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Safari vs. Chrome in 2024: Which is the Safest Web Browser for Mac?

Safari vs. Chrome are two of the most popular browsers in use today. The question is: which one values your privacy more ? To understand where each browser stands, our review team at VPNOverview tested both, specifically focusing on four key areas:

• Performance
• Ease of use
• Data privacy

The results were tighter than you may have thought. While there’s obviously a very subjective element to this, we put each browser through its paces and tried to be as objective as possible.

Whether you prefer Safari or Chrome for daily use, using a VPN can make your browsing experience safer and more private. We recommend  NordVPN as the best VPN, and it works just as well with both Safari and Chrome.

For a full understanding of the tests we performed and the features we looked at, check out our Safari vs. Chrome comparison below!

In the age of digital warfare, where your every click and scroll can be a battleground, choosing the right web browser is more crucial than ever. Safari and Chrome are two of the most commonly used browsers today.

As privacy concerns mount and data breaches become increasingly common, we pit these two titans of the browsing world against each other, examining their strengths and weaknesses to help you confidently navigate the treacherous online landscape.

Which is the best browser for Mac? Which is the safest web browser between the two? The results might just surprise you.

Safari vs. Chrome: Functionality and Feature Comparison

Safari vs. chrome: which browser is more secure.

It’s important to have a browser that keeps you secure online. An unsecured browser can expose you to keyloggers, malware, and other online threats.

With this in mind, the first stop in our Safari vs. Chrome comparison was to look at security. We considered points including:

• The frequency with which both Google and Apple fixed security flaws
• Whether each browser can help you to detect and avoid security risks
• How each browser managers your passwords and other credentials
• Any other added functionality, such as dark web monitoring

So, let’s look at how each browser can help to keep you secure.

1. Malicious website detection

Safari and Chrome both make use of Google’s Safe Browsing database . Think of this database as a dictionary of malicious web resources. Safari and Chrome reference the database to check whether you visit a safe website.

If you navigate to a website listed in the database, you’ll see a warning . While you can choose to continue, we recommend you follow the recommendations and steer clear. These websites can use social engineering tactics, like phishing, or install keyloggers and other malware onto your device.

Both Safari and Chrome also indicate when a website is HTTPS secured. Look for the little padlock icon in your browser’s URL bar. With all of the above in mind, Safari and Chrome are essentially tied to security at this point .

2. Password management

Dedicated password managers are a great solution because they can be used on multiple devices. But both Safari and Chrome have a built-in way to manage your passwords. On Safari, you can access Apple’s Keychain, while on Chrome, you can use Google Password Manager.

Like the best password managers , Safari’s Keychain integration remembers and stores your passwords so that you don’t have to remember them all.

When you visit a website or app, Keychain suggests and auto-fills your credentials. Google Password Manager effectively has the same functionality offered by Keychain, so we’re still at a tie between Safari and Chrome .

3. Security and vulnerability updates

While browsers are designed to be secure, hackers routinely exploit security vulnerabilities that make it through the QA process while releasing a new update.

Thankfully, security researchers are usually quick to identify these issues and flag them to Apple or Google. Both Apple and Google also offer generous bug bounty programs, rewarding users for identifying security flaws.

While both Apple and Google regularly patch security vulnerabilities and update their browsers, Chrome tends to do so more frequently. Chrome pushes out updates, on average, every couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Safari’s updates tend to come bundled with macOS or iOS updates, making them more infrequent. So, it’s Google Chrome that takes the crown here .

This is subjective because pushing out fewer security updates doesn’t always indicate better security. In some cases, it also reflects the overall security stack of Safari.

4. Support for security-focused extensions

Web extensions can completely personalize your experience with a browser. The best extensions for privacy and security significantly boost your privacy. These include VPN extensions, ad-blockers, anti-tracker tools, and cookie auto-delete software.

Bear in mind that certain extensions are only available on certain browsers. Thanks to the less-stringent rules around third-party applications, Chrome tends to have a broader selection of extensions, which may expose you to certain privacy risks of browser extensions .

Safari is the winner here , as Apple supports Safari extensions to iOS on mobile. Remember, we’re talking about using Chrome on iOS or macOS, and Apple doesn’t support Chrome extensions for its products.

5. Private browsing modes

Private browsing modes in internet browsers offer increased security compared to “regular” browser windows. Both Safari and Chrome offer a private browsing function, but you should know about the data collection policies between normal and private mode .

Safari Private Browsing is Apple’s private mode, which will not save your search or browsing history . That said, it has its limitations. Websites can still see your IP address , and your ISP (internet service provider) can still see your search history .

Chrome offers Incognito Mode , which has the same benefits and drawbacks as Safari’s private mode. Chrome sees your IP address, even in Incognito Mode.

However, even if you’re using a VPN , Chrome will also let web services see your activity and your identity if signed into a web service like an email account. Chrome also remembers your location .

In effect, if you want true privacy, you need to be using one of the best VPN services — but remember our warning about Chrome. While this was a close competition, Safari wins here owing to Chrome’s increased scrutiny of your online actions, even in private mode.

What is the most secure browser?

In terms of security and privacy, Safari tends to offer the most secure experience. This is partly why macOS users typically suffer fewer malware infections than their Windows counterparts.

Safari picked up an additional win over Chrome, with better private browsing, but Apple also generally ensures a pretty watertight product all-around due to development restrictions.

However, Safari and Chrome are both very much everyday consumer products. If you want maximum security, check out our list of the best web browsers for privacy .

Safari vs. Chrome: Which Browser is Faster?

Speed is important when it comes to browsing. We compared Safari vs. Chrome in a speed and general performance test. This included looking at aspects like:

• How each browser responds under heavy use
• How each browser handles graphics-intensive websites

To test the performance between Safari and Chrome, we used three applications: JetStream 2, MotionMark, and Speedometer. We ran these applications on a MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and a 1.8 GHz Dual Core Intel Core i5 CPU. Our results are below.

1. Javascript performance testing with JetStream

Javascript is a programming language that handles most script processing behind the scenes on most webpages. This includes content changes, user interactions, mouse pointer movements, and more.

JetStream runs a suite of tests to see how well a browser performs during periods of high Javascript activity. In the JetStream test, a larger score means better performance. Here’s how the two tests measured up:

Chrome’s score of 96.774 puts it just slightly ahead of Safari, scoring 93.217. This suggests that Chrome should perform better when running sites or apps with complex Javascript functions, though the gap is only marginal.

2. Graphics performance with MotionMark

The more complex a webpage, the slower it loads, as your browser has to render every element on the page. MotionMark is a tool that checks how well your browser handles intense tasks that use your browser and the device’s graphics capabilities.

Chrome scored 357.01 in the graphics performance tests. Meanwhile, Safari managed to surprise us, scoring 425.67. Regarding user experience and the responsiveness of complex applications, Safari should provide a smoother experience.

3. Responsiveness with Speedometer

Speedometer simply measures the responsiveness of web applications. The tool simulates user interactions, timing how long these actions take to complete. In these tests, which cycle 480 times, the tool creates a to-do list, adds multiple items, checks them off, and loops back to the beginning.

We started with Chrome, which scored 91.4 with Speedometer. But when we moved over to Safari, it was immediately obvious that the test was struggling. Safari scored just 66.7 by comparison, with Chrome coming out on top.

Memory Saver in Chrome

If you’re running a lot of tabs, you may have noticed a performance dip. The browser consumes more RAM, eating more memory and slowing down your computer. In Google Chrome, a feature called Memory Saver can help you avoid this sluggish performance, even though Chrome is notorious for hogging RAM.

If you leave a tab open but don’t interact with it for a while, Chrome puts it in a rest state. This frees up CPU memory to perform other tasks. But you can still return to that tab later and continue where you left off.

What is the fastest browser?

The results of our Safari vs. Chrome performance and speed tests speak for themselves. Chrome performed better than Safari when it came to performing complex, fast-paced actions and general responsiveness. Moreover, with features like Memory Saver, Chrome can help keep you working faster.

While Safari outshones Chrome with graphics performance, Chrome is the overall winner . This is why power users who use multiple different Google apps will often choose it over Safari.

Safari vs. Chrome: Which Delivers the Better User Experience?

Ease of use is difficult to analyze and compare, as it’s often quite subjective. Die-hard Apple fans will probably get on well with Safari, as it’s more familiar. The same applies to Chrome and Google fans.

To gauge user experience, we looked at the following points:

• Multiple tab and window management
• Cross-platform support from desktop to mobile
• User settings and customizations

1. Working in multiple tabs

Opening multiple tabs is common when you need to do research or work. The problem is it can be easy to get lost when you’re using multiple windows. So, we looked at how tab management works in Safari and Chrome .

Tab management in Chrome using Tab Groups

When opening multiple tabs in Chrome, we found that things can get a bit messy . The more tabs you have open, the harder it becomes to find your place. Everything gets sort of squished together until you can only see the site’s logo.

However, you can add tabs to groups for better organization , which lets you cluster related tabs together. You can easily switch between groups to focus on one particular task simultaneously. This works differently depending on whether you’re using a computer or a mobile device.

On Chrome for desktop, set up tab groups by following the below steps:

• Hold “ Ctrl ” and right-click on a tab.
• Hover over “ Add tab to group ” and click “ New group .”
• Name the group and choose a color.
• Click “ Enter ” to save the group.
• Click on the group to collapse or expand all tabs.

If you want to group tabs on Chrome mobile , tap on the “Tabs” button in the upper-right corner of your screen. Long-press one tab and drag it on top of another to group them.

Tab management in Safari

Safari isn’t getting left behind by Chrome here. You can also group tabs on Safari for desktop — but only if you’re up to date with your operating system software.

This feature was introduced by macOS Monterey and released at the end of 2021. Upgrading to this version isn’t always possible for people with older devices or low memory .

• Open Safari on a computer.
• Click on “ File ” while you have Safari open.
• Click “ New Tab Group with X Tabs ,” where X represents the number you currently have open.

You can follow the same logic on iPhones. On mobile, the latest version of iOS sees Safari stack all tabs like a deck of cards. Unless you set up Tab Groups, you’ll have to scroll through them all to find what you’re looking for.

• Open Safari on the app.
• Long-press a tab until a menu appears.
• Select “ New Tab Group .”

• Now, you can click the Tab Group name at the bottom to swap between groups .

Navigating between tabs

Both Safari and Chrome offer additional options for keeping on top of your tabs. In Safari, you can search through tabs by clicking “ View ” and then Tab Overview for a grid view with a search bar. In Chrome, type “@tabs” into your URL bar, click the “Search tabs” button and run your search.

All in all, both browsers offer useful ways to manage your various browser windows. So, we really had to look closely to pick a winner or draw a tie. In the end, Chrome takes the lead here .

Apple’s tab grouping functionality relies on you having the latest iOS software, plus you can’t set them up as quickly by simply Ctrl-clicking on a tab.

2. Working across multiple devices

Integration between devices is continuously improving, making it extremely easy to switch from your desktop to mobile and carry your work along. This is more evident when using other products in the Apple or Google ecosystems. With multiple Apple devices, you can quickly pick up and continue work on one device from another.

If you’re an iPhone user, then you’ll be right at home with Safari , as it integrates with the Apple ecosystem. If you’ve got an iPhone or iPad, you can easily pass your desktop Safari tabs to your mobile device and continue browsing.

Apple Pay can also be used cross-platform, and you can verify purchases made on a desktop with your mobile phone’s biometrics.

When you have multiple tabs open, passing tabs between devices is simple. Enable Handoff on your Mac and mobile device first to make sure this works:

• Open “ Settings ,” then “ General ” on your mobile device.
• Click “ Handoff ” and ensure it’s switched on.
• Now, go to “ System Preferences ” and then “ General ” on your Mac.
• Again, find the checkbox to “ Enable Handoff .”

• You’ll see an option to pull the tabs from your Mac.
• If you want to move tabs in the other direction, look for the mobile icon on the Safari app in your dock.

That said, there are benefits to Chrome that are lacking in Safari. While iPhones are hugely popular, more people own Google Home devices — and streaming devices like the Google Chromecast — than those who own Apple’s smart home device. Apple’s foray into the smart home market never really took off in the same way.

This is where Google Chrome shines. If you have a Chromecast or Google Nest, you can cast videos or entire webpages to your big screen by simply right-clicking anywhere within the window.

And it’s for all of these reasons that we have to declare a tie for this section . The best browser for Mac in this particular situation comes down to your existing devices or the ecosystem you use.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you’ll find the experience on Safari far more seamless. If you use an Android smartphone or want to make the most of your Chromecast, Google Chrome is excellent.

3. Support for multiple languages

Sometimes, you might want or need to visit a website not intended for your country. Aside from potentially needing a VPN, there may well be a language barrier in these cases.

This is common among people who like to stream online with a VPN but can’t work out what anything on the website says. Remember, do check if streaming is legal or not before you access different sites.

We’re just going to say it outright: Google Chrome is generally superior in supporting multiple languages, thanks to the power of Google Translate. Both Safari and Chrome can translate webpages from one language to another. But Google is miles ahead in the translation space.

To put this to the test, we got a Chinese IP address with Intego Privacy Protection, one of the best VPNs for Mac . We then loaded up several popular Chinese shopping websites we had no hope of understanding. While Google Chrome offered to translate the page, Safari did not.

4. Pop-up advert blockers

Pop-ups are not just annoying, but sometimes they can be malicious, too. Safari has native pop-up blocking built into the software. You can enable it by opening Settings or Preferences and then blocking some or all pop-up adverts.

Chrome is configured to block pop-up adverts by default. It’ll indicate when this happens with a small icon in the address bar. If, for any reason, you want to enable pop-up adverts, you can simply go into Settings , Permissions , then Pop-ups and redirects .

This is a fairly simple and standard feature, but it’s good to see that each developer has included it natively. So, it’s a tie in this section .

What is the most user-friendly browser?

For general ease of use, Chrome won over Safari in more sections . But as we mentioned, usability is subjective and largely influenced by the other devices you already own.

People who use Apple’s products may find Safari easier to get on with. Not to mention, you could miss out on features by using Chrome, including Handoff and Apple Pay integration.

Safari vs. Chrome: Which Offers Better Data Privacy?

There’s big money in data, so companies will often collect as much user information as they can get away with. But giving away your data can come with privacy risks, which is why we’re huge advocates of using a VPN to encrypt your data .

With this in mind, we wanted to understand the following:

• How much data Safari and Chrome gather
• How they protect your data

1. Personal information collected by Chrome and Safari

Under the guise of “improving your future browsing experience,” Safari has been known to gather certain information about you and your habits. This includes:

• Browsing history
• Browser cache
• Download history
• Login credentials via cookies

Safari also offers a feature known as Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement. When enabled, this feature essentially supports advertising. Marketing agencies will be sent data relating to adverts you’ve interacted with, but all identifiable information is stripped out.

Chrome also has Do Not Track for tracking protection. But while Apple gathers limited data, we found Google tends to gather more specific data . Google is well-known for gathering a lot of data through its various services, and Chrome is one of its most prolific apps. Some of the data gathered by Chrome includes:

• Your IP and location
• Search and browsing history
• User identifiers
• Product interaction data

What’s more, unlike Safari, Firefox, and Edge, Chrome is said to tie this data to individuals and devices . As a result, we have to declare Safari the winner on this front .

2. Protection of your personal data

While Safari can see your IP address, even in Private Browsing mode, it isn’t shared. Safari has built-in Intelligent Tracking Prevention that uses machine learning to prevent trackers.

It also has a feature that prevents cross-site tracking and limits ad trackers from working. In their privacy policy, Apple says that they may share your personal data with Apple-affiliated companies, partners, developers, and publishers.

According to their privacy policy, Apple has never allowed government agency access to personal data and never will.

While Google follows data privacy legislation, your data does tend to be used more freely for advertising purposes. According to Google’s Safety Center, your data might be anonymized and used to drive targeted ads. This is partly why you’ll often see many online adverts for products you’ve recently discussed or looked at.

As a result, Safari wins here , though it’s partly a question of user experience and the annoyance that can come with ad bombardment.

What is the most private browser?

Both Google and Apple typically fight to retain user privacy. There have been numerous high-profile instances of these companies resisting requests for data from government and law enforcement agencies.

