Microsoft Edge Enhance images help in automatically enhancing images. As of now, it seems to be a useful feature, but the updated description of the Enhance Images feature hints at data leaks. The description reads:
Image URLs will be sent to Microsoft to provide super resolution. You can choose to use enhance images on sites you like.
This description states that after you enable this feature all the images will be sent to the Microsoft server to offer high-quality images. So technically Edge browser sends URLs of Images viewed online to Microsoft Servers, which can be used for tracking users’ activity. Isn’t it?
But Microsoft Privacy Whitepaper has an explanation, it says
Image URLs are encrypted before sending to Microsoft Server, and server requests don’t contain user identifiers. The images are cached for 30 days to enhance peformance.
This isn’t something new. Earlier, the Edge browser was caught sending all the URLs to Microsoft Server due to a bug in Follow Creator feature. Recently, Microsoft blocked the way to delete browsing sync data from the cloud.
In the earlier description of the feature, it wasn’t clear how Microsoft enhances images, but with the updated description there’s a mention, that all the images will be sent to Microsoft servers from where users will get the enhanced and high-quality images. So its upto you whether you want to use this feature or not.
Right now, Enhance images feature is under gradual rolled out so it is possible that not all users in Edge stable have received this feature yet. So those users who have it in the browser settings can turn it off to prevent data leaks. The updated description is spotted in Edge Canary by leopeva.
In case, you’re not happy with Edge browser sending images you browse to Microsoft Server, then here’s how you can stop it:
Open Microsoft Edge and click on the (…) and select Settings.
Switch to Privacy, search, and services on the left and then on the right side scroll down and toggle off “Enhance images in Microsoft Edge“.
Apart from this, if you haven’t received this feature yet in the Edge browser, then there’s nothing to worry about at least until you get the feature.
That’s all about the Microsoft Edge Enhance image feature data leak. What is your opinion on this? Let me know in the comments.
