Microsoft is preparing another layer of security for Edge

Microsoft is developing a new security feature for Edge called “Enhanced Security Mode Plus”. Spotted in Edge Canary, the feature adds another layer of attack-surface reductions on top of the browser’s existing Enhanced Security Mode.

The feature is currently hidden behind an experimental flag, #edge-sdsm-plus, available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. However, enabling the flag does not activate the additional protections yet.

According to the flag description, Enhanced Security Mode Plus “layers additional attack-surface reductions on top of Enhanced Security Mode.” The description also states that enforcement is not implemented yet. Enabling the flag only selects and records the profile’s Enhanced Security Mode Plus defaults, without changing how websites behave.

Edge’s existing Enhanced Security Mode is an optional security feature designed to make browsing safer by applying additional protections when users visit unfamiliar or potentially dangerous websites. You can enable it by going to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Security and turning on “Enhance your security on the web”.

Enhanced Security Mode Plus builds on Edge’s existing security feature. Microsoft hasn’t detailed the additional protections yet.

There is currently no separate Enhanced Security Mode Plus option in Edge’s settings. For now, the new flag provides an early look at Microsoft’s work on expanding Edge’s security protections.