However, owing to Google’s reputation for data gathering and its use in targeted advertising, Safari wins overall on data privacy .

Safari vs. Chrome: Final Thoughts

We looked at four main comparison areas in our Safari vs. Chrome review. In conclusion, each browser won on two sections, making for an overall tie.

This is reflective of our experience with Safari and Chrome. Both are good web browsers that offer a great user experience and strong privacy and security features.

That said, the caveat is that this is a highly subjective area . It also heavily depends on what devices you’re already using .

If you’ve got a Google Pixel, the full suite of Google smart home products, and a Chromecast, you might find Safari tough to get used to.

Similarly, if you’re a die-hard Apple fan with numerous Apple devices like a Mac, iPhone, and iPad, you’ll miss out on a load of cool features if you use Chrome as your main browser.

So, to summarize, we’ll leave you with this quick reference table that should help you make a choice. The table contains our browser recommendations depending on your situation.

Key Takeaways

• Chrome generally performed better in our tests
• Chrome offers superior multi-language support and device casting
• Cross-platform use feels more seamless with Safari
• Apple fans who use Chrome miss out on cool cross-platform features
• Overall, Chrome beat Safari in more categories, making it the  best browser for Mac  in most scenarios

If you have questions about whether to choose Safari vs. Chrome, check out some of our previous answers below!

In our Safari vs. Chrome testing, Safari excelled in certain areas compared to Chrome. For example, Safari was better for general data privacy and processing activities with a high demand on graphics.

However, Chrome excelled in other areas, including user experience and overall performance.

You can use either browser on iPhone, but we recommend using Safari . One of the main reasons people choose Chrome is for its extensive extensions support.

However, Apple doesn’t allow you to install Chrome extensions on iOS . So, for an iPhone or iPad, Safari works best. There are other privacy-focused browsers you can pick too!

Safari and Chrome deliver a similar experience, with many shared features that lead to there being little different. Most of the differences come in the form of integrations with other Apple or Google products.

For example, if you use Safari, you can “Handoff” Safari tabs, passing them from one device to another. If you use Chrome, you can cast almost anything to a Chromecast.

Chris Bluvshtein Author

Senior journalist.

Chris is a tech journalist with many years’ experience covering online privacy and cybersecurity. He’s also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.

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Nothing against Safari other then its solely tied to Apple devices only. I am a multi-platform user so Chrome makes more sense seeing it can run on many different non Apple operating systems. WebKit is also going the way of Gecko with its own browser engine vs Chromium which is now the most used browser engine. If Apple didn't force IOS browsers to use WebKit and allow Chromium engine WebKit would be way less popular.

Hi John! Thank you for sharing. It's completely understandable that cross-platform users like yourself would choose Chrome over Safari. As you say, Safari is definitely great for Apple fans, but harder to use elsewhere.

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• Browser Reviews

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• Usually pretty fast
• Intuitive user interface
• Default for Mac & iOS

Safari Review

Safari is Apple's native browser for Mac and iOS. The browser marketplace has become pretty competitive, and there are a host of other browser options you could use instead of Safari. But the question is, should you? Read our Safari review to find out.

All Mac and iPhone users will be familiar with Safari — it’s Apple’s native web browser and has been around since 2003. Apple has taken Safari through 15 major updates, but that’s not to say it’s the best browser out there. After all, the browser market is a competitive one. Should Safari be the go-to for Apple users? Well, read our Safari review to decide.

There’s a lot we like about Safari — both on Mac and iPhone. It’s straightforward to use, integrates well with Apple’s applications and looks sleek and crisp. However, Safari is far from perfect, with the lack of browser extensions being a particular weakness. 

Key Takeaways:

• Safari is the native browser for Mac and iOS devices. It’s got a clean design and is straightforward to use. 
• Safari ranks pretty high for privacy and security, but it lacks the customizable features and add-ons that you get with other browsers.
• The big win for Safari is its integration capabilities. It syncs effortlessly across your Apple devices and you can use Apple Pay in-browser. 

Ultimately, our take on Safari is that it depends on what you need. If you’re a lover of Apple devices who wants to browse the web for fun and research purposes, then Safari is probably enough. However, if you’re looking for a personalized, customized and enhanced web browsing experience, you may want to consider other providers.

Cloudwards completed a fresh review of Safari. Since our last review, Safari has updated its design, but its features remain unchanged.  Testing: MacBook running OS Monterey and an iPhone running iOS 14.8.1. 

Safari Review: Alternatives

Safari Review: Strengths & Weaknesses

• Usually pretty fast 
• Intuitive user interface 
• Default for Mac & iOS
• Limited extensions library 
• Only available on Apple 
• Customization not obvious 

Safari encourages continuity. One of its standout features is the fact that, if you’re an iPhone, iPad and Mac user, you can work seamlessly across your Apple devices. This is because Safari takes advantage of iCloud syncing features. Essentially, rather than storing data locally on your device, Safari stores your data in the cloud. 

If you’re signed in with your Apple ID across your Apple devices, you can switch from device to device without your browser session being interrupted (to an extent). For example, you can favorite a web recipe on your phone and then access it on your Mac. 

We also like that you can sync passwords across your devices — although, this isn’t actually down to Safari, but Apple’s iCloud Keychain software. 

While this interoperability is a definite benefit, it has its limitations. Sure, favorite websites and bookmarks transfer, but you can’t sync your settings or open tabs across devices. 

Features on Mac

Safari covers the essentials well for Mac devices. It has a sleek, minimalist design and is intuitive to use on a desktop. While there are customization features, they’re kind of muted and hard to find.

In the right-hand corner of the browser start page, you’ll find a settings icon that enables you to lightly edit the appearance of your start page — whether you view your favorites, privacy report and so on. You can also upload your own background image from the start page. 

These few features are pretty basic — and so is the functionality of the desktop browser. While it’s good for basic browsing, if you want to harness the power of a library of extensions, Safari falls short. 

That’s not to say that Apple doesn’t offer extensions for Safari. It does, but the library certainly isn’t as vast as open-source competitors like Firefox ( read our full review of Firefox here). 

There are big names in the Apple extension store that are perfect for consumer browsing — we were able to install well-known favorites like Honey, 1Password and Grammarly. However, a lot of Safari’s extensions are, well, built for Safari. Apple’s app store has a bias to it, whereby a lot of the extensions are available only for Safari. 

If you’re an Apple devotee, there’s nothing to worry about — especially if you’re a family of Apple users. We like that the company has robust parental control settings that are easy to customize.

Parents can easily configure a secure browsing experience for their children without having to download any extensions. We have a comprehensive guide on how you can set parental controls on iPhones and iPads.

On Mac, for example, you can do this by clicking “system preferences” and then the screen time icon. Once on this page, you can select controls relating to app restrictions, content restrictions and downtime. 

Features on iOS

Safari is also solid on iOS, although it lacks the wow factor of competitor home screens like Google Chrome. While the Chrome mobile app, for example, automatically shows you the latest trending news on the home screen, Safari opens up as a gray, static canvas of your favorite websites and frequently visited pages. 

We don’t want to imply that this is a bad thing, though. It all depends on what you’re after from your mobile browsing experience. Moreover, iOS shines in its syncing and communication capabilities. If you see a website or article you like, you can easily share it with your phone contacts in just a couple of clicks across applications like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

You can also easily bookmark iCloud tabs, add them to favorites and save them to your home screen with a single tap for later use. 

Ease of Use

Safari’s interface is a bit like Marmite — you either love it or you hate it. Mac devotees will likely find Safari intuitive to use, but that’s partially due to previous experience with Safari. Because it comes preloaded on Apple products, there’s no learning curve.

For Chrome users, the Safari start page could be a little jarring. Gone are the bells and whistles of a center-space search bar and the latest news stories. Instead, you’re greeted with a minimalist gray interface featuring your reading list, favorite pages and a block of your most visited sites. 

Ease of Use on Mac

Safari’s user interface is pretty easy to get your head around. The address bar is at the top of the screen, and your tabs appear underneath it in chronological order. Above the address bar, you can find all the usual suspects that you’d expect from a browser, like your history, bookmarks and edit options. 

One nice feature is the “tab overview” function in the top right-hand corner, which zooms you out of your tabs so you can see all your sites at a high level. If you’re someone who uses lots of research tabs for school or work, this is really handy. 

Another slightly hidden feature of Safari for Mac is the tab group feature. In the top left-hand corner of the Safari screen, you’ll see a page icon. Click this and a panel will appear on the left-hand side of your page. From this panel, you can create tab groups, where you can save a group of web pages to be opened at a later date. 

Ease of Use on iOS 

It’s a similar story on iOS. The layout of Safari for mobile devices is intuitive and simple, with a search engine function embedded at the top of the homepage. The one downside of Safari on iOS is that tab management is a little clunky. 

Every time you open a new tab, it gets added to a card deck tab list, which can easily become overwhelmingly long if you’re not careful about closing tabs that you no longer use. 

While apps like Chrome will let you know how many tabs you have open, it’s a bit of a guessing game with Safari and it’s easy to lose track if you click links with websites that open new tabs. 

Safari offers a private browsing option that’s super easy to find — we would say easier to find than in its mobile app competitors. By tapping the “open new tab” option, you’ll automatically see a “private” browsing option in the bottom left-hand corner of your mobile screen. 

Safari’s Integration With Apple Devices

So far, Safari seems to be doing OK in the browser game, but Apple really makes up for things when it comes to its native browser’s integration capabilities. Apple Pay, for example, is one of the best features of using Apple. With macOS expMonterey on a relatively new MacBook Pro, we can use Safari to pay for transactions with a quick and effortless touch ID feature. 

It’s a similar picture on iPhone, where Safari and face ID combine for an effortless checkout experience. Of course, this functionality depends on the e-commerce website you visit. Not all merchants offer Apple Pay, but it is a nice touch when they do. 

Saying this, we’re also aware that most browsers give you the option to save your credit card details, but there is something glitzy about the touch ID and face ID capabilities of Safari and Apple Pay that appeals — even if it is slightly gimmicky. 

We also like that Safari enables you to effortlessly email or call a website you’ve visited by clicking these details. On iOS, you’ll be able to immediately call the number; on Mac, the email address will open up in Apple Mail. 

Performance

Safari’s performance is, for the most part, superb on both Mac and iOS. We tested Safari’s speed, compared to Chrome on Mac, to see how it performed. 

We used BrowserBench’s trio of tests — Speedometer 2.0, JetStream 2 and MotionMark — each of which analyzes a different aspect of the browser. Read our review of the fastest browsers here. 

We performed the tests on a MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 CPU running at  2 GHz. It’s worth noting that the strength of your internet connection can impact the browser speed, so keep that in mind when reviewing the results, which were as follows.

Benchmark Test Results

With Speedometer, Chrome came up tops. Its reading was 122.05, compared to Safari’s 113.8. This means Chrome is the faster option, but Safari is still pretty speedy. The difference is negligible and we haven’t noticed it with either browser. 

On JetStream, Chrome came in at 118.675, with Safari taking a slight lead with a reading of 125.705. This indicates that Safari is solid for handling more complex JavaScript workloads.

However, with MotionMark, which tests the graphics capabilities of the browser, Safari’s result was 356.31, while Chrome’s was 403.6. MotionMark is all about testing the user experience — how a browser responds and performs in terms of graphics and responsiveness. 

Safari’s Improved Performance on Apple Devices

While Chrome takes the lead here, we have to say that we haven’t noticed a clear difference in the user experience while using Chrome compared to Safari. Although, if you’re into gaming on your browser, you may find Chrome preferable. 

So, while Chrome may be faster, Safari’s performance is still excellent. From an efficiency perspective, Safari is also better than other browsers that are based on Chromium (take a look at our Chromium review ). This is because of Safari’s lightweight design, which means it needs less RAM than other providers. 

This difference is exemplified the most by tab usage. If you’re familiar with the MacBook Pro “fan whir,” then be wary of opening too many Chrome tabs at once. 

While we can open an unlimited number of Safari tabs without experiencing the whir, if we open too many Chrome tabs, it will trigger the Mac’s fan. If you want more on the battle of Chrome vs Safari, read our full review . 

Safari isn’t bad in terms of security, but it’s not amazing either. While the browser uses Google’s Safe Browsing database to prevent phishing and malware, its pop-up ad blocker seems to fall short. 

We’ve visited many news websites and found that ads have interrupted our browsing experience. We’d recommend downloading an additional pop-up ad blocker extension to impede this. 

Another thing to bear in mind is that Safari’s updates are few and far between. While competitor search engines like Google Chrome mandate security updates roughly every two to three weeks, Safari security updates are less frequent at anywhere between four and six weeks. 

These security updates tend to contain critical patches that correct vulnerabilities in the browsing software. Left too long without a patch, cybercriminals could take advantage of these security weaknesses, which is why we recommend using the best VPN for Safari .  

Finally, as noted earlier, Safari’s integration with Apple devices makes password management super simple. You don’t need to install an extra password manager; Safari automatically stores your passwords in the iCloud Keychain. 

As an added bonus, Safari also features dark web monitoring. This alerts you if your password or email address has appeared in a data breach, and asks you to change the password. 

Hidden in Safari’s “preferences” section are a range of basic privacy features that are automatically enabled, such as tick-box options to prevent cross-site tracking, hide your IP address and block all cookies. 

Safari doesn’t boast these features. You have to look to find them. but it’s encouraging to know that they are enabled by default, as opposed to users having to opt in for better privacy. 

On your start page, you’ll even see a feature called “privacy report,” which highlights how Apple’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention functionality has identified and blocked website trackers from tracking you. 

Safari Browser Review: The Verdict

Ultimately, Safari is a robust browser choice for both iOS and Mac users. If you’re a big Apple fan, then using Safari makes sense for basic browsing — especially given its seamless integration with other Apple functions like iCloud and Apple Pay. 

However, if you’re looking for high degrees of customization and personalization, then Safari’s minimalist interface and handful of extensions will feel limiting. 

We’d love to know what you think of Safari. How do you think it compares to other browsers? Is Safari your go-to browser, and if so why? Let us know in the comments! Thank you for reading.

Safari feels intuitive to use and covers the basics well. However, it lacks the features and vast extension libraries of its competitors.

Safari is pretty secure because it uses Google’s Safe Browsing database to protect you from phishing and malware. It also automatically blocks suspicious websites and pop-ups by default.

This depends on your needs. If you’re looking to add a range of extensions to your browsing experience, or are particularly security conscious, you’ll be better off with Google Chrome. However, if you are an avid Apple fan and want a fast, seamless user experience across all your Apple devices, Safari won’t disappoint.

Safari isn’t outdated in our view. It offers a range of elements that make it perfect for day-to-day browsing needs.

I love Safari! However,I have a problem going into Safari when I updated something on my iPhone

Safari 16.0 does not update websites that has been just updated by myself. It shows web page that was downloaded initially.

After the update, Safari doesn’t load on my homepage. I work back & forth and need it located in my dock & minimize on my homepage.

I like Safari it suits me

I have given up running Safari on my Airbook with the M.2 chip. With nearly every update to the Sedona operating system, Safari stops working (locks up repeatedly) for several weeks. I have switched to FireFox for less problematic browsing.

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• The Best iPhone VPN in 2022: Protect Your iOS Mobile Device
• Safari vs Chrome in 2024: Performance, Speed and Features Compared

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RestorePrivacy

Resources to stay safe and secure online

12 Secure Browsers That Protect Your Privacy in 2024

A secure browser that protects your privacy is a critical tool for staying safe online and keeping your data secure from third parties. We have been reviewing, testing, and ranking browsers for the past six years and this guide contains the latest recommendations for 2024.

Do you want a secure browser that truly keeps your data private? Well, you may be surprised by how much of your data is actually getting exposed.

WARNING : Many browsers today are actually data collection tools for advertising companies . This is the case for Google Chrome, the largest and most popular browser. By collecting data through your browser, these companies can make money through their advertising partners with targeted ads. We see this same privacy-abusing business model with search engines, email services, and even free mobile apps.

Unless properly configured, most browsers contain lots of private information that can be exploited – or simply collected – by various third parties:

• Browsing history: all the websites you visit
• Login credentials: usernames and passwords
• Cookies and trackers: these are placed on your browser by the sites you visit
• Autofill information: names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

And as we will explain further below, using “private” or “incognito” browsing will not protect you . Your IP address will remain exposed and various third parties can still track all of your activities. And even legal action may not protect you. Here is a recent headline related to a lawsuit against Google for capturing data from users who are in Incognito mode. This case has been going on for years now and isn’t close to resolution yet.

