What it takes to close Microsoft Edge (⏩ 2x)
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I accidentally clicked Microsoft Edge on my work computer with Windows 10 and can't close it — it just keeps reopening. It takes File Shredder to stop it from opening again, at least until the computer restarts. Notice the ads, most are extremely sketchy (my frequent reload in previous takes caused the ad server + my work VPN to rate limit me): China warns: %user.currency% is dead! (Yeah, sure. Obvious propaganda. Generic pictures or faked images of a worthless banknote giveaway.), 63-year-old figured out! (Does not say what but a pic of obviously young-looking feet.), Make boatloads of money with AI! (aka auto-trade very uncompetitive options, no guarantees on withdrawals of any wins), Save money using solar! (The company is legitimate but the deal on panels is probably not great), Buy yourself a great new FPCEILPTBSP! (You can't tell what it is and neither can we! (Apparently TV wall mount)), Losing hair?, Millionaire has genius method you can try (but give us money first, making his pic transparent so we can put him in front of the %user.nationality% flag was difficult), Game! Yay! (Microtransactions galore!), Get EVERYTHING in your car fixed!

Edit: Folks, I keep telling you it’s VERY unlikely to be malware.

I’ll update you and apologize to each if my credit card gets wiped or something but I’m quite sure I’m safe, don’t worry.

Also sorry for blaming Microsoft for what is apparently my fault.

I accidentally clicked Microsoft Edge on my work computer with Windows 10 and couldn’t close it — it just keeps reopening. It takes File Shredder to stop it from opening again, at least until the computer restarts.

Notice the ads, most are extremely sketchy (my frequent reload in previous takes caused the ad server + my work VPN to rate limit me):

  • China warns: %user.currency% is dead! (Yeah, sure. Obvious propaganda. Generic pictures or faked images of a worthless banknote giveaway.)
  • 63-year-old figured out! (Does not say what but a pic of obviously young-looking feet.)
  • Make boatloads of money with AI! (aka auto-trade very uncompetitive options, no guarantees on withdrawals of any wins)
  • Save money using solar! (The company is legitimate but the deal on panels is probably not great)
  • Buy yourself a great new FPCEILPTBSP! (You can’t tell what it is and neither can we! (Apparently TV wall mount))
  • Losing hair?
  • Millionaire has genius method you can try (but give us money first, making his pic transparent so we can put him in front of %user.country.flag% was difficult)
  • Game! Yay! (Microtransactions galore!)
  • Get EVERYTHING in your car fixed (by a stock photo mechanic!)
  • @[email protected]English
    0•1 year ago

    I dread it every time I open it by accident.
    Task manager was faster than waiting + dialogs.

    • @[email protected]OPEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      Well, Task Manager nor attempting to delete the executable normally helped in my case. Power deleting Edge (including WebView) is obviously a bad idea but faster than finding whatever mistake I made that led to this behavior. I can afford to do dumb stuff because the job is temporary, and I never downloaded any malware (according to VirusTotal) that would cause further problems.

      • @[email protected]English
        2•1 year ago

        Be aware that the new explorer.exe seems to be dependant on some parts on edge.
        I believe I saw flashes of edge in windows explorer during a crash

        • @[email protected]OPEnglish
          0•1 year ago

          That’s exactly what Microsoft did in the 1990s after an antitrust lawsuit for hindering free browser selection: integrated Internet Explorer into Explorer to have an excuse for having it preinstalled.

          The EU is taking similar steps but I tgink Edge WebView will stay essential. Removing it on a laptop broke biometrics (aka Windows Hello: fingerprint sensor and face recognition) and I had to use a restore point. Seems sketchy to use a browser engine for essential security features – at this point, I would hope I had triggered some OS tamper-detection because the alternative is an OS whose login system is infected with an unpopular browser not because it enhances security but out of spite, and I don’t think exploiting legal loopholes leads to most secure solutions.

      • u/unhappy_grapefruit_2English
        1•1 year ago

        You downloaded a suspicious file of the Internet anyone can summit code to github and while that stuff does get reviewed alot of malcious stuff goes unnoticed especially on a project of a smaller scale like thjs that is executing code which is doing maclious things to your Web browser I’m a dumbass on the internet and even I know that’s a textbook piece of malware op

        • @[email protected]OPEnglish
          -4•1 year ago

          That’s what 1990s malware does. Modern malware either shows its own ads in your face (adware) or is stealthy while it mines crypto, exfiltrates your passwords / credit card info or encrypts all personal files.

          You’re like WestEnd in this thread. Don’t take ot personally, I don’t blame you for the confusion, there is a lot of misleading media about malware behavior.

          your web browser

          That would be Firefox, and it works fine.

          • u/unhappy_grapefruit_2English
            4•1 year ago

            I’m going by the information ive got on hand from what I know you’ve installed a suspicious file on github which uninstalls edge which means it almost certainly has administrator permissions. Ontop of this anyone can summit code to github projects and while most of those maclious actors get caught a few can slip on in and reek chaos I know for an instant that edge doesn’t behave this way as I use it almost daily on my personal computer I know most chromium Web browsers especially the big main ones don’t behave this way also. I also know that if this github project is executing code in this way and manner that means it is textbook malware

            Even if I am wrong and this isn’t malware. Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry op to take the proper precautions that are necessary to avoid all the unnecessary stress and hardship

            • @[email protected]OPEnglish
              3•1 year ago

              Thank you for your kind words.

              Hardship is part of life. I have more than I would like right now but that’s just how I am. Dunno, maybe should place myself preventively on suicide watch.

              At least it’s a temporary, below minimum wage job so I don’t mind too much if the computer goes up in flames and I get fired. It will get wiped for the next wagie anyway.

              MSER does not uninstall Edge BTW

              • u/unhappy_grapefruit_2English
                3•1 year ago

                Dang bro sounds like you got alot of on plate at the moment gl and gl in your career and future careers. I seriously do hope you all the best