Microsoft Edge 107 Released With a New Sidebar

After the release of Google Chrome 107, Microsoft also released a new version of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser with the same number (version 107.0.1418.24). And as with Chrome, there isn't much new in this release.

Microsoft Edge 107 comes only with one new feature and that is the Edge Sidebar: a new tool from Microsoft to allow users to access multiple productivity tools along with their browser window without having to leave their current tab and open another new tab to access them.

The sidebar contains by default shortcuts to the following services and websites:

• Search using the Bing search engine.
• Tools:  include a simple calculator, a translator, a dictionary, as well as a tool to test your internet speed.
• Discovery:  presents contextually relevant info for the current page you visit. 
• Two web shortcuts for Office.com and Outlook.com.

Users can disable any of the sidebar elements, add new ones and shortcuts to the sidebar, or even turn it off if they want to.

In addition to the sidebar feature, the Microsoft Edge browser also provides a set of policies for users and administrators to enable a controlled experience for their employees, and the list of new policies includes the following:

• EdgeWorkspacesEnabled - Enable Workspaces.
• EnhanceSecurityModeBypassIntranet - Enhanced Security Mode configuration for Intranet zone sites.
• EventPathEnabled - Re-enable the Event.path API until Microsoft Edge version 115.
• InternetExplorerIntegrationLocalMhtFileAllowed - Allow local MHTML files to open automatically in Internet Explorer mode.
• LinkedAccountEnabled - Enable the linked account feature.
• PerformanceDetectorEnabled - Performance Detector Enabled.
• RestoreOnStartupUserURLsEnabled - Allow users to add and remove their own sites during startup when the RestoreOnStartupURLs policy is configured.
• DefaultShareAdditionalOSRegionSetting - Set the default "share additional operating system region" setting.
• WebSelectEnabled - Web Select Enabled.
• WebSQLAccess - Force WebSQL to be enabled.
• WebSQLNonSecureContextEnabled - Force WebSQL in non-secure contexts to be enabled.

Last but not least, this new version of the browser also fixes 8 new security vulnerabilities, all related to the Chromium base (CVE-2022-3661, CVE-2022-3660, CVE-2022-3657, CVE-2022-3656, CVE-2022-3655, CVE-2022-3654, CVE-2022-3653, and CVE-2022-3652), so it is important to update to this version of the browser as soon as possible to be safe online.