Microsoft has started rolling out an AI-powered “Scareware Blocker” for its Edge browser on Windows PCs. When enabled, the security feature acts as the “first line of defense” against new and emerging scams.

Edge's new scareware blocker aims to protect you from malicious websites that try to scam you through fear tactics. Here's how to opt in.

That’s why Microsoft Edge is using AI to help users spot when someone’s trying to frighten them into downloading malware or giving up sensitive information. Available now to all users via a preview, the browser’s new “Scareware blocker” is an AI-based tool for dismissing and navigating away from these troublesome interruptions.

If you're using Bing on the Microsoft Edge browser, you'll be greeted by a new banner if you search for Chrome Web Browser.

To do so, open Edge on your Windows PC, tap on the three horizontal dots on the top right of the screen and click on Settings. On the page that appears, click on “Privacy, search and, services” from the left panel and under ‘Security’, turn on the toggle named ‘Scareware Blocker’. Now, restart Edge and you are good to go.

Microsoft Edge 133 is now rolling out globally, and it ships with several improvements, including a new scareware blocker feature. In addition, Microsoft is updating the backend of the Downloads UI with performance improvements.

Let’s say you want to uninstall Microsoft’s Edge browser. Fair enough, Windows is supposed to allow you at least some control over your programs, and most people use Chrome. So you search Bing for “How to uninstall Edge,