A current controversy surrounds Microsoft Edge's "Secure Network" feature, with IT security researcher Sooraj Sathyanarayanan claiming it's not a true VPN but an "HTTP CONNECT" proxy. He states it only tunnels Edge browser traffic, leaving other system requests exposed, and its default "optimized" setting offers minimal protection, primarily in public Wi-Fi or for unencrypted HTTP pages. Users must log in with a Microsoft account, linking their identity, and Cloudflare handles routing. Despite the feature being described as an "integrated VPN" offering 5 GB free data monthly, Microsoft never promised a full system-wide VPN. Introduced in a preview in April 2022, Microsoft clarified its limitations, including not routing streaming services by default to conserve bandwidth. The article concludes the uproar is exaggerated given Microsoft's transparency.