That not all browsers are the same is a fact, and determining which is the safest is not as simple as it might seem. There are many aspects to consider: what is the company’s position on privacy? What tracking technology used? What do you do with the information you collect?
You also need to make sure that your browser does not download viruses or malware and that it is also available for Android or your mobile phone. So, which is the safest browser, and which is the most suitable one for you? In this article, we guide you through the most popular browsers and show you why they are not safe. We also include a list of other better yet less well-known browsers.
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser for both computers and mobile devices, with more than half the global market rate in both categories. However, it also holds the record for the largest number of vulnerabilities discovered in 2016.
Did you know that Google is the owner of five of the tools of tracking and monitoring more frequent, or that the Google code is currently in the majority of accessible web pages that users visit? As for positive aspects, Chrome is the browser that launches security updates most frequently, taking only 15 days between them.
However, the most worrying aspect of Google Chrome is privacy. The company is known to collect and store all the information it can be about its users, mainly through its browser, and then use it to create custom ads. If you are determined to use Chrome and do not want to change your browser, a VPN can help you to be protected. Take a look here to the best VPNs for Chrome.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft IE has the second-highest market rate in computers but ranks fifth in mobile devices. Of the top five browsers, it was the second with the least vulnerabilities discovered in 2016, and the numbers have decreased considerably compared to previous years. However, it launches its security updates every 30 days-twice as long as Google Chrome and versions before IE11 no longer receive updates.
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox, the third most popular browser on computers, is right after Microsoft IE for vulnerabilities discovered in 2016. However, it barely surpasses Internet Explorer in terms of the frequency of its updates with its 28 days between them.
One of the biggest problems with Firefox is that it does not use sandbox technology, unlike other popular browsers. This, along with continuous architecture problems (including issues with JavaScript plugins), means that this popular browser will go down. If you’re determined to use Firefox, you’re interested in taking a look at these 20 supplements to improve your safety.
Other popular browsers
Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari occupy fourth and fifth place respectively in terms of popularity and market rate, and among them account for less than 10% of the computer browsers market. However, it is worth mentioning that Apple Safari is the second most popular mobile browser, with almost 30% of the market. Although not so popular, Apple Safari had the least number of vulnerabilities discovered in 2016. However, their security updates come out every 54 days; according to Microsoft’s own FAQ page, there is no update release period set for Edge.