Here's a guide on how to prevent this from happening: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/01/21/how-to-block-microsoft-edg...

> The workaround requires edits of the Registry. There is a global edit that applies to all Edge channels and edits for each individual version of the web browser.

> The workaround

is to uninstall Windows

A theoretically perfect but largely non-viable solution.

if you're someone who is willing to invest time into researching regedit workarounds (which will eventually reset or cease to work), then looking into desktop linux is perfectly viable...and not theoretically, but practically perfect.

i used to do an enormous amount of Windows XP regedit tweaking and customization, using sysprep, rolling service packs into new ISOs, making use of https://ryanvm.net/forum/ scripts.

all of that has become practically impossible now. every update resets everything, regedits no longer work, and each update brings back the bloatware you've debloated using things like https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows.

the only recourse now is to disable TPM 2.0, which is a Win11+ requirement. or pirate that fabled LTSC windows edition because, you know, you can't actually buy it.

in 2020 after an unpreventable Win10 update fucked up my dual boot setup i finally called it quits and switched to EndevourOS (Arch) KDE/Plasma and haven't looked back; fuck Windows and its aggressive rent-seeking.