And even with a locked-down and hardened browser, exploits may still be found that expose your data and possibly your identity. For example, in 2021 there was a spate of zero-day exploits in Google Chrome with various effects up to allowing hackers to remotely execute code on affected systems. We discuss some other privacy issues (and solutions) in our guides on browser fingerprinting and also WebRTC leaks .

But don’t panic. Effective solutions and tools exist to deal with these problems and we cover them in detail in this article. In this browser security and privacy guide, we’re going to explain the following topics:

• Best secure browsers that respect your privacy
• Problems with other browsers
• Browser privacy compartmentalization
• Secure browser add-ons
• “Private browsing” mode is NOT very private (and why you need a VPN in addition to a secure browser)

Incognito / Private browsing mode still leaves you EXPOSED

When using “private” or “incognito” browsing mode in your browser, your real IP address and location are still being revealed to every website, ad, and tracker that loads in your browser. Additionally, all your activities remain visible to your internet service provider (ISP). And at least here in the United States, ISPs log everything you do online and share the data with many other parties. This is why it’s critical to use a good VPN for basic digital privacy .

The best way to achieve true privacy while hiding your real IP address and online activities is to use a secure browser together with a good VPN . This protects you at both ends of the line, and in the middle too.

The secure browser will protect you as described in this article, while the VPN will protect your identity by hiding your real IP address and location. The VPN will also encrypt your traffic so your ISP (and any other snoops out there) cannot see your activities online. Here are our top three recommendations from the  best VPN list that we have tested and reviewed:

• NordVPN : A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features, built-in ad blocker, and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama (see the 69% off coupon ).
• Surfshark VPN : A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in The Netherlands.
• ExpressVPN – This is a secure and reliable VPN that boasts some great privacy features and also works well for streaming. It is based in the British Virgin Islands.

Now let’s examine the most secure browsers you can combine with a VPN for maximum privacy .

Secure browsers that protect your privacy

In this section we will examine the best browsers based on two main factors:

• Security : How well does the browser protect you from hackers, vulnerabilities, and online exploits?
• Privacy : How much data is the browser itself collecting about you and who is this data being shared with? How does the browser protect your privacy?

Conflicting opinions!  Just like with Tor , opinions about browser privacy and security can be wildly divergent and contentious.

This guide is not meant to sell everyone on one browser that beats all others. Rather, it is a summary of information about different web browsers that do well with both privacy and security. Choose the best browser for you based on your own unique needs and threat model.

Here are the most secure and private browsers for 2024:

1. Brave: The most secure and private browser (for both desktop and mobile)

Brave is arguably the most secure browser with simple, out-of-the-box privacy. It is a Chromium -based browser that is fast, secure, and privacy-focused by default . It has a built-in ad blocker and browser fingerprinting protection , while also giving you access to numerous add-ons and extensions. The main developer behind Brave is Brandon Eich , who formerly worked for Mozilla.

To summarize this browser, Brave is based on open-source Chromium, but configured for more privacy. It does well with its default privacy settings and extra features. Here is a brief overview:

• Blocks ads and trackers by default
• Protects against browser fingerprinting and even offers fingerprint randomization
• Built-in script blocker
• Blocks all third-party storage
• Easy access to the Tor network

One of the reasons we like Brave is because it offers simple, out-of-the-box privacy by default. This makes it ideal for those who do not have the time, patience, or know-how for browser customizations and tinkering. Brave can also be used with Chrome extensions, making it an ideal alternative for Chrome. Just download it and you’re good to go.

Tor network – Brave also has a feature that allows you to access the Dark web by simply opening a new window with Tor. We discuss this feature in our guide on how to access the Dark web safely .

Ads – Brave has received some criticism for its ads program , which allows users to “view non-invasive ads without compromising your privacy.” While some people find it hypocritical that a privacy-focused browser has its own ad program, we also see it as a secure funding source. And with many browsers financially struggling, it appears that Brave’s business model is securing this browser’s future and ability to continue to innovate its products.

Here are some more results of Brave’s continuing innovation:

• Brave has developed a private search engine called Brave Search , which is now the default search engine when you do a new installation of the Brave browser. In March of 2023, they added the AI-powered Summarizer to Brave Search.
• A cookie consent blocker , which at least partly frees you from the endless hassle of accepting or rejecting cookies at new sites you visit.
• Brave News , an RSS news reader.
• Brave Wallet , a built-in cryptocurrency wallet.

You can read more about Brave’s privacy features here .

https://brave.com

2. firefox (when modified and tweaked for privacy).

Firefox is a great all-around browser for privacy and security. It offers strong privacy protection features, many customization options, excellent security, and regular updates with an active development team. The newest versions of Firefox are fast and lightweight with many privacy customization options.

Out of the box, Firefox is not the best for privacy, but it can be customized and hardened, and we show you exactly how in our  Firefox privacy modifications guide. Be sure to disable telemetry in Firefox, which is a feature that will collect “technical and interaction data” and also “install and run studies” within your browser.

Within the Privacy & Security settings area, there are many useful customization options for different levels of privacy: Standard , Strict , or Custom .

Another great benefit of Firefox is the ability to use numerous browser extensions that can enhance your privacy and security. We’ll go over some of these extensions later in this article.

Firefox highlights:

• Open source code that has been independently  audited
• Active development with frequent updates
• Excellent privacy features and customization options
• Total Cookie Protection (TCP) to prevent cookies from tracking you as you move around the web
• Firefox View to easily return to recently used sites
• Built-in ad blocker
• Many browser extensions supported
• Telemetry and tracking need to be manually disabled
• Other modifications necessary for extra privacy and security

If you want to keep using older add-ons that are no longer supported by the latest Firefox release, you can go with the Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) . For those times when you want the maximum privacy viewing content on your Android phone, you could try  Firefox Focus .

For additional customization and privacy settings, check out our  Firefox privacy guide .

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox

3. tor browser.

Next up we have the Tor browser. The Tor browser is a hardened version of Firefox that is configured to run on the Tor network. By default, the Tor Browser is a secure browser that protects you against browser fingerprinting , but it also has some disadvantages.

Because it uses the Tor network, which routes traffic over three different hops, download speeds with the Tor browser can be quite slow . The default version may also break some sites due to script blocking. Finally, there are drawbacks to the Tor network itself. These include:

• Malicious/dangerous exit nodes
• High latency
• Many websites block IP addresses originating from the Tor network
• Dependence on US government financing, leading some to claim the Tor network to be fundamentally compromised

See the pros and cons of Tor here .

Another option is to use the Tor browser with the Tor network disabled. In this sense, the Tor browser will work like the other secure and private browsers we’ve covered above. Additionally, you can simply run a VPN in the background. Like the Tor network, a VPN will also encrypt your traffic and hide your IP , but it will be much faster.

There’s a new browser out there that takes exactly this approach. It is a collaboration between Mullvad and the Tor project, and you can learn more about it in spot #6 on this list.

Be careful when adjusting the settings for the Tor browser, however, as this may compromise the browser’s built-in privacy and security features.

https://www.torproject.org/

4. ungoogled chromium browser.

Ungoogled Chromium is an  open source project to provide a Chromium browser, without the Google privacy issues:

ungoogled-chromium is Google Chromium, sans dependency on Google web services. It also features some tweaks to enhance privacy, control, and transparency (almost all of which require manual activation or enabling). ungoogled-chromium retains the default Chromium experience as closely as possible. Unlike other Chromium forks that have their own visions of a web browser, ungoogled-chromium is essentially a drop-in replacement for Chromium.

UPDATE : Support for Ungoogled-Chromium has continued, but it has moved from its original github archive to the new archive linked below. It does require some technical skills to download this browser from the archives.

https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium

5. librewolf – a private and secure fork of firefox.

LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox that continues to grow in popularity. The project’s stated goals are to deliver a browser that is focused on privacy, security, and freedom. From the LibreWolf website :

LibreWolf is designed to increase protection against tracking and fingerprinting techniques, while also including a few security improvements. This is achieved through our privacy and security oriented settings and patches. LibreWolf also aims to remove all the telemetry, data collection and annoyances, as well as disabling anti-freedom features like DRM.

The website lists the main features of LibreWolf as:

• No Telemetry
• Private Search
• uBlock Origin pre-installed
• Enhanced Privacy
• Fast Updates
• Open Source code

LibreWolf is available for desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Open BSD. You can find installation instructions here .

One issue to keep in mind, however, is that there are no automatic updates. This means that you will need to manually update the browser, which is certainly a drawback to consider. Fortunately, LibreWolf frequently pushes these browser updates to the relevant archive managers, making it easier to update than it would otherwise be.

LibreWolf is always based on the latest version of Firefox. Updates usually come within three days from each upstream stable release, at times even the same day. Unless problems arise, we always try to release often and in a timely manner. – LibreWolf FAQ section

This is definitely a browser to consider for those wanting more privacy and security on desktop operating systems.

https://librewolf.net/

6. mullvad browser – a privacy collaboration between mullvad and tor.

When we talked about the Tor browser earlier in this article, we suggested using the Tor browser with the Tor network disabled and a quality VPN might be a better way to go than using the Tor network. We’re not the only people who feel this way. The Mullvad Browser is designed to do exactly this.

This privacy-focused web browser is a joint project between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. It incorporates the privacy benefits of the Tor browser such as tracker blocking and fingerprinting. But the Mullvad Browser isn’t designed to connect to the Tor network.

Instead of going through the Tor network, the Mullvad Browser is meant to be connected to the internet through a quality VPN. Obviously, the folks at Mullvad would love for you to use their browser with their VPN, but you don’t have to. In the image below I am using the Mullvad Browser to view our website through NordVPN.

This browser collaboration definitely has potential. To learn more about it, check out our recent article on this Mullvad – Tor project .

https://mullvad.net/en/browser

7. duckduckgo private browser (macos, ios, and android).

The DuckDuckGo private browser is available for macOS as well as mobile devices running iOS or Android. It comes with lots of privacy-focused features by default. According to DuckDuckGo, their browser offers:

• Built-in tracking protection
• Encryption upgrades via Smarter Encryption technology
• Easy data management and clearing options
• Fast speeds

Issues with Microsoft trackers

One important thing to be aware of is that security researchers previously discovered that DuckDuckGo’s browser allowed Microsoft trackers . According to DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg, this decision was based on a “confidential” agreement between DuckDuckGo and Microsoft.

Many people in the privacy community were outraged when the situation first came to light on Twitter here . There was clearly an element of hypocrisy going on here as we see DuckDuckGo castigate Google over the same practices. But last year, DuckDuckGo announced that they had reached an agreement to block Microsoft trackers.

Should you use DuckDuckGo’s privacy browser? I’d recommend that you consider some of the alternatives we recommend in this guide. That said, the changes DuckDuckGo has made to block the Microsoft trackers makes us much more comfortable with this browser. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

The DuckDuckGo private browser is available on both the Google Play and Apple stores.

8. Waterfox

Waterfox is a fork of Firefox that was maintained by just one person for many years. In February 2020, news broke that the developer of Waterfox sold out to a pay-per-click ad company called System1. However, in July 2023, news broke that Waterfox is once again independent:

I am happy to say that Waterfox is independent again. This change allows the community and myself to shape the browser’s future direction. Waterfox Blog

Putting all that aside, Waterfox is a great option for those wanting Firefox with out-of-the-box privacy.

Waterfox website >>

Private browsers worth mentioning (but not necessarily recommended).

Here are a few private and secure browsers that didn’t make our recommended list but we think are still worth mentioning.

9. Bromite (Android)

Bromite is a Chromium -based browser for Android  only (no desktop support). It comes with some great features by default, including ad blocking and various privacy enhancements.

Unfortunately, being a small project, Bromite suffers from infrequent updates . The last update was apparently in 2020!

Here are some highlights of this browser from the official Bromite website :

• The main goal is to provide a no-clutter browsing experience without privacy-invasive features and with the addition of a fast ad-blocking engine.
• Minimal UI changes are applied to help curbing the idea of “browser as an advertisement platform”.
• All patches are published under GNU/GPL v3 to enable other open source projects’ usage.
• Bromite is only available for Android Lollipop (v5.0, API level 21) and above.

Another cool feature I like with Bromite is that you can use custom ad block filters — learn more here . Bromite is under active development and remains a great browser for Android users.

https://www.bromite.org/

10. pale moon.

Pale Moon is another open-source fork of Firefox, which aims for  efficiency  and  customization . In testing out Pale Moon, it does offer different customization options, as well as support for older Firefox add-ons and its own lineup of add-ons. The design feels a bit dated, but it’s also not overly-cluttered and is lightweight and fast. Even more importantly, this secure browser is still being updated

Pale Moon is currently available on Windows and Linux, with other operating systems in development. Unlike other Firefox forks, Pale Moon runs on its own  browser engine ,  Goanna , which is a fork of Gecko (used by Firefox). This is an older engine that was previously used by Firefox, but has long since been replaced. Many argue that this older codebase is a security vulnerability. And it’s also worth noting that the development team is very small compared to more popular browsers.

Pale Moon website >>

11. gnu icecat.

GNU IceCat is a fork of Firefox from the GNU free software project. IceCat is entirely “free software” as defined here and also includes various privacy add-ons and tweaks by default. Here are the privacy-protection features listed on the IceCat page:

• HTTPS-Everywhere
• AboutIceCat
• Fingerprinting countermeasures

No updates – The big issue with GNU IceCat is that there do not appear to have been any updates since 2019 . This can expose IceCat users to security vulnerabilities, which is why we are no longer recommending it.

GNU IceCat website >>

12. iridium.

Like Brave, Iridium is a secure browser that is based on Chromium and configured for more privacy by default. The following excerpt from  Iridium’s website  provides a good overview of this secure browser:

Iridium Browser is based on the Chromium code base. All modifications enhance the privacy of the user and make sure that the latest and best secure technologies are used. Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords and metrics to central services is prevented and only occurs with the approval of the user. In addition, all our builds are reproducible and modifications are auditable, setting the project ahead of other secure browser providers.

Iridium is still being updated pretty frequently. However, it is not a widely-used browser, and there is no support for Android, iOS, or any other mobile devices.

Iridium browser website >>

Issues with other popular browsers.

While some browsers claim to be secure against vulnerabilities, they might not be the best choice from a privacy perspective.

1. Google Chrome

Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser. Unfortunately, it’s a data collection tool as well and not a good choice for anyone looking for privacy.

You can safely assume that everything you do through Google Chrome is collected, saved to your data profile, and used for targeted advertising.

2. Microsoft Internet Explorer/Edge

Edge is a Microsoft product.

Just like with Windows, it’s a good idea to avoid Microsoft products, including the discontinued Internet Explorer and its replacement, called Edge. Both those browsers are closed-source, so there’s no telling what’s going on behind the scenes, and they’re also not the best for privacy reasons.

3. Opera browser

Opera started off as a decent browser, developed in Norway. However, in 2016 it was sold to a Chinese consortium for $600 million – and a lot has changed. The following information from Opera’s privacy policy explained how user data was collected and shared when you used Opera products. This was enough to turn us off to this browser:

Opera also claims to offer a free VPN through the browser. However, as we covered in the Opera VPN review , it’s not really a VPN and does not offer full system-wide encryption. Additionally, your data is being collected when you use Opera browser and its “free VPN” feature.

4. Epic browser

Epic is a browser based on Chromium, created by “ Hidden Reflex ” which is based in India. Since 2014, Epic has been claiming they would open source the code, but it remains closed source today. What’s going on behind the scenes? How do they manage Chromium and remove invasive code? Who knows.

Just like with Opera VPN, Epic falsely claims to offer a “free VPN” through the browser, but this is not really true. The browser is merely routing traffic through a US proxy server. As we learned with Opera (and with many other “free proxy” services), proxies are often used for data collection (and they are often not secure ). When reading the Epic privacy policy, we find that data from “video download and proxy services” is being collected.

One person who analyzed Epic found it to be connecting to Google on startup. This suggests that Epic is not, in fact, de-googled as it claims.

There are many better Chromium-based browsers to consider.

