#microsoft-edge · 8sync News

Microsoft once spent $150 million to keep Apple alive, and it wasn't out of kindness

In 1997, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple through a purchase of non-voting preferred stock, but the deal was far from charitable. Apple, while not literally out of cash, was losing developer and customer confidence rapidly. In exchange for the investment and a five-year commitment to keep Office for Mac current, Apple agreed to make Internet Explorer the default browser on Mac OS, sidelining Netscape Navigator. The deal also settled multiple patent disputes between the two companies. Microsoft used the arrangement to advance its browser distribution strategy against Netscape, protect its Office revenue stream, and demonstrate to antitrust regulators that Windows faced real competition. Jobs framed the deal publicly as Apple moving past old rivalries, but the real story was mutual strategic necessity — Apple bought time and credibility, while Microsoft gained leverage, legal peace, and browser market share.

Malicious Edge extension abuses Native Messaging as bridge to malware

A malicious Microsoft Edge extension called 'Edgecution' has been discovered abusing Chrome's Native Messaging protocol to escape the browser sandbox and deploy a Python-based backdoor. The attack chain begins with social engineering via Microsoft Teams, where attackers pose as IT support and direct victims to a fake Microsoft update page. From there, multiple scripts (AutoHotKey, batch, PowerShell) deploy the malware, which runs in a headless Edge browser and communicates with a local Python backdoor capable of executing shell commands, running PowerShell, writing files, and gathering system information. Zscaler researchers link the campaign to an initial access broker connected to the Payouts Kings ransomware operation. Organizations are advised to monitor browser extensions and enforce strict native messaging host controls.