Currently there are more than 3.5 billion Google searches every single day. It is so widely used that “Google it” is common vernacular for “search the internet”. Google’s flagship browser, Chrome, is by far the most popular. With more than 70% of the market share and in 2019 this helped Google make £1.6billion in revenue.
So, Google as an organisation is big business because they are essentially data collectors. And data is a money spinner. They are able to closely monitor your searches which are connected to your IP address in order to send you dozens of personalised ads across numerous platforms.
But! Just because most people use Google for all their internet searching, doesn’t mean there are no other options out there. Companies with less capability and inclination for monitoring searches and targeting advertising at you.
The world outside of Google
Here is a list of the top six alternative browsers and their advantages and disadvantages.
1. Duck Duck Go– Duck Duck Go, the company, are privacy focussed. This goes for their browser too. This browser doesn't store your personal info. They don't target ads at you (meaning they aren't building a profile out of your search info). And they won't track you across websites!
2. Opera – Like many of the alternative browsers Opera has built-in ad blockers, which speeds up searches. It also includes a free VPN which adds another security dimension to your searches.
3. Mozilla Firefox – This works faster on mobile devices than Chrome but uses Chrome to protect users against malicious websites. However, as a non-profit it does not use ads for revenue and therefore there is little reason to collect data so it can be configured to block trackers, crypto miners, finger printers and cookies.
4. Firefox Focus – This browser blocks any adverts with cookie trackers as well as making deleting cookies a one-click option. This isn’t available on desktop, just mobile devices but using Firefox on desktop is an option although the settings need to be set to block cookies.
5. Tor – This is an ideal browser for hiding your online identity as it utilises layers of encryption and routes traffic through different locations to make tracking difficult. This browser is all about privacy. However, it can be suggested that activity through this browser could look ‘suspicious’ because of the anonymity it allows.
6. Ghostery - Potentially a lesser-known name on this list, Ghostery can be used as a browser on mobile devices or as a plugin for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. Its main benefit is that it blocks advertising and social media tracking tools.
Why should you use a safe browser?
Google Chrome, despite its popularity is not the most secure browser. Purely for the reason that it requires data in order to make money. Whereas the other browsers have different business models, as such data is not their primary source of income.
Secure browsers make you ‘safer’ online and potentially offer another layer of protection to your computer and your data. But it doesn’t negate the need for a firewall and anti-virus and anti-malware software.
Here at SupportWise we can help you make the right browser choices for your business including:
- Providing best practice when choosing a browser.
- Ensuring the browsers are kept up to date.
- Helping with legacy applications without compromising security.
We can offer support and assistance remotely and onsite so if you would like to discuss safe browsing options contact SupportWise today.