5. Safari browser

Safari is the default browser for macOS and iOS devices. Overall, Safari is not a horrible choice in terms of privacy and tracking protection – but it also cannot be recommended for a few reasons:

• Apple is a partner in the PRISM surveillance program
• Apple was caught “hoarding” Safari browsing history – even after it was deleted
• Apple was found to be collecting Safari history even when used in private mode

On a positive note, however, Apple does somewhat better with privacy than other large companies. The Safari browser blocks third-party cookies by default and also implements cross-site tracking protection.

6. Vivaldi browser

Vivaldi is a Chromium-based browser with source-code modifications that can be seen here . It is less popular than other browsers, with less active development than Firefox, for example.

Reading through their Privacy Policy , I did find some concerning information about data collection and the use of unique IDs:

When you install Vivaldi browser (“Vivaldi”), each installation profile is assigned a unique user ID that is stored on your computer. Vivaldi will send a message using HTTPS directly to our servers located in Iceland every 24 hours containing this ID, version, cpu architecture, screen resolution and time since last message. We anonymize the IP address of Vivaldi users by removing the last octet of the IP address from your Vivaldi client then we store the resolved approximate location after using a local geoip lookup. The purpose of this collection is to determine the total number of active users and their geographical distribution.

You can read more about Vivaldi here .

Secure and private browsers on mobile devices

Many of the recommended browsers above also offer versions for mobile users on iOS and Android.

With that being said, here are some good options for mobile users:

• Firefox Focus

I also like using standard Firefox on mobile devices with customization and configurations for more privacy.

Browser privacy and compartmentalization

One problem that often comes with browser privacy and security is that people want to remain logged in to various accounts, while also browsing the web. But this is problematic. When you stay logged in to Gmail or Facebook, for example, their trackers can record your activity as you browse the web.

One potential solution to this problem is browser compartmentalization . This is when you use different web browsers for different online activities. For example:

• Browser #1 will only be used for accessing your online accounts that require a password. You can stay logged in with only this browser, and it won’t be used for general browsing.
• Browser #2 will only be used for web browsing, with various privacy configurations and no cookies or history being stored on the browser.
• Browser #3 could be completely locked down for maximum privacy and security.

You can also utilize different browsers, configured exactly the way you want, for various purposes, depending on your needs and threat model. The key is to keep the compartmentalization strict and not break the rules/uses for each browser.

Virtual machines – On the topic of compartmentalization, using virtual machines is also a good idea for both privacy and security. You can easily run Linux VMs through VirtualBox (FOSS) on your host computer .

Password managers – It should also be noted that storing your passwords in the browser may be risky depending on the browser you are using, especially since browsers may store passwords in cleartext. A better alternative would be to utilize a secure password manager . We have reviewed many popular options, including Bitwarden , Dashlane , LastPass , and more.

Browser add-ons for security and privacy

In addition to adjusting the settings within your browser, there are also a number of different add-ons or extensions you can install to improve your browser’s privacy and security.

Here are a few different options, but they may not all be supported by the browser you are using:

• uBlock Origin – This is one of the best browser-based ad blockers available that will also protect you against tracking.
• Cookie Autodelete – This will automatically delete cookies that are no longer needed from your browser.
• NoScript – NoScript allows you to customize exactly which scripts run on the websites you visit. Like uMatrix, this is for advanced users and requires lots of customization.

Warning : Be cautious about using third-party add-ons and browser extensions. There are many Chrome VPN extensions that are 100% free, but also very dangerous. Do your research first, since add-ons and extensions could function as spyware and data collection tools for third parties. This is especially true with free VPN services or browser proxy add-ons from questionable sources.

“Private” or “Incognito” browsing mode is NOT private (and why you need a VPN)

Many people falsely assume that using “private” or “incognito” mode in a browser actually provides some privacy. This is a false assumption.

Using “private” browsing mode only stops your browser from storing cookies, history, and passwords. But it doesn’t actually make you any more “private” to the outside world. Even when browsing in “private” or “incognito” mode, you are still exposed:

• Your internet provider can still see every site you visit . And note that internet providers are now forced to log web browsing activity of their customers and provide this data to authorities on request in many countries. In the United States, ISPs log everything and share the data with a huge network of third parties.
• Your real IP address and location remain exposed to all sites, ads, and trackers. This makes tracking and identification easy since your device has a unique IP address linked back to your identity through your internet service provider.

To easily solve these problems, we strongly recommend using a good VPN service . Using a VPN is simple. You just need to sign up for a VPN subscription, download the VPN app for your device, then connect to a VPN server and browse the web as normal. This offers many benefits:

• A VPN will securely encrypt your internet traffic, which prevents your ISP from seeing what you do online. (Your ISP will only see encrypted data, but not what you’re actually up to.)
• When you connect to a VPN server, the VPN server’s IP address and location will replace your real IP address and location. This allows you to appear to be anywhere in the world.
• A VPN will also allow you to access geo-restricted content, such as streaming Netflix with a VPN from anywhere in the world.

Below is a brief overview of our recommended VPNs. They have each come out on top in our testing for the respective VPN reviews .

• NordVPN : A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama (with a 69% off coupon ). See our NordVPN review here .
• Surfshark VPN : A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in The Netherlands. See the Surfshark VPN review .
• ExpressVPN – A fast, reliable, and secure VPN that also works well for streaming, but with above-average prices. See the ExpressVPN review for the pros and cons.

Short on money? There are also some good  cheap VPNs  that offer excellent features and performance, without breaking the bank. We also have detailed VPN comparisons. Our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN guide compares the top two providers.

Conclusion: Secure browsers and privacy in 2024

A well-configured secure browser is crucial for protecting your data if you want to browse the web with kind of privacy. But there are several good, secure browsers to choose from. So how do you do it?

Finding the best secure browser for you comes down to identifying the one that best fits your unique needs. Since this is a personal decision with subjective criteria, we can’t recommend a single option that is best for all use cases.

In truth, you need more than a secure browser that is configured to protect your privacy. To that browser you should add a quality VPN that will encrypt your traffic and hide your IP address.

You should also consider using a good ad blocker . Many ads include tracking code that companies can use to collect your browsing data and serve you targeted ads. If you aren’t blocking ads, your activities can be tracked by third-party advertising networks, which is not at all ideal.

Note : There are some VPNs that have built-in features to block ads and trackers. See our guide on VPN ad blocking for more info.

In terms of privacy, you may also want to protect yourself against browser or device fingerprinting and WebRTC browser leaks , which can expose your identity even when using a good VPN service.

Other roundup guides on RestorePrivacy:

• Secure Email Services
• Private Search Engines
• Password Managers
• Ad Blockers
• Best VPN Services
• Best Cloud Storage
• Best Secure Messaging Services

This secure browser guide was last updated on January 12, 2024.

About Sven Taylor

Sven Taylor is the lead editor and founder of RestorePrivacy, a digital privacy advocacy group. With a passion for digital privacy and accessible information, he created RestorePrivacy to provide you with honest, useful, and up-to-date information about online privacy, security, and related topics.

Reader Interactions

April 5, 2024

I’ve used every browser on this list, just to test them out for the best day-to-day web browsing (in privacy), and I stuck with Brave, because it gave me the fastest and most private web experience. No websites were broken, all videos played well, and websites loaded like greased lightning. Now I know why Brave is the most popular, and best private browser.

I will be uninstalling Brave browser for many of the same reasons.

[https://popzazzle.blogspot.com/2021/07/why-i-uninstalled-brave-browser.html]

I would heartily recommend the DuckDuckGo browser to anyone that wants a fast, lightweight browser that is great for privacy (ddg.gg/browser). Since January 2, 2024, they now have a Windows browser and a private password/bookmark sync.

As for the Microsoft tracker exception, you can read about it here: https://spreadprivacy.com/more-privacy-and-transparency/

Their third party tracker blocker blocks trackers from even starting to load. Because most ads rely on tracking, you will see hardly any ads. They have a full screen video player to watch YouTube videos without cookies and ads, a cookie consent manager, a built-in password manager, and an email alias generator that I used to post this comment.

DDG’s search engine is up to par, and it does not log IP addresses, put users in a filter bubble, tie your searches together, leak your search terms to the link you click on, or censor results deemed “disinformation”. It has many cool features such as bangs, (ddg.gg/bangs) instant answers, and an anonymous way to use ChatGPT/Claude.

Besides their rendering engine, (which is WebKit on MacOS and iOS, Blink on Android, and Microsoft Edge WebView2 on Windows) their browser code is written from scratch by their software engineers with privacy, speed, and simplicity in mind. All of their non-beta apps are open source, and their privacy protections are explained here: https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections/

April 3, 2024

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrio

Do NOT install Citrio browser. It is an adware web browser. It has that “free proxy” feature (surprise,surprise) and it downloads privacy-invading extensions in the background, and all users’ data is tracked and collected by Epom Ad Server for the purpose of selling ads. Don’t touch this browser with a 10 foot pole.

March 20, 2024

There are alternatives to FireFox. For example, like mentioned in the article/ review here LibreWolf is out of the box privacy. LibreWolf is hardened firefox like FireFox that is already tweaked for privacy. So it is a great option for FireFox enthusiasts / loyalists but unhappy about its financing and want privacy.

Then there is this Mullvad Browser in the picture. These men literally made a Tor browser without the Tor in it. It is great for maximum privacy out of the box. They even advise average users not to mess with default settings as it is already nicely configured. So Mullvad, Brave and LibreWolf are the only true private browsers in the market in my opinion. ( at least at the time I am writing this comment) I do not think there is a fourth one in the list. ( Tor is another category)

Also I don’t see that Sven Taylor mentioned Mull browser for Android. It is the same as LibreWolf but it is not LibreWolf – It is hardened FireFox only for mobile but has the same configuration as LibreWolf. You can sync with your desktop Firefox as well if you want to. Libre Wolf does not have a mobile app. LibreWolf users typically use Mull for mobile – available only in F droid ( Mull has nothing to do with Mullvad browser, they are two different entities Mullvad browser doesnt have a mobile app either)

March 18, 2024

Brave browser FTW. Firefox is looking more & more like Google every week. They receive funding from Google to use them as their default search engine (which is a joke, for a “private” browser). Firefox’s fingerprinting protection doesn’t work at all. It fails the “cover your tracks” test. Lots of people are switching to Brave for real privacy & security. If it wasn’t for Google funding, I think Firefox would bite the dust by now.

March 19, 2024

Brave is a decent browser but far from being a great browser. If Brave wants to be called a (true) private browser, in no way shape or form should it have Brave Rewards pocket. Being able to turn Rewards on & off, does not count, its that simple. Brave needs to go the extra mile and get rid of Rewards completely then it might be considered a private browser.

March 24, 2024

@Jerry The rewards or cryptocurrency feature you speak of is one of the ways Brave Tech makes money and they have to somehow unless you know of another way. However, users can shut the rewards feature off.

March 26, 2024

@Mike, you’re gaslighting. Brave’s priority is making money. If they were serious about your privacy and more, they’d have a “donate” button instead of enabling crypto rewards on by default.

@Jerry Here is a flow chart that breaks down the privacy protections for a variety of browsers (Brave is one of them). Brave is serious about privacy.

https://privacytests.org/

April 2, 2024

Looks like all the praise about Brave is not so great…people are complaining about Brave crashing without any cause (with exception of Win7 users) on both desktop and mobile platforms . The temp work around is to disable Shields and use uBlock Origin in its place. What a great browser, Brave sucks.

https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/1btcenu/brave_browser_crashing_problem_1_april_2024/

March 16, 2024

Brave is fast for sure, as most chromium browsers are. But Brave has the worst bookmark set-up ever, far worse than any other browser I’ve used (and no I don’t want a bookmark add-on). If Brave were to fix the bookmarks, get rid of Brave Shield or make it a deletable option, and completely do away with Brave Rewards pocket, then I might give it a thumbs up.

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Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Compared: Safari vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Edge on macOS in 2022

Safari vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Edge on macOS, compared.

The truth is, the perfect browser doesn't exist. Each of the four most popular macOS browsers has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, just based on the engine that's used for web rendering, and what the developers of the big-four have prioritized.

While the best browser for the individual varies on use case, and which websites behave the best on any given browser, there are a series of benchmarking tools that can measure performance on synthetic tasks.

Browser benchmarks

We tested each browser on three different testing platforms: JetStream 2, Speedometer, and MotionMark.

JetStream 2 is a JavaScript-benchmark that scores browsers based on how quickly they can start and execute code, which translates to faster JavaScript performance. Since JavaScript is used on most web browsers, it's a good test of snappiness for code-intensive sites.

MotionMark is a graphical browser testing suite that measures the ability to render complex web pages. Think a page that has complicated graphics and animations. A higher score results in smoother transitions and animations.

Speedometer 2.0 determines the responsiveness of a browser when running web applications. Among the three, it's the truest option for testing real-world performance across many popular websites and online services. A good example is adding tasks to a to-do list in a web app.

Chrome came out on top in JetStream 2 testing, while Safari took second place.

Safari was the fastest in MotionMark benchmark testing.

Speedometer testing showed off interesting results, with Firefox and Edge coming in first and second, and Safari in last place.

Different testing platforms result in different scores, so your own mileage may vary. Safari was the best for graphical performance, for example, but its responsiveness lagged behind others. Choose what specific metrics are most important to you.

For Mac users, Safari is an institution. It's the default browser on Apple platforms and is generally lightweight and efficient. As you'd expect for an Apple product, Safari also emphasizing privacy while you browser online.

From the very first boot on a new Mac, Safari is instantly available and configured for easy, private browsing. That makes it the best choice for the most non-technical among us, since you won't need to download and install anything. Safari "just works" out of the box.

It also features the tighest integration across Apple's other devices and systems. You can use Continuity to easy hand-off your browsing between your Mac and any iPhone or iPad you have around. If you need to buy something with Apple Pay , you can authenticate purchases with Face ID or Touch ID.

Safari also features some strong privacy protections, including mechanisms aimed at mitigating cross-site tracking and ad targeting. It features a built-in password manager that allows you to save and store passwords — with easy autofill options — across your Apple devices.

As an Apple-made product, Safari is the most convenient option on this list for Mac users — particularly those who own multiple Apple devices. It's also a good choice for the privacy conscious, though it isn't the fastest and it doesn't yet have a strong extension marketplace.

• Default Mac browser with effortless setup
• Strong privacy protections
• Integration with other Apple products
• Not the fastest or most responsive browser in some testing
• Lackluster support for add-ons and extensions

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a massively popular browser, and a particular favorite of those who routinely use extensions to customize their web experience. It's the most-used web browser in the world, and it's faster and more RAM-efficient than it used to be. Chrome is even currently speedier than Safari on macOS.

The browser also has one of the world's most extensive list of add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions. From plugins focused on online privacy or to video content downloaders, there are around 190,000 extensions in total to choose from. You can also choose from a number of different themes and customization options.

Intelligent Google-made features include automatic site translations and deep integration with the company's online tools and services — so it's great for those who rely on Gmail, Google Docs, or another Google service. Syncing between Google apps on different devices is also top-notch.

However, Google is a data company that relies on collecting information about its users. While the company has taken steps to bolster its privacy reputation, it's still a company that makes money on harvesting data. Those who are particularly privacy-conscious will probably want to look elsewhere.

It's hard to go wrong with the world's most popular web browser, particularly with its seamless workflow features and customization options. However, if you are even slightly concerned about online privacy, you may want to go with another option.

• Simple to learn, fastest option in some cases
• Syncs your Google account across other devices
• Extensive list of extensions and add-ons
• It's Google — so not that private
• Is a RAM and CPU hog

Mozilla Firefox is one of the only popular and mainstream browsers to have started life as an open source project. It's still a free and open source browser with a hefty focus on privacy and security, which could make it a good fit for those who want a Google Chrome alternative.

Because of its open source nature, users are free to explore Firefox's code — and they do. The browser doesn't have any hidden secrets or data-harvesters. It also features some excellent built-in privacy and security protections, including Enhanced Tracking Protection and an extensive list of customizable permissions.

Firefox was also the first browser to actually offer third-party extensions and add-ons. Although it might not have as many extensions as Google Chrome, you'll still find a hefty list of options ranging from privacy add-ons to customizable themes for your browser.

