Updating Browsers Quickly: Flags, Respins, and Components

By this point, most browser enthusiasts know that Chrome has a rapid release cycle, releasing a new stable version of the browser approximately every six 4 weeks (2022 Update: now every four weeks). The Edge team adopted that rapid release cadence for our new browser, and we’re already releasing new Edge Dev Channel builds everyContinue reading “Updating Browsers Quickly: Flags, Respins, and Components”

Challenges with Federated Identity in modern browsers

Many websites offer a “Log in” capability where they don’t manage the user’s account; instead, they offer visitors the ability to “Login with <identity provider>.” When the user clicks the Login button on the original relying party (RP) website, they are navigated to a login page at the identity provider (IP) (e.g. login.microsoft.com) and then redirectedContinue reading “Challenges with Federated Identity in modern browsers”

Surprise: Undead Session Cookies

I’ve been working on browsers professionally for 12 of the last 15 years, and in related areas for 20 of the last 20, and over the years I’ve discovered enough surprises in browser behavior that they’re no longer very surprising. Back in April, I wrote up a quick post explaining how easy it is toContinue reading “Surprise: Undead Session Cookies”

Edge79+ vs. Edge18 (Edge Legacy) vs. Chrome vs. Internet Explorer

Note: I expect to update this post over time. Last update: Sept 29, 2025. Compatibility Deltas As our new Edge Insider builds roll out to the public, we’re starting to triage reports of compatibility issues where Edge79+ (the new Chromium-based Edge, aka Anaheim) behaves differently than the old Edge (Edge18, aka Spartan, aka Edge Legacy)Continue reading “Edge79+ vs. Edge18 (Edge Legacy) vs. Chrome vs. Internet Explorer”

Protect Your Accounts with 2FA

You should enable “2-Step Verification” for logins to your Google account. Google Authenticator is an app that runs on your iOS or Android phone and gives out 6 digit codes that must be entered when you log in on a device. This can’t really prevent phishing (because a phishing page will just ask you forContinue reading “Protect Your Accounts with 2FA”