Microsoft Edge web browser is issuing security warnings following Twitter’s name change to ‘X’. During its swift rebranding process, Twitter replaced its iconic bird icon with a Unicode character resembling the letter X but with mathematical significance.
However, Microsoft Edge has alerted users to a potential security issue through its ‘Progressive Web App Icon Change’ feature, which aims to caution against app icon or name alterations that may indicate a scam.
The security alert arose when a Twitter user named Florian noticed Microsoft Edge prompting a review of the icon update and displaying an alert about the Twitter icon change to ‘X’. The feature responsible for these alerts is integrated into Chromium-based browsers like Edge to ensure user safety. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) allow websites to mimic native apps on compatible devices, adapting to their capabilities while functioning like other installed apps.
Since 2021, both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have incorporated this safety alert mechanism that triggers when a PWA modifies its original icon or name. Previously, users needed to manually enable this feature by accessing specific flags in the browser settings. However, in newer versions, this security alert comes pre-integrated to protect users from potential scams or deceptive attempts.
To summarize, users experiencing security warnings on Microsoft Edge after Twitter’s swift rebranding should not panic. The web browser’s safety feature, designed to detect changes in app icons or names, is actively working to safeguard users from potential threats and scams, ensuring a safer browsing experience.