Although Firefox has some cross-platform integration between its app and built-in Pocket support, it isn't as seamless as Chrome or Safari. If speed if your primary concern, it's also important to note that Firefox isn't the fastest browser by most metrics.

Users who want an open source browser or are committed to Mozilla's mission of keeping the internet open and free will find a browser after their own hearts here. For the average user, however, another browser on this list might be a better fit.

• Completely free and open source
• Extremely customizable with extensions, themes, etc.
• The best option for hardcore privacy
• Not the fastest or most RAM efficient
• Synchronicity isn't as robust

Microsoft Edge is the spiritual successor to Internet Explorer that was first released in 2015. Originally HTML-based, Microsoft overhauled the browser to be based on Chromium, which is the same underlying software used to make Google Chrome.

As such, Microsoft Edge is now much more competitive than it used to be. It's far from a Google Chrome clone, but you should expect a similar level of performance from it. Some users believe that Microsoft Edge even feels snappier than Chrome on a Mac.

Because it's Chromium-based, Microsoft Edge also has a list of extensions similar to Chrome. It also sports a number of unique features, such as a "Collections" ability that lets you save information like text or webpages to a built-in notebook. There's also a vertical tab bar, a built-in read aloud feature, and an easy native screenshot tool.

It's a solid option for anyone that doesn't like Safari and wants an alternative to Google Chrome because of privacy reasons. If you use a Microsoft account like some use a Google account, then Edge might also be a solid option.

• Snappy, lower RAM and CPU usage
• Unique features like Read Aloud and Collections
• Good performance in most metrics
• Can be slower than Chrome in terms of pure performance
• Syncing isn't as strong as Safari or Chrome

The perfect browser doesn't exist, but you can pick and choose what you need

There's no clear answer for what the "best" browser on macOS is. However, some browsers are better suited to specific tasks than others.

When it comes to smooth JavaScript execution, Chrome is in the top spot with Safari a close second. Safari, according to the MotionMark testing, handles complex web pages better than any other browser.

Firefox, interestingly enough, may be the fastest when it comes to general everyday web apps.

Of course, there's also the issues of extension support, privacy, and synchronization across other devices. Many of the browsers are evenly matched on these metrics, but some excel in specific areas like privacy or cross-platform integration.

But, unlike on iOS, you aren't effectively stuck with one browser core technology. These four browsers, and several more, are available on macOS, and can be run in parallel.

While we don't recommend running all four unless you're a web developer or unit case tester, two or three different browsers can be run at-will, if any given browser doesn't handle your work case well.

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10 Most Secure Web Browsers in 2024: Ranked + Rated

Ranking Metrics for Measuring Secure Web Browsers

• #1. Firefox — The Best Web Browser for Windows 10, macOS, and Mobile Devices
• #2. Tor Browser — Best Browser for Anonymity
• #3. Brave — Best for Automatic Ad and Tracker Blocking
• #4. Pale Moon — Open-Source Browser with Tons of Customization Options for Advanced Users
• #5. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser — Excellent Privacy-Oriented Mobile Browser
• #6. Google Chrome — Fast and Secure (but Some Privacy Issues)
• #7. Bromite — Excellent Android Browser
• #8. Iridium — Chromium-Based Browser with Privacy Enhancements (But a Steep Learning Curve)
• #9. Microsoft Edge — Basically Chrome with Better Tracker Blocking
• #10. Waterfox — Privacy-Focused Browser

How Do I Stay Protected Against Cyber Threats?

Frequently asked questions.

I spent the last few weeks searching for the safest, most private, and most secure web browsers for PC, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux users. I then ranked each one based on a variety of metrics like overall security, ease of use, speed, and helpful extra features.

Because there’s a lot of malware, hackers, and data thieves on the internet, a good browser needs to be able to protect you from:

• Phishing sites — deceptive websites that mimic legitimate popular websites to trick you into giving away personal info.
• Web trackers/cookies — internet scripts that follow your browsing habits from site to site, sharing your browsing data with advertisers (and sometimes even hackers).
• Spyware/adware — malware that embeds in your browser and captures you data and redirects searches to unwanted sites.
• Screenloggers/keyloggers  — malware used to take screenshots of your computer or steal your keystrokes.
• Malicious ads — pop-ups that can direct you to unsafe sites.

I found some really good browsers with tons of advanced protections to help keep you safe online, while also providing useful features to make your online experience as convenient as possible — here’s my list of the most secure browsers in 2024.

Quick Note: It’s important to understand that you can never be 100% secure or private on the internet. Even the best browsers have their limitations. That’s why I recommend most users consider downloading a premium antivirus like Norton 360 , which includes almost every internet security tool you need to stay safe on the internet. If you already have an antivirus, a password manager like Dashlane will make sure that your passwords stay strong and protected, and a VPN like ExpressVPN will help protect you and your data from your hackers, thieves, ISPs, governments, and dangerous websites.

Quick summary of the most secure web browsers in 2024:

• 1. Firefox — Overall most secure web browser in 2024. Feature-rich, highly flexible & easy to use.
• 2. Tor — Best for user privacy and maintaining maximum anonymity (but it’s a bit slow).
• 3. Brave — Very fast speeds, with ad and tracker blocking + an ad buy-in program.
• 4. Pale Moon — Highly customizable and open-source (great choice for advanced users).
• 5. DuckDuckGo — Privacy-focused mobile browser developed for Android and iOS devices.
• #6-10 of 2024’s Most Secure Browsers.
• Security. I tested every browser against a variety of phishing sites and sites with malicious web scripts. I also looked for browsers with secure encryption tools like ‘DNS over HTTPS’ and ‘forcing HTTPS over HTTP’, alongside active development teams that are consistently updating and patching security holes.
• Data collection/telemetry.  Web browsers have access to a tremendous amount of sensitive personal information, so I examined each browser’s privacy policy, prioritizing browsers that protect and anonymize user data instead of selling it to advertisers and big corporations.
• Performance.  Speed isn’t fundamental to the security of your browser, but the most secure and private browser is useless if it lags and doesn’t perform well. I tested each browser’s functionality across a variety of popular websites.
• Ease of use. A web browser needs to be well-designed and intuitive enough so most users can easily use it and configure its settings. Some of the browsers on this list are set up for maximum security and privacy by default, while others require manual updates or security add-ons to make them as safe as possible.
• Compatibility across devices.  It’s important that a browser is secure and performs well on each of your devices. I gave points to the browsers on this list that are compatible with a variety of platforms, although there are a few that have limited multi-platform support.

#1. Firefox  — The Best Web Browser for Windows 10, macOS, and Mobile Devices

Firefox  is my favorite web browser in 2024 — it’s a secure, open-source browser with tons of customization options.

And because it’s highly customizable, it’s a great choice for advanced users. But Firefox is also one of the most intuitive and user-friendly browsers on the market, which makes it an excellent choice for non-tech-savvy users, too.

Because Firefox automatically blocks tracking cookies from third-parties, it also runs quicker than browsers like Chrome, which allows websites to track your activity.

Firefox’s security features include:

• Anti-phishing & malware protection.
• Minimal data collection.
• Automatic tracker blocking.
• DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypted browsing.
• Compatible with proprietary and third-party security extensions.

Firefox’s anti-phishing protections are really impressive — I tested Firefox against a database of known phishing sites, and it detected risky and known phishing sites more effectively than almost any other browser on this list.

With traditional browsers, every time you navigate to a website, your browser sends an unencrypted plain-text query over the internet — so it’s very easy for third parties to track your browsing history.Firefox’s DoH protections  encrypt your search queries using CloudFlare or NextDNS’s encrypted DNS servers — which makes it much harder for third parties to steal your browsing history.

Firefox has DoH turned on by default, but you can easily adjust these security settings, along with Firefox’s anti-tracker settings and anti-phishing protections. While many high-security browsers sacrifice convenience for protection, Firefox is very easy to use and it provides advanced security features.

Firefox is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

#2. Tor Browser  — Best Browser for Anonymity

About the Author

Safari browser review

Experience personalization at your fingertips with safari.

TechRadar Verdict

After our careful evaluation, we found Safari to be one of the best apps Apple has ever launched. It's fast, responsive, and comes with tons of tab management features that make it easy for users to maintain an online workspace.

Optimized to load CSS and HTML pages super fast

Clean and navigable design that’s easy to understand

Lets you sync all your devices together for uninterrupted reading

The default security features are good enough to keep each session private

Not available for all operating systems, such as Android and Windows

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

• Ease of use
• Competitors
• Final verdict

Safari is a popular web browser launched by Apple in 2003. In the past few years and through multiple upgrades, Safari has transformed into a power-packed, privacy-centric browser that aims to give you the best web experience in every session.

It's faster compared to many popular browsers such as Firefox and Chrome, is highly reliable, and comes with a million customization options that make you feel a little at home every time you log in. It might not be the top leader of the browser industry, but it surely has a massive user base of more than 1 billion people.

So if you’re planning to set Safari as your next default browser, read our guide till the end and find out what you can expect.

Safari browser: Features

Safari’s best-known feature is “Intelligent Tracking Prevention,” which protects you from online trackers. Such malicious software have countless ways to keep following you across the web. Thankfully, Safari’s dynamic system is not only capable of tackling their current tricks, but it can also adapt and counter any hack they might develop to steal your data.

If you’re working on multiple projects at the same time, grouping the tabs together might be an efficient way to work faster and reduce the clutter. You can also label these tab groups, with each category leading you to a certain set of sites. To take it a step further, you can also add Focus Modes to these Tab Groups. This way, when a user opens the Safari browser with a certain Focus active, only those tab groups that are attached to it will show up.

Safari’s intuitive auto-fill feature will save you tons of time. For starters, it connects to your passwords saved on iCloud or other third-party password managers and auto-fills while logging. It also extracts information from your Contacts, Calendars, Credit Card, and other saved documents to auto-fill empty fields of forms and registration pages on your behalf. For sensitive information such as credit card details and passwords, Safari uses a special 256-bit AES encryption.

Safari also helps you create stronger passwords the first time you’re signing up for an account. You can either opt for traditional passcodes with a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols or go for advanced face ID or touch ID for better security. 

To minimize spamming from websites, Safari provides a unique feature called “Hide My Email” in collaboration with iCloud. Under this, instead of suggesting your actual email, it’ll suggest an alias to the website you’re signing into. This will help you recognize the spammers, and you can cut them off by simply deleting the alias email address.

Safari claims that it takes minimal battery power. Compared to Firefox and Chrome, Safari offers up to 3 hours of additional browsing and 4 hours of additional video streaming.

Safari browser: Privacy

Safari offers a decent level of privacy. It may not completely stop data collection from third parties, but it minimizes the transfer of user data to a great extent. On top of that, users get access to all its privacy settings by default, ensuring they’re protected from the get-go.

You can also modify the privacy settings if you want. For example, you can adjust how often you want your web history deleted or tell websites not to track your information, such as location or contact details.

We recommend adding a VPN to your arsenal, which, along with Safari, will prove to be the security you’ve always wanted on your device. 

Safari browser: Ease of use

Safari is pretty easy to use. The address bar is at the top of the screen, and you’ll find the open tabs stacked right below it — much like Google Chrome.

What sets apart Safari’s user interface is options such as Bookmarks, History, and Edits are placed above the address bar. 

Our favorite thing about its user settings is that it lets you get the complete overview of your tabs on a much higher level. If you have multiple tabs open at once, this feature lets you zoom out and check them all at once.

The only thing we didn't like about Safari was some of the features, such as Tab Grouping, were slightly hidden on its Mac Version. You’ll have to click on the Page Icon for a panel to appear before you can use the grouping feature. 

Safari browser: Competitors

Safari’s biggest competitors are Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. But thanks to its features and outstanding performance, it’s not too far behind them in the race. 

For starters, a speedometer test by Safari revealed that it's almost 1.4 times more responsive than Chrome and Firefox. 

Another series of tests found that when the macOS is used for animation rendering and Javascript, Safari is 2 times and 1.4 times faster than Chrome and Firefox, respectively. 

With such outstanding performance, it's no wonder that millions of users are flocking to Safari every year.

Another benefit of Safari is that it's lightweight and doesn't take up too much battery power. In fact, compared to other browsers, Safari gives you at least 3 to 4 hours of additional battery life.

Also, unlike Edge, Safari lets you pick and put any picture you want as the browser's background. While Edge and Chrome let you experiment with multiple themes, Safari goes a step ahead and lets you personalize it.

Managing tabs with Safari is easier than most browsers. You can group them together, label them for quick searches and attach them to a particular Focus Mode to reduce the crowd of tab groups. No other renowned browser offers this feature.

Safari browser: Final verdict

After our careful evaluation, we found Safari to be one of the best products Apple has ever launched. It's fast, responsive, and comes with tons of tab management features that make it easy for users to maintain an online workspace.

Compared to Chrome and Edge, Safari is much more serious about user privacy and data leaks. After all, it has developed a whole new technology (Intelligent Tracking Prevention) just to combat that. 

It also comes pre-installed on every Apple device, be it an iPhone or Mac. If you’re a proud Apple device owner, there’s no reason you shouldn’t try Safari since there’s no trouble downloading and setting it up.

Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers .

Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled in website builders and web hosting when DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.

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What Is Safari?

What you need to know about Apple's web browser

• University of Texas at Arlington

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Benefits of Safari
• Drawbacks With Safari

Safari Alternatives

Safari web browser is the default for the iPhone , iPad, and macOS , first released by Apple in 2003 and briefly offered on Windows from 2007 to 2012. The popularity of the Safari browser exploded with the iPhone and the iPad, and currently has about a  54% market share of mobile browser usage  in the United States.

In most ways, Safari is like any other popular browser. Users can browse websites, bookmark favorites, and open multiple sites in tabs. Built using the WebKit engine, Safari was one of the first web browsers to support the new  HTML 5  standard. It was also one of the first browsers to have support for Adobe Flash turned off by default, with the mobile versions of Safari having never supported Flash .

Safari on Mac OS is currently on version 11.1, which includes an upgrade to Intelligent Tracking Prevention. This feature helps prevent a specific website from tracking pages browsed on other websites, a process called 'cross-site tracking. Safari on iOS shares its version with the iOS version, which is currently on 12.1.

What Makes Safari Stand out From Other Web Browsers?

While you might have trouble spotting the differences between Google Chrome, Apple's Safari, or Microsoft Edge at first glance, the Safari browser has some key features that help separate it from the pack, including the ability to format articles for easier reading.

• iCloud Tab Browsing . This feature automatically syncs open tabs across devices with the same  iCloud  account. You can view a list of all tabs open on your MacBook while using Safari on the iPhone or iPad. It's similar to Chrome's bookmark sharing but doesn't require logging in. 
• Sharing . The Safari app has a built-in share button that enables users to quickly share a website through messaging, email, or social media. The coolest feature is the ability to share a site directly with another nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac using AirDrop. 
• Reader View . Safari can detect articles and present them in a format that strips out navigation and advertisement in favor of a more readable view. This view is especially great for websites that load new windows as you scroll or become unreadable on an iPhone or iPad because of navigation.
• Energy Efficient . While iMacs are great desktop computers, Apple is primarily a laptop and mobile device provider. Safari proves this by being extremely energy efficient, buying you precious minutes, and sometimes even hours of extra use compared to Chrome, Firefox, and other popular browsers.

What Are Safari's Deficits?

The Safari web browser has a lot going for it, especially for those who are rooted in the Apple ecosystem and own a Mac along with an iPhone or iPad. However, it's not all roses and butterflies:

• Limited Plugin Support.  Safari supports Extension, but the plugins available for Safari lag behind those available for Chrome.
• Exclusive to Apple . While it's possible to run Safari on Linux and it was briefly supported on Windows, Safari is primarily a web browser made to run on Apple hardware. You can't run it on Android smartphones or tablets, and you should avoid the Windows version because Apple no longer supports it with critical security updates.
• No Tab Icons . Favicons are essentially icons for websites. And while browsers like Google Chrome use these icons in tabs to help differentiate browser tabs and help the user pick out the one they want, Safari doesn't include them on tabs.

While Safari is the default browser for iOS and Mac, users can download a wide range of browsers on either platform. The Mac supports Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, and many other web browsers, while iPhone and iPad users can download Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and even Microsoft Edge.

