Is the Microsoft Defender Browser Protection Browser Extension actually legitimate?

Microsoft Defender Browser Protection: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/microsoft-defender-browse/bkbeeeffjjeopflfhgeknacdieedcoml

Hello fellow tech nerds and such, I like to stay being protected but I noticed something suspicious and just want to make sure. Is the following extension actually made by someone at Microsoft? Because contacting the developer takes you to this email: *** Email address is removed for privacy ***. If that isn't weird, I don't know what is.

Underneath the extension name, it shows this:

Offered by: https://browserprotection.microsoft.com

After trying to click on that link, I have JavaScript blocked by default. Before allowing it, I checked out to see if it was secure or not, which it is from what it states. Screenshots 001-008 show the legitimacy of the website.

Screenshot 001 (Image Above)

Screenshot 002 (Image Above)

Screenshot 003 (Image Above)

Screenshot 004 (Image Above)

Screenshot 005 (Image Above)

Screenshot 006 (Image Above)

Screenshot 007 (Image Above)

Screenshot 008 (Image Above)

Following that, I turned on JavaScript for the website https://browserprotection.microsoft.com and after refreshing, this is the link that is produced: https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/safe/rs3. Screenshots 009 and 010 show that the site is not secured whatso ever.

Screenshot 009 (Image Above)

Screenshot 010 (Image Above)

How does that even make sense? It shows the the extension being offered by: https://browserprotection.microsoft.com as being legitimate and secure. Then it redirects you to the following site: https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/safe/rs3, which is not secure nor has any certificate at all.

After I bit more research, I decided to run https://browserprotection.microsoft.com through the website https://www.virustotal.com/ and the following link are the results: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/url/ea230ed4154ae9291a36fec6cefdb589ca281e0c5bbe7862a1b9664097da1bfb?nocache=1 but no bad results/actors popped up.

Also, I decided to run https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/safe/rs3 through the website https://www.virustotal.com/ and the following link are the results: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/url/c972aeef17fbf6e50690537962afa29951ff99c5669dfd75600b3976a59fe5b4?nocache=1 but no bad results/actors popped up either.

To further research, I even ran https://browserprotection.microsoft.com through the website https://metadefender.opswat.com/ and the following link are the results: https://metadefender.opswat.com/results/url/aHR0cHM6Ly9icm93c2VycHJvdGVjdGlvbi5taWNyb3NvZnQuY29t/overview

To further resarch, I even ran https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/safe/rs3 through the website https://metadefender.opswat.com/ and the following link are the results: https://metadefender.opswat.com/results/url/aHR0cHM6Ly9taWNyb3NvZnRlZGdld2VsY29tZS5taWNyb3NvZnQuY29tL2VuLXVzL3NhZmUvcnMz/overview.

ALSO, I decided to run https://browserprotection.microsoft.com through the website https://urlscan.io/ and the following link are the results: https://urlscan.io/search/#page.domain%3Abrowserprotection.microsoft.com but digging through some of the hidden details, some of it looks kind of suspicious. Maybe I am wrong or looking at the wrong thing though?

ALSO, I decided to run https://microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com/en-us/safe/rs3 through the website https://urlscan.io/ and the following link are the results: https://urlscan.io/search/#microsoftedgewelcome.microsoft.com but digging through some of the hidden details, some of it looks kind of suspicious; for example, the last age of one of the URLs is one hour. Maybe I am wrong or looking at the wrong thing though?

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With all the being said, am I just being paranoid? I did some digging around on the internet and it said the extension is mostly like a scam of some sort. Can anyone confirm this? Please tell me your detailed insights into this matter.

Hi Senpai. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

I have never heard of an extension for Defender Browser protection, which is instead built into Defender Security Center.

If it's appearing in your browser and it's similar to this threat, then here i show to remove it:
https://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-windows-de...

More details on how to identify the threat and more advanced removal instructions if the ones above do not work:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Report back results for more steps if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.
____________________________
Retired 2023, thirteen year daily forums volunteer, Windows MVP 2010-2020

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Last updated November 6, 2024 Views 936 Applies to: