative privileges. Last, but not least, Microsoft also fixed an OneDrive syncing issue that caused the endpoint to stop working if the user would delete files or folders currently in use by OneDrive.
Edge’s anticipated retirement will impact most Windows 10 versions, from build 1803, released in April 2018, all the way to the 20H2 build. Microsoft’s decision to discontinue support for Microsoft Edge and replace the EdgeHTML rendering engine with the Chromium, open-source project, is a sound one and should facilitate the web development process as well as eliminating any disparities in web compatibility. Chromium updates will not impact users running Windows 7, Windows 8.0, or Windows 8.1.
Additional Security Tips
We always encourage our readers and customers to deploy every security and non-related security update in a timely manner. Here are some other things you can try in order to increase your overall security.
#1. Ensure that all Edge related updates are deployed correctly when using a private WSUS server.
To enforce the update all across your endpoint network, make sure that the new Edge version has been added to your WSUS catalog. Please refer to Microsoft’s Edge Management for additional information and instruction on how to deploy Edge with WSUS.
#2. Use legitimate means to deploy security updates.
Only download and install Windows Updates from known and legit sources like MS’s Update Center or MS’s official website. If you receive emails urging you to install critical Windows updates, please disregard and delete the email. Clicking on any of the links enclosed in such messages could lead to debilitating virus infections or even ransomware.
Heimdal™ Security recommends a safe and automatic updating and patching solution to prevent these fraudulent attempts. Patch & Asset Management is your one-stop, fully automated updating and patching toolbox that empowers you to download, install, and configure any 3rd party, MS, or updates for proprietary software.
#3. Restore points.
Before deploying the new updates, don’t forget to create restore points. No major issues have been reported so far, but better safe than sorry. Creating a restore point is easy and can save you from a lot of trouble if something goes wrong during an update.
Parting thoughts
Edge is dead, long live, well, Edge. April’s patching bout isn’t as ‘meaty’ as the one in March, but still crucial to your endpoint’s wellbeing. As always, stay safe, subscribe to Heimdal’s newsletter for more cybersecurity awesomeness, and shot me an email if you have any more questions.
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Right on schedule, Microsoft today launched its new Edge browser based on Google’s Chromium open source project. You can download Chromium Edge now for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and macOS directly from microsoft.com/edge in more than 90 languages. This is Edge 79 stable, for those who like tracking version numbers. Edge 80 is slated to arrive in early February, and afterwards Microsoft will stick to a six-week cadence for stable releases, just like with Chrome.
Microsoft has yet to lay out which features will ship in Edge 80, Edge 81, and so on. When asked what to expect from the next few Edge releases, a spokesperson said developers and users should use the beta releases as an indication. If you want to peek at the pipeline, download one of the Edge Insider Channels: Beta (updated every six weeks), Dev (updated weekly), or Canary (updated daily). Insider builds can be installed side by side with Edge stable. Update: Microsoft has published a support article that lists features in the works and requests that are not currently on the roadmap.
It’s worth noting that the new Microsoft Edge, as Microsoft is calling it, has a fresh logo. For the first time in decades, Microsoft’s browser is not denoted with a blue “e” — the logo is a wave, presumably for “surfing” the web.
Today’s debut has been a long time coming. Back in December 2018, Microsoft embraced Chromium for Edge development on the desktop. In April 2019, Microsoft released the first Chromium Edge builds (daily Canary and weekly Dev channels), and the Chromium Edge Beta channel followed in August 2019. In November 2019, Microsoft launched the Chromium Edge release candidate and positioned Edge and Bing as “the browser and search engine for business.” Microsoft today shared that the Insider builds have gotten “millions” of downloads. Now we’ll see if the stable release can get traction.
Features and performance
Microsoft plans to ship more consumer Edge features later this year, but this launch is largely targeted at businesses. That means AAD support, Internet Explorer mode, and Microsoft Search in Bing integration. Business and education IT administrators can download offline packages and policies for Chromium Edge. Many businesses already use Chrome and at least one Microsoft browser (Internet Explorer and/or Edge) — Microsoft is hoping these features will get them to switch to using just Chromium Edge.