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

Best secure browsers to protect your privacy online

Web browsers have become flooded with ad-sponsored content, making browsers a key battleground for end-user privacy. While Chrome is the most widely-used browser in the world, there are also alternative browsers and ways to improve your security available to help you stay anonymous online.

Data is one of today's key ingredients for generating revenue. Online advertising companies can use web browsing histories to fingerprint individual browsers over time, creating shadow user profiles to reveal information including a user's interests, product searches, and more -- which can lead to targeted advertising. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and why you need one to protect your privacy)

Researchers from Firefox-maker Mozilla  conducted a study in 2020 with 52,000 Firefox users  that revealed it is more complicated than ever to ensure total privacy online. They warned Google and Facebook's tight grip on online advertising makes re-identification through browsing histories an even more pressing privacy problem today.

When you look for a privacy-focused browser, you will want to investigate how advertising trackers and cookies are managed, whether or not search histories are stored or shared, and whether or not the browser developer has a transparent privacy policy in place. 

Best browser for privacy overall

• Not in the traditional online ad business
• Privacy-focused by default
• Chromium challenger
• Previous issues show it isn't perfect

Brave f eatures: Chromium-based | Blocks third-party ad trackers | Blocks cookies | Incognito windows | Onion routing

Brave is a Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, fingerprinting, and ad trackers by default.

Brave supports millions of users worldwide. The organization's business model relies on privacy-protecting ads that pay publishers and users when users pay attention to ads. The company is transparent about this revenue stream, and it is optional -- with users rewarded in crypto tokens if they opt in to ad viewing.

Brave has several privacy-enhancing settings, including options to block third-party ad trackers, upgrade unsecured connections to HTTPS, as well as block cookies and fingerprinting. Invasive ads and trackers are disabled, which the company says then improves loading times on desktop and mobile.

Also: The best web hosting services for building your dream website

Brave  removed Google code  from its Chromium to improve user privacy, including some account integration, background sync, and inline extensions. There is also a "Tor mode" available for use, which provides anonymized onion network routing. 

The browser developer also offers a VPN and firewall service which protects sessions even outside of the browser.

Brave is now shipping a new feature called Unlinkable Bouncing. According to the developer, when you're about to visit a privacy-harming or suspicious website, your session is routed through temporary browser storage to prevent the site from identifying you -- instead, you will appear as a unique, first-time visitor, which helps to anonymize your visit.

Brave is also due to start rolling out a feature called " Off the Record ," (OTR), developed with users who may be the victims of intimate partner violence. The browser developer says the feature "aims to help people who need to hide their browsing behavior from others who have access to their computer or phone."

Mozilla Firefox

Most secure browser for tracking protection.

• Enhanced tracking prevention
• Focus on accessibility
• Trusted by millions of users
• Strict tracking protection may break websites

Mozilla Firefox f eatures: Enhanced tracking protection | Firefox Focus for mobile | Strict privacy standards |   DNS queries sent to a secure resolver service | Focus on accessibility

Firefox is a must-have for individual browser privacy across multiple devices. 

One of Firefox's most important privacy features is enhanced tracking protection. Mozilla has also borrowed Tor techniques to block browser fingerprinting , and Firefox developers are constantly seeking to improve tracking-prevention features.

Firefox is rich with choices to customize the browser for privacy The standard enhanced tracking prevention blocks social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, and blocks tracking in private windows, crypto miners, and fingerprinting scripts. There is a "strict" mode, too, that might break some sites when trackers are hidden in content -- but there are ways to allow enhanced tracking protection for trusted sites. 

Also:  What is Firefox Nightly and should you be using it?

The other option for Firefox fans is Firefox Focus, a privacy-focused browser for iOS and Android that blocks trackers and has a built-in ad blocker.    

Mozilla also offers a VPN , with the option to connect up to five devices to over 500 servers in more than 30 countries.

The release of Firefox 113 comes with a boost to accessibility. The release includes code upgrades to allow screen readers and other assistive technologies to have faster access to the content they need.

The Tor browser

Best for anonymous browsing.

• High levels of anonymity
• DuckDuckGo integration
• Learning curve to use
• Can be slow

The Tor browser f eatures : Onion routing | DuckDuckGo integration | Access to websites outside of the clear web

Another great choice for improving your privacy on the web is the Tor browser, a non-profit project focused on anonymizing users online.

Its proprietary web browser disguises a user's IP address and activity by relaying it through a network of servers (nodes) run by volunteers. By bouncing your information around so much, it makes things exceptionally difficult to track, which is great if you don't want your ISP or anyone else spying on your online activity. 

Tor can be a crucial tool for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and people avoiding censorship. The Tor browser is also a popular choice for accessing the deep web: A collection of websites and pages that are inaccessible through traditional means, like search engines, in what is known as the "clear" web. 

Also:  How to use Tor browser (and why you should)

The Tor browser's default search engine is DuckDuckGo, which will not log or store your search queries.

While it isn't a mainstream browser choice, the Tor browser is a well-regarded browser for people who don't want to be tracked across the web, and it gets updated frequently by  the Tor Project . The developers are currently working on infrastructure updates . 

Page loads in the Tor browser can be slower and some sites might not work well due to the architecture of the Tor network. Nonetheless, the Tor browser is a privacy-preserving browser worthy of consideration.

Best mobile browser for privacy and searches

• Supported on Chrome, Chromium-based browsers, and Firefox
• Solid commitment to user privacy
• Full browser not yet available on desktop

DuckDuckGo f eatures: Chrome and Firefox supported | Mobile private browser | Does not collect user data | AI experiments

When it comes to DuckDuckGo, user privacy comes first. 

The privacy-focused search engine is a vocal supporter of consumer privacy rights and now handles millions of user search queries daily.

DuckDuckGo and the rise of the encrypted messaging app Signal show there is a growing appetite for privacy-focused alternatives to tech giants like Facebook and Google. DuckDuckGo's Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome , Firefox , and Microsoft's Edge  has also proven popular. Its reputation is built on the idea that it does not collect user data but can provide the same search results as those that do. 

Also:  DuckDuckGo brings its privacy-focused browser to Macs

DuckDuckGo is a search engine rather than a full browser, but the software is still recommended as an extension or as a mobile solution. The organization's mobile app provides a private search, website protection and blockers, web encryption, and more.

There has been some past controversy concerning Microsoft web tracking protections in the past, but following an outcry, DuckDuckGo pledged greater transparency and changes to third-party tracker loading protection.

A Mac browsing app is currently being developed and is in the beta stage . There is also a closed beta for Windows machines. DuckDuckGo is also experimenting with AI-assisted technologies to improve its search experience.

Mullvad Browser

Best for use with a vpn.

• Two heavyweight privacy developers
• Fingerprint, tracker blocks
• New, so less thoroughly tested

Mullvad Browser f eatures : Fingerprint masking approach | Removes online identifiers | Private mode enabled by default | Blocks trackers, cookies

Mullvad is a new entry to the secure browser market.

Not to be confused with the Tor browser, the Mullvad Browser is marketed as the "Tor Browser without the Tor network." The browser is built by the Tor Project team and distributed by Mullvad, a well-respected Swedish virtual private network provider. 

The idea behind the browser is to emulate the Tor network by creating a similar fingerprint for all users, improving anonymity. Furthermore, the browser comes with a private mode out of the box, tracking and cookies are blocked, and online functions used to extract information from visitors -- such as device identifiers -- are prevented.

You can use the browser as a standalone product, or you can combine it with Mullvad VPN . 

However, you should keep in mind that Mullvad was recently subject to a search warrant by the National Operations Department (NOA) of the Swedish Police. 

The visit was connected to a "blackmail attack that hit several municipal institutions in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in October 2021," and "during the investigation, which is still ongoing, an IP address was found that led to the VPN service Mullvad," according to the organization.

Mullvad staff say that as the customer data did not exist, law enforcement was left with nothing (and no customer information). 

"Since Mullvad VPN by law is not required to collect any data related to our users' activities online -- and since the pure purpose of our service is to protect users from collection of such data -- it is in our interest, our customers' interest, all our employees and owners' interest to not collect any data and therefore there is no reasonable grounds to doubt that we do not collect any data about our users' activities online," Mullvad said.

What is the best browser for privacy?

Brave is our top pick for the best browser for privacy based on my analysis of specs such as cookies stored, privacy settings, and speed of the top browsers. However, no browser is perfect, so you must decide which option suits you best.

Which is the right browser for privacy for you?

Not one size fits all, so be sure to reference the table below to better understand which browser suits your use case.

How did we choose these browsers for privacy?

We compared each of these browsers and extensions to determine what makes them different and which is best for different use cases. 

The balance between managing user privacy and funding a business can be a tricky one for companies to manage, but as we've shown, many developers are willing to wave the security flag on behalf of users over potential opportunities to generate more revenue.

How does a privacy browser work?

A privacy browser works by automatically erasing your browsing and search history and cookies. It also may limit web tracking, and some even help hide your location (IP address). Privacy-focused browsers may also promote virtual private network (VPN) usage and may include features designed to bypass censorship blocks and keep users as anonymous as possible, such as access to onion routing and refusing to log site visits or web searches.

Do I need a privacy browser?

If you are concerned about your online privacy, you should install a privacy browser or at least an extension. We have to take responsibility for our own privacy online these days, and you can't rely on companies to do the job for you. 

Also:  How to delete yourself from internet search results and hide your identity online

We can recommend a few basic steps to take: Download one of the privacy-first browsers listed above that doesn't log your queries and activities, install a VPN, and use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption. Furthermore, if you want to keep your email communications private, you should consider an encrypted email service like Proton Mail.

Does using a private browsing window hide my IP address?

If you're using Chrome, an incognito window doesn't hide your IP address. It simply doesn't store your browser history, information you've entered into forms, or what permissions you've given to sites you've visited. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Opera all use a similar form of "anonymous" web window for browsing, but they aren't truly hiding your online identity. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and whether it's worth trying free VPNs)

If you want to block your IP address from being viewed or tracked, you can download a VPN , which masks your IP address so your service provider (or anyone else, for that matter) can't see what you're doing.

What is the most common personal web security risk?

Honestly? Putting your personal or contact information on social media. If you have your full name, phone number, address, or place of work anywhere on your social media, someone can use it to wreak havoc on your personal accounts. 

To prevent this, avoid using your real name online where possible, turn off location tracking, and don't post about your place of work if you can help it. All it takes is a single piece of personal information for someone with very bad intentions to get ahold of your entire online presence -- and so if you're posting photos of you away from home and on holiday, for example, you're letting people know your home is vulnerable.

Also:  The best security keys

Those innocent-looking name generator memes are another big issue; the ones that have you type out your first pet's name and your childhood street name (or something similar) to make up a gnome (or whatever) name. These are answers to common password recovery questions, so by letting the world know that your Christmas elf name is Fluffy Elm Street, you could be handing over all of your personal accounts to internet criminals. 

Are there other browsers worth considering?

Online privacy and security are hot topics today. The amount of data quietly collected on each and every one of us is staggering -- and beyond targeted advertisements, you may not realize it. 

The browsers we've recommended above can help tighten up your defenses against tracking and online monitoring, but as no browser is a perfect solution, you may also want to consider the alternatives below:

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The best vpn services of 2024: expert tested, the best travel vpns: expert tested, the best vpns for iphone and ipad: expert tested.

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Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari: Which Browser Is Best for 2024?

Don't take your browser for granted we help you narrow your options by comparing the best web browsers on speed, privacy, and other important features..

Most people browse the web using Google Chrome without really thinking about their options. Gmail or YouTube or some other site once suggested they use Chrome, and perhaps they never questioned it. The truth is you do have options when it comes to your web browser, and you may find another that serves your needs better. Browsers offer varying levels of privacy, security , performance, and power efficiency. They differ even more when it comes to unique and helpful features beyond merely displaying websites.

Here we examine the top five browsers in the US, in order of popularity. That criterion rules out  Brave  and  Vivaldi , with usage rates hovering near or below 1%, even though they are both first-class browsers. If you're interested in those two, check out our article on the  best alternative web browsers . Or, if your utmost concern is security, see what makes the best private browsers different.

Below are short reviews of the top five browsers. After that, keep reading for more information about the browser landscape, additional details about our testing, and advice on what you should take into consideration when choosing a web browser.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome Web Browser

Most people need no introduction to the search behemoth's browser, Google Chrome. It’s attractively designed and quick at loading pages. Most website codes now target Chrome, so compatibility is seldom an issue. Chrome is available for all major platforms, and the mobile version offers syncing of bookmarks, passwords, and settings.

Chrome doesn't have many unique browsing features, however, and it's the only browser included here that you won't find in the desktop app stores for macOS and Windows. There’s no built-in VPN, no cryptocurrency locker, no note feature, and no screenshot tool. Google has announced a feeble gesture towards adding a reading mode; feeble because it will only be in a sidebar, with the full, noisy distracting page still displaying in the main central browser window. The lack of a true reading mode makes sense for a company that earns its keep through web ads since reading modes hide them. All the other browsers here have full-page reading modes.

Chrome allows multiple user profiles, meaning different users of the same computer can have their own browser settings, history, and favorites. The browser also finally caught up with others by adding a Share icon to the address bar that eases sending sites via social media or email.

A few years ago, Google controversially announced it would be removing the API function that allowed ad-blocker software to fully block ads. As of now, it seems ad blockers may be limited starting at some point in 2024. Some Chrome development, though, has centered around security and privacy, notably among them a plan to kill off tracking cookies in favor of Google's tracking mechanisms. The company's Privacy Sandbox initiative (in development) tries to cater to both  ad targeting and user privacy . Some worry both of these developments will only result in more consolidation of the company's grip on web advertising and user profiling.

Apple Safari

Apple Safari 5

The default Mac and iOS browser is a strong choice, though its interface has some nonstandard elements. Safari was a forerunner in several areas of browser features. For example, it was the first with a Reading mode, which cleared unnecessary clutter like ads and videos from web articles you want to read. That feature debuted in 2010 and has made its way into all other browsers except for Chrome.

Apple has brought up the topic of fingerprinting protection—preventing web trackers from identifying you by your system specs. Unfortunately, the EFF's Cover Your Tracks test site only shows partial protection from trackers in Safari, while several competitors get a result of Strong protection. Other benefits include Apple Pay support and a "Sign in with Apple" feature to replace Facebook and Google as web account authorizers.

In macOS Monterey, the browser gained a compact tab bar with floating tabs like Firefox's and Tab Groups that live in a convenient sidebar, and with Ventura , they become shareable and pinnable. Safari also supports Apple's proprietary Shared with You feature in its proprietary iMessage system. For iCloud+ subscribers, a Private Relay obscures your IP address, similar to a VPN.

If you use an iPhone and a Mac, Safari integration makes a lot of sense, since Apple’s Handoff feature lets you continue your browsing session between devices. Safari trails other browsers on support for emerging HTML features, but we haven’t run into or heard of any major site incompatibilities with it.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge Web Browser

The latest version of Microsoft Edge uses Chrome’s webpage-rendering code, Chromium, guaranteeing site compatibility and freeing up its developers to add unique features. You won’t run into the site incompatibilities users of the previous incarnation of Edge occasionally encountered, and the browser performs snappily. Edge now runs on Apple macOS and Windows 11 and earlier. Mobile versions for Android and iPhone let you sync history, favorites, and passwords.

Edge is a leader in performance, thrifty memory management, and disk usage. Startup Boost technology reduces the time it takes to open the browser, and sleeping tabs save memory on tabs you're not viewing. Edge's Efficiency mode can extend laptop battery life. The initial focuses for the browser were privacy, the customizable start page, and the intriguing Collections feature for web research. For enterprise customers who still rely on Internet Explorer to run legacy programs, Edge offers an IE Mode .

The Collections feature uses a sidebar onto which you can drag webpages and images, write notes, and then share the whole assemblage to Excel, OneNote, or Word. It's a great organization and planning tool . Edge's Immersive Reader mode not only offers distraction-free web reading, stripping out ads and nonessential eye candy, but it can also read webpage text aloud using lifelike Neural Voices. It's worth trying because it reads with sentence intonation, rather than simply word by word, as we’ve come to expect text-to-speech audio.

