Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser has now made it easier for users to switch to its browser on Windows. The firm has done it pretty quietly too. Microsoft still allows you to switch to other browsers, but it's way harder to do so compared to Edge. Edge is Microsoft’s browser and comes pre-installed in Windows 10.
The software giant has been trying very hard to promote the update of Edge as the main browser for Windows users. To that effect, it allows anyone to switch to Edge in just one single click. But sadly, this luxury is not afforded to other browsers like Chrome and Firefox. But it seems Mozilla has found a way around this. In its latest Firefox version 91 which came out on August 10th, Mozilla has found a way to reverse engineer the way Microsoft sets its Edge browser as the default browser on Windows 10.
As a result, Mozilla Firefox has easily managed to make itself the default browser without having to go through a tiresome and cumbersome process. The trick will not make it possible for Firefox users to change their default browser from Mozilla Firefox to Edge using one simple click. However, the move by Mozilla goes right against the anti-hijacking protections that Microsoft has put in Windows 10.
The protections prevent malware from hijacking default apps on Windows. In a statement to a major news publication online, Microsoft argued that the kind of reverse engineering done by Mozilla is not supported. But Mozilla has found a way to get this done. Nonetheless, the move is expected to draw a reaction from Microsoft and it is also likely that the issue will persist.
Although it's already hard to set up a default browser on Windows 10, Microsoft is expected to make this process even harder on Windows 11. The software giant seems to be hell-bent on making sure that Windows users only use Edge for default browsing needs. But companies like Mozilla and other interested browsers will not take that lying down.
According to a spokesperson from the browser provider, it should be easy for "people to change default settings on browsers without going through the long process.” It’s not the first time Mozilla is taking on Microsoft over this issue. In an open letter sent to the Windows developer in 2015, Mozilla raised concerns about the same.
Ever since the browser provider has been pushing back against Microsoft efforts to make it harder for people to choose a default browser other than Edge. But so far, only Mozilla appears to be fighting Microsoft.
Other major browsers like Chrome and Opera are yet to join the fight but based on how things are going now, it will not be a surprise if they do. Many analysts argue that Microsoft's move is a blatant attempt to unfairly push its browser on Windows users. Mozilla is simply calling for a level playing field. In essence, the company wants the user to have the right to decide which browsers to use as defaults and the means to set these settings easily.
