If you’re a Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox user, you can now safely view untrusted websites using Windows Defender Application Guard.
The Windows Defender Application Guard is an extension available for Windows 10, which you can install on either browser, and when you try to view a malicious website, instead of loading it in Chrome or Firefox, the extension will open the page in an isolated virtualized version of Microsoft Edge.
If the untrusted site ends up being malicious, the attack will remain within the Application Guard container without affecting your main installation.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to protect your device and data from malicious site attacks using the Windows Application Guard extension for Chrome and Firefox.
How to use Application Guard extension on Chrome or Firefox
To add the Application Guard extension on Chrome to secure a connection with an untrusted website, use these steps:
Enabling Application Guard
To enable Windows 10’s Application Guard feature, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Turn Windows features on or off and click the top result to open the experience.
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Check the Windows Defender Application Guard option.
Windows Defender Application Guard -
Click the OK button.
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Click the Restart button.
Adding extension to Chrome
To add the Windows Application Guard extension to Chrome, use these steps:
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Open the Chrome Web Store.
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Click the Add to Chrome button.
Install Application Guard extension to Chrome
Adding extension to Firefox
To add the Windows Application Guard extension to Firefox, use these steps:
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Open the Application Guard extension.
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Click the Add to Firefox button.
Install Application Guard extension to Firefox
Once you complete the steps, browse the internet normally, then when the Windows Defender Application Guard extension detects a suspicious website, instead of loading it with Chrome or Firefox, a virtualized instance of Microsoft Edge will be created to open the site in an isolated environment to safely view the site.
At the time of the writing the extension is only available for testers, but it’ll soon be available for everyone.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].