Other notable Edge options include built-in web sharing, tabs down the side rather than across the top, a built-in screenshot tool, automatic coupons for shopping sites, and timely themes to dress up your browser. Recent additions include a side panel that integrates the new Bing AI chat search , game controller haptic feedback, and a multitasking side toolbar that lets you access first- and third-party services for social networking, search, messaging, search, and productivity.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox Web Browser

Firefox, an open-source project from the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, has long been a PCMag favorite. The browser has pioneered many web capabilities and the organization that develops it has been a strong advocate for online privacy. It’s also notable for its wealth of available extensions. The unique Multi-Account Containers extension lets you sequester multiple logins to the same site on different tabs. Without it, you'd have to open a private browsing window or another browser to sign out of all your web accounts and start a fresh session.

Mozilla’s browser is in the vanguard of supporting new HTML and CSS capabilities, and the company is working on open-source AR and speech synthesis standards. The organization now offers a full password management service called Lockwise, which can generate complex passwords, sync them between devices, and secure everything under a strong master password. That and the organization's VPN offering are paid extras.

The mobile Firefox apps offer excellent interfaces, and you can send a webpage tab from any device to any others that are logged into your syncing account. That’s right: You can be reading a webpage on your desktop PC, and have it instantly open on your iPhone or vice versa. It's a slick and useful feature.

If that’s not enough, Firefox has a Pocket button in the address bar, letting you save a page for later viewing anywhere with one click. The Reader View button declutters a webpage loaded with ads, promos, and videos, so you can peruse it with no distractions. PiP video supports closed captions and HDR and AV1 video formats. The browser is ultra customizable, letting you select and arrange buttons on the toolbar to taste, as well as select from a large number of Theme add-ons that change window border patterns and colors.

Recent additions include PDF editing and the Firefox View feature, basically a pinned tab of recent sites that syncs between the desktop and mobile versions of the browser.

Opera Web Browser

Perennially hovering around the 2% usage level, the Opera browser has long been a pioneer in the segment, inventing basic browser innovations like tabs, CSS, and the built-in search box. Opera can make a bigger privacy claim than the other browsers here—if you’re a believer in VPNs. It includes a built-in VPN (actually an encrypted proxy server) that protects and reroutes traffic from Opera to cloak your IP address. Opera uses the Chromium page-rendering engine, so you'll rarely run into site incompatibilities, and performance is fast. It's available for all major platforms, and the Opera Touch mobile browser is a beautifully designed app that connects (via quick QR scan) to your desktop.

Beyond the VPN, another unique feature in Opera is its built-in ad blocker, which also blocks crypto-mining scripts and trackers. Ad blocking also means less data consumed, especially of interest to those using metered connections or mobile plans with data caps.

More unique features in Opera include its Speed Dial start and New Tab page, as well as its quick-access sidebar of frequently needed services like WhatsApp or Spotify. My Flow lets you send webpages and notes between devices easily. The browser also includes a video pop-out window, a Pinboard feature similar to Edge's Collections, and a Workspaces feature that lets you create function-based tab views. Opera uniquely offers a cryptocurrency wallet as an option, which supports most popular tokens.

Opera offers a gaming version called Opera GX , and the company recently bought a gaming engine , moving into that specialty even further. The company also offers a futuristic secure Crypto Browser for navigating Web3 . And like Edge, Opera is adding AI ChatGPT capabilities to the browser , starting with a summarizer tool for text you highlight or even full sites.

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About Michael Muchmore

PC hardware is nice, but it’s not much use without innovative software. I’ve been reviewing software for PCMag since 2008, and I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine , the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft win and misstep up to the latest Windows 11.

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The best web browsers for 2023

All web browsers have the same basic function, and yet, the choice between them has always been one of the most contentious in tech history. You have more options these days than ever before, whether you’re looking for the best web browser for privacy , the best for speed, or perhaps something a bit more adventurous.

To help you decide on the best web browser, we grabbed the latest browsers and put them through their paces. Even if some could use a complete overhaul, these options are your best chance for a great online experience.

The best web browser: Google Chrome

Chrome is ubiquitous — and for good reason. With a robust feature set, full Google Account integration, a thriving extension ecosystem (available through the Chrome Web Store), and a reliable suite of mobile apps, it’s easy to see why Chrome is the most popular and the best web browser.

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Chrome boasts some of the most extensive mobile integration available. Served up on every major platform, keeping data in sync is easy, making browsing between multiple devices a breeze. Sign in to your Google account on one device, and all Chrome bookmarks, saved data, and preferences come right along. Even active extensions stay synchronized across devices.

Chrome’s Password Manager can automatically generate and recommend strong passwords when a user creates a new account on a webpage. Managing saved passwords and adding notes to passwords is even easier. The search bar, or Omnibox, provides “rich results” comprised of useful answers, and it now supports generative AI capabilities. Favorites are more accessible as well, and they’re manageable on the New Tab page. And it’s now easier to mute tabs to avoid unwanted sounds.

Other updates have included a Dark Mode for Windows and MacOS , better New Tab customization and tab group creation, tab hover cards, and an in-browser warning if your password was discovered in a data breach. There’s a price tracking feature that can help locate the best deals. Android users will appreciate the Phone Hub for linking and monitoring their phones. There’s also the ability to quiet notifications, so websites don’t bombard you with requests to enable in-browser notifications.

What’s the bottom line? The Google Chrome browser is fast, free, and even better looking than before. With a thriving extension ecosystem, it’s as fully featured or as pared-down as you want it to be. Everything is right where it belongs, privacy and security controls are laid out in plain English, and the browser just gets out of your way. While it can be a little RAM-hungry at times , Google is working to make it more efficient — like Microsoft’s Edge, Google can now hibernate tabs in the background to stop them from using too many resources.

Overall, Chrome remains the best web browser download for the average user.

And, things are looking to get even better. Google announced some significant upgrades to the browser that haven’t gone live yet, to celebrate Chrome’s 15th birthday . A Material You design language will allow users to customize Chrome’s look and feel and attach themes to profiles to make it easy to tell them apart. The menu system will be revamped to provide easier access to a variety of settings and features including Extensions, Password Manager, Translate, and others. The Chrome Web Store will be redesigned using Material You to be easier to use, and AI will help identify useful extensions. And finally, Safe Browsing will now work in real time to protect against threats.

The best Chrome alternative: Microsoft Edge

In response to the market’s rejection of its original home-grown Edge browser, Microsoft rewrote Edge using the open-source Chromium web browser engine. The new Edge launched on February 5, 2020 , as a separate, stand-alone browser that replaced the integrated version. It became part of Windows 10 with the May 2020 update, although you can still download it for Windows 10 builds prior to version 2004. Of course, it’s the default web browser for Windows 11.

At first glance, the new Edge browser looks and feels like Google Chrome. It prompts you to import Chrome’s bookmarks toolbar and other settings. This is great if you hated the old Edge browser and want to give Microsoft’s new browser another shot. It also supports Chrome extensions , though the browser leads you to the Microsoft Store for add-ons. You must manually load the Chrome Web Store to install anything not listed in Microsoft’s repository.

However, it’s not Chrome with a Windows 11 theme. Microsoft reportedly disabled many features, including Google’s Safe Browsing API, ad blocking, speech input, Google-centric services, and more. In return, the company worked to optimize Edge and reduce its footprint while continuing to add new, Microsoft-oriented features. As of January 2023, Edge is the most efficient browser in terms of memory usage. It also allows sleeping tabs, to let tabs release their resources when they haven’t been used for some time.

Features launched since its release have included the new Edge Sidebar that provides easy access to various tools, more flexibility in managing how Edge starts up, Citations to make it easier for students to cite sources, and various other updates to make the browser more productive. Edge Workspaces lets users organize tasks into dedicated windows, and Microsoft has continuously tweaked various features, like the Edge Sidebar, to make them more user-friendly.

Microsoft Edge also provides simpler privacy settings and security updates. Microsoft Edge uses a graphically friendly interface that displays three security levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. With Balanced set as the default, many sites request you to disable your pop-up blocker even though one isn’t manually installed. All in all, we’re very optimistic that Edge is on its way to challenging Chrome as the best web browser.

The best Chromium alternative: Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is the best browser that’s not based on the Chromium browser engine. Mozilla has taken real strides to make its browser a truly modern way to surf from site to site, thanks to efforts like its upgrade to Firefox Quantum , its VR alternative Firefox Reality , and password-free browsing .

It wasn’t too long ago that Mozilla rebuilt the browser’s interface, offering a cleaner, more modern take on what a web browser should be. The changes weren’t just skin-deep, however. There’s some impressive engineering going on behind the scenes.

For example, Firefox Quantum is designed to leverage multicore processors in ways that its competitors just aren’t doing. It was not designed to make a huge difference in your day-to-day browsing, but Mozilla hopes this design will give Firefox Quantum an edge moving forward. By engineering for the future now, Firefox Quantum is in a better position to take advantage of quicker processors as they emerge.

Some Firefox strengths include privacy protections with SmartBlock anti-tracker support, improved password syncing across devices, enhanced readability, integrated breach alerts, and a Protections Dashboard that provides a summary of how Firefox protects your privacy behind the scenes. WebRender improves the graphics performance on Windows PCs with Intel and AMD CPUs.

Recent updates include easier download management, captions, and subtitle support on YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix videos watched in picture-in-picture mode, HDR support in MacOS, and the ability to edit PDFs with text, drawings, and signatures. Firefox can also recognize text from an image, which is copied to the clipboard when selected. Finally, Firefox Colorways provides new options for optimizing how Firefox looks on-screen.

Beneath those changes, Firefox remains a comfortable, familiar standby. It’s a capable browser with a deep catalog of extensions and user interface customization. While managing settings across platforms isn’t as seamless as Google Chrome , the mobile browser app lets you share bookmarks between devices when using a free Firefox account.

There’s a bit of a fringe benefit, too. Since it’s been around longer than Chrome, some older web apps — the likes of which you might encounter at your university or workplace — work better on Firefox than they do on Chrome. For that reason, it never hurts to keep it around.

Overall, Firefox is more privacy-centric than Chrome and comparably fast, but its feature set isn’t quite as expansive elsewhere. If you like the sound of this, download the Firefox browser today.

The most innovative web browser: Opera

Another venerable browser and popular alternative, the Opera browser shares much of Chrome’s DNA and deserves its place as one of the best web browsers. Like both Edge and Chrome, Opera is built on Google’s open-source Chromium engine and, as a result, they all have a very similar user experience. Both feature a hybrid URL/search bar, and both are relatively light and fast.

The differences appear when you look at Opera’s built-in features. Where Chrome relies on an extension ecosystem to provide functionality users might want, Opera has a few more features baked right into the browser itself. It introduced a predictive website preload ability, and an Instant Search feature isolates search results in their separate window while the current page fades into the background, letting users more easily focus on the research task at hand.

You can install extensions from the Opera Add-ons store , which are just like Chrome extensions. Similar to Google’s browser, you’ll find useful tools like Giphy, Amazon Assistant, Avast Online Security, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and more. If Chrome’s wide variety of extensions is important to you, then Opera becomes an intriguing alternative. It might just be one of the best browsers for quickly navigating web pages.

Opera also features a built-in “Stash” for saving pages to read later. There’s no need to sign up for a Pocket or Evernote account to save a page for later reading. Similarly, Opera features a speed-dial menu that puts all your most frequently visited pages in one place. Google Chrome also does this, but only on a blank new tab. Finally, Opera has a built-in unlimited VPN service, making it a more secure browser option.

The biggest changes came with Opera 60 and Reborn 3, a complete revamp that brought a new borderless design, Web 3 support, and a Crypto Wallet, allowing users to prepare for blockchain-based sites. With version 69, Opera became the first browser with a built-in Twitter tool, and the company has added others as well including Instagram and TikTok. Just click the icon on the toolbar, log in to your account, and tweet away right from within the slide-out menu.

Other recent advancements include Lucid Mode, which sharpens video playing on a variety of platforms, supports emojis instead of web links, and other enhancements. The Opera Sidebar adds new functionality much like Edge’s Sidebar, allowing quick access to various Opera features. And Opera Aria adds new generative AI capabilities built right into the browser.

You can see that we’re well into hair-splitting territory, which is why it’s important to remember that your choice of browser is, more than any other service or app you use each day, entirely dependent on your personal preferences — what feels most right for you. The Opera web browser has a unique look and feel, and it combines some of the best features of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Alternative browsers

While the preceding browsers will meet most users’ needs, other alternatives exist for anyone looking for something different. This section is for those who have a more niche preference in web browsers  or want to try something new.

Apple Safari

If you use Apple devices exclusively, Safari is already your default browser. It’s also significantly faster than in the past, surpassing Chrome in its quickness. It’s integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS, and you’ll likely get better battery life thanks to Apple’s in-house optimizations and the underlying hardware.

Safari also focuses a great deal on privacy and security. If you want to minimize how you’re tracked and whether Big Brother is looking over your shoulder, then Safari is a good choice. If you also use an iPhone and/or an iPad, then using Safari on your Mac will make for the most seamless transition between platforms. Open websites on an iPad or iPhone are carried over to MacOS.

Safari is not offered outside the Apple ecosystem.

Vivaldi Browser

The Vivaldi browser is truly unique. No two Vivaldi users will have the same setup. When you run it for the first time, you’re guided through a setup process that lays out your browser in a way that makes sense for you. You choose where your tabs and address bar go and whether you want browser tabs displayed at the top of the page or in a separate side panel. This is a browser built from the ground up to deliver a unique user experience, and for the most part, it succeeds. Vivaldi 2.0 enhanced the customization features and made them easier to access.

This browser excels at customization, and you can choose from a variety of tasteful themes that don’t feel dated or out of place on a modern PC, in addition to the aforementioned UI choices. It also has some standout privacy-enhancing features, like its team-up with DuckDuckGo to make the non-tracking search tool the default option when in privacy mode.

Finally, recent updates added more powerful tab management, enhancements like Web Panels that make for smarter browsing, and (as mentioned) even more powerful customization options. Other new updates include a built-in ad blocker, a built-in tracker blocker, a clock in the Status Bar, a new Notes Manager, and a Break Mode for pausing the internet while keeping the browser open.

Brave Browser

One of the most unusual browsers around is Brave — or, perhaps, it’s Brave’s business model that’s the strangest. Brave blocks all ads on all web pages by default, which makes it arguably the fastest browser around. Ads are a huge portion of how many websites make money — block these ads, and suddenly the most important web financial tool is eliminated.

That’s where the Brave Rewards program comes in. Users receive Basic Attention Tokens (BATs) when they view alternative ads that Brave places in the browsing stream. Users can pass along a portion of their tokens to publishers. As of January 2021, there were over 70,000 websites that supported BAT-based transactions through the Brave browser, including Wikipedia, The Guardian, WikiHow, MacRumors, and more.

What’s in it for users? Simply put, if you’re not waiting for ads to download along with website content, then your web experience will feel much faster. Brave performs no user tracking, making it ideal for private browsing as well.

Tor Browser

The Tor Browser is a version of Firefox that serves one very specific purpose: A simple entry point for The Onion Router, or Tor .

Tor is software combined with an open network aimed at making you invisible by routing your traffic through several anonymous servers. While it’s not foolproof, it’s very difficult for someone to identify you when you’re properly configured and using something like the Tor Browser to surf the web — especially if combined with a VPN .

There are many legitimate uses of the Tor Browser and the Tor network. It’s a good choice for people who live in countries with repressive governments, as well as journalists and activists. The dark web is also one of the destinations for people using Tor, which includes many nefarious and illegal sites.

In any event, if you want to remain completely anonymous while surfing the web, the Tor Browser and network are for you. If you want a more mainstream alternative, Opera includes a VPN component, but it’s far less private.

Avast Secure Browser

Avast Secure Browser first arrived as the Opera-based Avast Safezone Browser in 2016 as part of the Avast Antivirus paid bundle. It was revised and rebranded in 2018 as a free stand-alone product based on Chromium. Originally the “SafeZone” aspect kicked in when users visited websites to make purchases or manage money.

Avast Secure Browser provides several built-in tools to protect your data and privacy. These include an anti-phishing module, fingerprinting and online tracking prevention, an ad blocker, and a Webcam Guard tool to control which websites can access your camera. The Hack Check tool will determine if your info was leaked in a data breach.

Avast Secure Browser is a stand-alone download for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. The desktop version doesn’t include an integrated VPN but instead directs users to download the company’s separate SecureLine VPN software. The listed Bank Mode — part of the Avast Free Antivirus client — flips on when users load a banking website.