Business features aside, there’s also support for Chrome-based extensions, 4K streaming, Dolby audio, inking in PDF, and privacy tools. For the last one, it’s worth noting that tracking prevention is on by default and offers three levels of control, like Firefox’s tracking protection.
Chrome extension support is probably the most important feature for most users. By default, extensions that have been ported over to Edge can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Chromium Edge also has an option to “Allow extensions from other stores” to get Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
There are still a few features missing from Chromium Edge, most notably history sync and extension sync. Microsoft is working on these and some other inking functionality that it still wants to port from legacy Edge, as Microsoft is calling it.
Microsoft also claims that Chromium Edge is twice as fast as legacy Edge. Curiously, the team isn’t making any claims against other browsers — at least not yet. In fact, our own testing shows Chromium Edge has solid performance.
The bigger picture here is that by leaning on Chromium, Microsoft no longer has to worry about “fixing” its underlying browser engine EdgeHTML. The company can instead improve Chromium itself, which helps all browsers that use the codebase, not just Chromium Edge. Microsoft says over the past year it has made more than 1,900 contributions to Chromium across areas like accessibility, touch, speech, and digital inking.
On the flip side, Edge is now just another Chromium-based browser. That makes it all the harder to offer a differentiated experience. Having failed with EdgeHTML, Microsoft figures Chromium is worth a shot.
Installing the new Edge: Manual or Automatic
If you’re running Windows 10 and don’t install Edge manually, you’ll eventually get it in a future update. Microsoft plans to start rolling out the new Edge “in the coming weeks,” starting with a subset of Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. The process will ramp up to more users “over the next several months.” It will be made gradually available on Windows Update and offered to additional devices “as data and feedback indicate that users are having a good experience.” Microsoft currently has no plans to automatically upgrade Managed, Enterprise, Education, or Workstation Pro Edition devices (documentation). If you want to block automatic delivery of the new Edge to Home and Pro devices, you can do so either via policies or the Blocker Toolkit.
When you install the new Edge on Windows 10, it will replace legacy Edge. Any shortcuts you have on the desktop, taskbar, or Start Menu will be updated to new Edge. The executable for legacy Edge is technically hidden, but it will be removed eventually. Your favorites, passwords, form fill information, and basic settings will carry over from legacy Edge to new Edge automatically. If you have Chrome or Firefox installed, new Edge will ask if you want to import those settings from there. Web apps built on EdgeHTML and Edge preview channels will continue to work without interruption. Depending on how up-to-date your Windows 10 installation is, you may be asked to install additional updates. A future version of Windows 10 will skip all this and include new Edge by default.
When you install new Edge on Windows 7, Windows 8, and macOS, it will work just like installing any other browser. New Edge will not replace whatever you have as the default (whether that’s Internet Explorer, Safari, or a third-party browser). Yesterday, Microsoft ended support for Windows 7, so it’s notable the company is still releasing new Edge for the decade-old operating system. It shows just how big Windows 7 still is — about one in four computers run it.
On Android and iOS, new Edge will replace old Edge automatically. That said, not much is new on mobile — Edge already uses Blink/Chromium on Android and WebKit/WKWebView on iOS. But you can expect the new logo, similar user interface to the desktop versions, and tracking prevention on iOS (coming soon to Android). More desktop features will make their way to Android and iOS over time.
Edge Chromium Windows 8.1 Rt
Lastly, Microsoft’s FastTrack and App Assure programs cover Chromium Edge. The former means Microsoft will help you deploy Edge to your organization at no extra charge with an eligible subscription to Microsoft 365, Azure, or Dynamics 365. The latter means if your sites work in Internet Explorer 8 and above, Chrome, or legacy Edge, then they’ll work on the new Edge. If not, Microsoft will help you fix them at no additional cost.
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