[German]They did, with the December 2021 security updates, tools that allow Edge log redirection to other browsers were blocked. Tools like EdgeDeflector are thus simply blocked and the user has to display the information in question in Microsoft Edge as the default browser. Here are some additions to a topic I've blogged about recently.
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EdgeDeflector facing extinction
By default, http or https links on Windows open in the default application assigned to that protocol. This can be Firefox or Google Chrome, but also Microsoft Edge. Developer Daniel Aleksandersen has been providing a free helper application called EdgeDeflector since 2017.
The EdgeDeflector is a small helper tool that intercepts URIs that force web links to open in Microsoft Edge. The tool redirects these URIs to the system's default web browser. This way, users can use Windows features like Cortana Assistant and built-in help links with the browser of their choice instead of being forced to Microsoft Edge. With EdgeDeflector, you're free to use Firefox, Google Chrome or your favorite web browser, the tool's description says.
But it's been hinting at an end to this approach for a few weeks now. I had already picked it up on November 12, 2021 in the blog post Windows 11: Microsoft enforces Edge browser in several protocols, bricks EdgeDeflector. However, since Windows 11 build 22494, EdgeDeflector can no longer be used, the tool simply no longer works according to this post.
In addition, Microsoft put obstacles in the way of the user to change the default browser in Windows 11 from Edge to another program. But there was a recent change that this becomes more easily customizable in the settings page.
At MSPU, they addressed Microsoft's lame excuse here that this is all for the good of the user base. There were a few comments on the blog post of mine about how to get around this Microsoft behavior. And there is the tool MSEdgeRedirect, which allows a similar behavior as the EdgeDeflector.
Clearly anti-competitive behavior by Microsoft. Aleksandersen advises those who oppose the change to contact their local antitrust authority or switch to Linux. Vivaldi CEO Jon S. von Tetzchner also criticizes Microsoft (albeit on a somewhat broader scale) for anti-competitive behavior and abuse of its market power, as Golem report in this German article.
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Windows 10/11-Updates blocks EdgeDeflector & Co.
I read it a few hours ago at neowin.net: Security updates released on December 14, 2021 (patchday) (e.g. KB5008215 for Windows 11) block tools like EdgeDeflector in Windows 10 and Windows 11. A redirection of the microsoft-edge:// protocol is thus no longer possible via such tools. Martin mentions at Dr. Windows the tool MSEdgeRedirect, which works after another method like the EdgeDeflector and should still work.
With the security updates released on December 14, 2021 (Patchday) (e.g. KB5008215 for Windows 11), tools such as EdgeDeflector are blocked in Windows 10 and Windows 11. A redirection of the microsoft-edge:// protocol is thus no longer possible via such tools. Martin mentions at Dr. Windows the tool MSEdgeRedirec, which works after another method like the EdgeDeflector and should still work.
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