Best web browser features — what to look for

Benchmark tests.

Notice we don’t include Safari in our main comparison. Apple’s Safari web browser is unavailable on Windows, Android, or Chrome OS, so we removed it from our primary list.

Most browsers are compatible with web standards and handle performance with relative ease. A casual user probably won’t notice a difference in the rendering speed between today’s modern browsers, as all six are much faster and leaner than those of a few years ago.

We ran the following benchmarks on a desktop with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, and Windows 11. All browsers were clean installs of the most current production versions as of January 2023, and all were run at their default settings.

First, JetStream 2 is a JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmark. It tests how quickly a web browser can start and execute code, and how smoothly it runs. Higher numbers are better.

Notice how all three Chromium-based browsers outperform Firefox. In fact, there’s very little difference between them, while Firefox’s performance is quite poor by comparison.

The next test we ran was Speedometer 2.0 . It measures how responsive a browser is to web applications by repeatedly adding a large number of items to a to-do list. Higher numbers are better.

Here, Opera led the pack, with Chrome and Edge running nearly neck to neck. Firefox came in last here with a relatively low score.

Finally, we tested how much RAM each browser uses, both with no tabs open and then with 10 tabs open accessing the same popular sites. We made sure that each browser had no extensions running, and we let each browser settle in before looking at its memory use. For the test with 10 tabs open, we averaged memory use when all the tabs were opened and then five minutes later to account for any variability.

It’s not a scientific test, but it should be sound enough to give you an idea of which browsers are the most and least efficient in terms of taking up your RAM. We found Opera to use the least amount of RAM when first opened, barely ahead of Edge, while Chrome used the most. Edge used the least with all 10 tabs loaded by a significant margin, a third or less than the other browsers. Chrome used the most with all 10 tabs open, and Firefox and Opera weren’t far behind.

Security and privacy

The most valuable tool for secure and private browsing is user discretion, especially when you consider that every web browser has encountered security breaches in the past. In particular, Internet Explorer and Chrome’s reputations for protecting users’ security and privacy credentials are spotty at best.

Chrome, Safari, Vivaldi, Opera, and Firefox all rely on Google’s Safe Browsing API to detect potentially dangerous sites. Thanks to constant updates, Mozilla, Chrome, and Opera all make constant security improvements. Microsoft disabled this API in Edge.

All browsers offer a private session option, too. Private sessions prevent the storage of browsing history, temporary internet files, and cookies. Browser support for Do Not Track remains spotty.

Mozilla made some strides in differentiating itself from others with a real focus on privacy in recent years. It even debuted a Facebook Container  in 2018 to make it harder for the social network to harvest user information.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to use a VPN when browsing the web? 

You do not have to use a VPN when browsing the internet. However, a VPN can be a good tool to use as it protects your privacy and data by creating a secure and encrypted data tunnel between your browser and a VPN server. In turn, that server creates a secure and encrypted connection between it and the target website.

As a result, the website can’t identify you personally, nor can it see your true geological location or internet address. Not even your ISP knows where you’re surfing or the device you use with a VPN enabled. Some VPN services are free while others require a subscription. We have a list of the current best VPN services .

Which browser is most used in the world? 

Google Chrome leads the web browser market with a 64.68% share, according to Statcounter . Apple Safari follows with 18.29%, Edge at 4.23%, Mozilla Firefox at 3.01%%, and Opera at 2.25%. Internet Explorer is still in use with 0.81%, while Microsoft Edge “Legacy” is fading out at 0.32%.

What are the best ad blockers to use for your browser? 

We have a guide on the best ad blockers for Google Chrome , but here’s a short list:

• AdBlock and AdBlock Plus
• AdGuard (Chrome only)
• CyberSec by NordVPN
• Poper Blocker (Chrome only)
• Stands Fair AdBlocker (Chrome only)
• uBlock Origin (Chrome and Firefox only)

What is browser fingerprinting and how can you prevent it? 

Websites want to know everything about you: Your tastes, your habits, and where you like to surf. When you load a website, it quietly runs scripts in the background that collect information about you and your device. The operating system, the web browser, all installed extensions, your time zone — all of this information is strung together to create a “fingerprint,” which in turn can be used to trace you across the internet via cross-site tracking.

Avast provides a detailed explanation and outlines various forms of fingerprinting. For example, the “canvas” method forces the browser to draw an image or text in the background, without the user knowing, to determine the operating system, web browser, graphics card, installed drivers, and the current font style. Device fingerprinting determines all internal and external device components.

As your fingerprint is tracked across the internet, this “profile” can be sold to data brokers, who then resell the data to advertisers. It’s a more silent means of gathering information about you versus using cookies that require your consent. The problem is, browser fingerprinting is still perfectly legal.

The best way to prevent browser fingerprinting is by randomizing and generalizing data. Third-party software like Avast AntiTrack does this by inserting “fake” data when website scripts try to collect your information. However, this tool allows scripts to continue running in the background so the website doesn’t “break.”

Many browsers offer some type of anti-fingerprinting protection. These include Avast Secure Browser (see above), Brave Browser (randomization), Mozilla Firefox (blocks fingerprinting scripts), and Tor Browser (generalization).

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> Resources > What Is the Most Secure & Private Web Browser

What Is the Most Secure & Private Web Browser for 2024?

M aintaining your security and protecting your anonymity on the internet is tough when you’re browsing the web. In this article, we'll take a look at the available browser options.

M aintaining your security and protecting your anonymity on the internet is arguably one of the hardest things to pull off when you’re browsing the web.

However, there are quite a few hardened browsers that offer excellent protection for your browsing sessions. In addition, there are extensions available to add protection to the popular browsers that most people use.

In this article, I’ll share information about the popular “mainstream” browsers, and also discuss some options and settings you can adjust in your favorite browser to enhance the security of said browser.

We will take a look at alternative browsers that, while based on mainstream browsers, all add additional security and privacy features designed to provide better protection for you during your browsing sessions.

Finally, I’ll share some web browser extensions that I particularly like, which offer increased security for your online travels. They’re free to use and can help prevent ad tracking, as well as increase the possibilities of avoiding the malware that’s just waiting to pounce on your browser.

• Mainstream Browsers

In this section, I’ll provide a look at the “mainstream” browsers most readers are probably most familiar with. These browsers include Microsoft’s Edge browser, Google’s Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari, and Opera Software’s Opera.

As we’ll see, while these browsers aren’t the most secure and private available, users continue to prefer them due to their convenience.

• Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the Redmond firm’s attempt to put the security-hole-ridden days of Internet Explorer behind them and offer a more secure and sleeker web browsing experience.

In addition to Windows 10, Microsoft Edge is also available for iOS and Android devices. Both versions provide background syncing of information with your Windows 10 PC to allow seamless browsing across all devices.

Microsoft designed Edge to be more secure than Internet Explorer, removing some features while adding others. The browser does not offer support for VBScript, JScript, VML, Browser Helper Objects, Toolbars or ActiveX controls.

Microsoft has removed support for legacy Internet Explorer document modes, saying that removing support for these features significantly reduces the browser’s “attack surface,” making it more secure than IE was.

In Windows 10, Microsoft added their “Windows Hello” technology, which is a system to authenticate both the user and the website they are accessing.

“Windows SmartScreen” helps to defend against phishing attempts by performing reputation checks on websites, blocking any that appear to be phishing sites. The technology also helps to defend users against being tricked into installing malicious applications via socially-engineered attacks.

Despite Microsoft’s efforts on the security-hardening front, at the March 2021 Pwn2Own hacking event , participants were able to execute remote code on the Edge browser.

The event offers cash rewards to “ethical hackers” who can attack vulnerabilities in the major browser platforms, including Edge, Chrome, Safari and Firefox. I’ll share more about each browser’s performance at Pwn2Own in their own sections.

• Google Chrome

Google Chrome is available on the Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android and iOS platforms.

The Chrome browser is based on the open-source Chromium browser project. The browser supports expanded functionality via a vast collection of extensions, available through the Chrome web store.

Participants at the  Pwn2Own 2021 event hacked Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge, while other competitors, including Firefox, have been compromised in the past.

Google uses two blacklists: one for phishing and another for malware. (A blacklist is a list of websites or IP addresses that are sources of spam, viruses, fraud and other malicious activity and payloads.) Chrome uses the list to warn users when they attempt to visit a potentially harmful website. The browser also offers download scanning protection to protect against malware.

The browser “sandboxes” its tabs, preventing them from interacting with critical memory functions, such as operating system memory and user files. This helps prevent device infection from malicious code. The sandbox can only respond to communication requests that the user places.

Chrome does not offer a master password function to prevent access to a user’s passwords, which the browser stores, which is a major security fault.

The browser offers an “Incognito” private browsing feature , which prevents the browser from permanently storing users’ history information or cookies from any visited websites.

It should be noted that Incognito mode does not prevent a third party, such as a hacker or even a user’s own Internet Service Provider, from observing a user’s online antics. Only an encrypted connection, such as what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) offers, can protect that information. (See my “Other Methods of Securing Your Web Browsing” section for more information.)

The online search and advertising firm Google develops and maintains the Chrome browser, and as such, Google tracks Chrome users’ online activities and search history in order to serve targeted ads during a web browsing session. This is an intrusion into a user’s privacy, spurring many to explore other browser options.

• ​Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is an open-source browser that the Mozilla Foundation founded. The browser is available on most popular desktop and mobile computing platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.

The most recent Pwn2Own event included the opportunity to attempt to hack Firefox . Participants made two hacking attempts against the browser. Only one attempt, which was able to elevate system privileges by using an integer overflow and an uninitialized buffer in the Windows operating system kernel, was successful. (Don’t worry if you didn’t understand that – what’s important is that it was hacked.)

Firefox limits scripts on one site from accessing data from another website (making it tougher to track or read data from another website), and uses SSL/TLS to protect web server communications via the HTTPS protocol . The browser is compatible with the popular HTTPS Everywhere add-on to enforce HTTPS, even if you enter a normal HTTP address.

Firefox generally has fewer security vulnerabilities than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, making it a popular alternative for security-minded users. When Mozilla discovers bugs, many of which paid researchers searching for security holes find, Mozilla quickly patches them.

Mozilla recently released Firefox “Quantum,” which provides a number of security and speed enhancements , and which uses less memory than before.

The browser offers a Private Browsing feature , which blocks online trackers while browsing and doesn’t keep a record of the user’s browsing history while it is enabled. The new browser also offers protection against hidden ad tracking.

Unlike Google, Firefox creator Mozilla is a non-profit organization and doesn’t make use of a Firefox user’s browsing and search history to serve up ads . Instead, the company is a champion of internet privacy and safety.

• ​Safari Web Browser

Released in 2003, Apple’s Safari web browser is available only on the Mac OS X, macOS, iOS and iPadOS computing platforms. Apple announced a Windows version of the WebKit-based browser in June 2007, but Apple discontinued the Windows version in May 2012 and no longer supports it.

Safari didn’t really fare well at Pwn2Own in 2021 , as a hacker was able to score a cool $100 grand by pulling off a Kernel code execution through Safari.

Safari is a reasonably secure browser, although there have been numerous exploits discovered against the platform.

Some of Safari’s and the macOS operating system’s excellent security reputation has, in the past, been due to the relatively small user base for the OS. But as the Mac has become more popular with users, the platform and its built-in browser have become more attractive targets.

The current version of Safari offers “Intelligent Tracking Prevention,” designed to identify advertisers and other parties that attempt to track your online activities and remove the cross-site tracking data left behind. The browser also warns users if they attempt to visit suspicious websites.

A Private Browsing feature prevents Safari from remembering a user’s search history, which websites the user visited, or a user’s auto-fill information. In addition, a tab sandboxing feature offers protection from malicious code and malware by confining each page to a single browser tab, preventing it from crashing a browser or accessing other websites’ data.

• Opera Web Browser

Currently, the Opera web browser is available for the Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS operating systems. The browser is based on the open-source Chromium browser platform, the same one Google’s Chrome is based on.

Opera is the only browser listed in this “mainstream browser” section that did not participate in the 2017 Pwn2Own competition. However, the browser does have several security-minded features that help protect users while they traverse the net.

Perhaps the most helpful security feature of the latest version of Opera is its free, built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) feature . The feature protects a user’s browsing session by encrypting the browser’s internet connection, shielding the user’s online antics from prying eyes.

Please note that the VPN protection is not quite as comprehensive as what pay-for-play services offer, offering only protection for any activities in the browser itself – the rest of your computer’s online activities, such as that connected to email, torrenting and other apps, are still laid bare to possible monitoring by outside parties.

Opera VPN’s connection options are also more limited than that of paid VPNs, with location options limited to only “Europe,” “Americas” and “Asia.” While this might limit your blocked-content-unlocking options, it should prove to be enough protection for those simply looking for a free and easy-to-use service to protect their browsing activities.

Opera’s fraud and malware protection has the ability to warn users of suspicious web pages, which is a feature that is turned on by default.

The browser checks any web page a user requests against a “blacklist” database of phishing and malware websites. If the requested site is on the blacklist, a warning page will display before Opera shows the page. The user must then decide, on their own, whether or not to go ahead and open the page.

The browser also includes a built-in ad blocker , which Opera claims makes “content-rich” web pages open as much as 90% faster.

• Alternative Browsers

In addition to the mainstream browsers listed in the previous section, there are a number of alternative browsers, which are designed to offer additional security and privacy protections.

These browsers are usually based on popular browser engines, such as the Chromium engine used in Google’s Chrome browser, but are modified to provide safer browsing.

In this section, we’ll take a look at 3 browsers, each of which takes a slightly different approach to securing and privatizing your web browsing sessions. All 3 browsers, while offering excellent protection, also have their own drawbacks.

• Epic Privacy Browser

The Epic Privacy Browser was designed from the ground up to provide comprehensive private browsing, with “always-on” privacy that doesn’t require toggling on a “private mode,” like some other browsers require. The browser is based on the Chromium browser engine, which is the basis for the Google Chrome browser.

Epic blocks trackers and third-party cookies, and claims to be the only browser that actively blocks thousands of trackers.

The browser also protects your web searches from being saved and tracked by automatically loading search engines via its built-in proxy, preventing the search engines from tracking users by their IP address. If available, the browser will use an HTTPS version of the websites you visit.

In addition to its other privacy protections, the Epic browser also offers a built-in encrypted proxy , similar to a VPN, which both hides your IP address and encrypts all of your data.

The browser offers 9 locations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and the United Kingdom, allowing users to appear as if they are located in the selected country. You can enable the proxy from the browser’s toolbar.

Please note that during testing, many websites, especially those that are vigilant for proxy servers and VPNs, such as Netflix and Hulu, did not work properly with the encrypted proxy engaged . Epic warns that some websites, such as Facebook and Gmail, may require additional authentication steps with the proxy turned on.

Any time you open a new browsing tab, you’ll see a screen similar to that of other browsers, with a set of buttons you can click to go directly to a website. However, since Epic doesn’t track or remember any of your web travels, you’ll need to manually set up the buttons with links to your favorite websites.

The home page also offers a running count of how many trackers have been blocked during your current browsing session.

While Epic allows the use of browser extensions, the selection is limited, with just 7 extensions available at the time of this article. Extensions are available from Evernote, Clearly, Pocket, IE Tab (Windows Only), Xmarks, LastPass and RoboForm.

• Tor Browser

The Tor Browser provides one of the most secure ways available to browse the web. The browser makes use of the Tor (“The Onion Router”) network, using the network’s series of relays, which are run by volunteers and are used to encrypt and anonymize a user’s connection.

Tor’s “onion routing” is called that due to its implementation of encryption in the communication protocol stack’s application layer, which is constructed similarly to the layers of an onion. The network encrypts the data several times, never revealing the original IP address.

The browser has the ability to effectively prevent anyone from tracking your internet connection to learn your location or to monitor which websites you visit . This makes the Tor Browser a popular choice among journalists and activists who are located in countries where internet activity is closely monitored.

By bouncing a user’s connection around the Tor network, the browser makes it appear that the user is located somewhere else. As seen below, despite my actually being located in the southeastern part of the United States, whatismyip.com indicates that I am located in France.

This IP address “spoofing” feature prevents websites from learning your actual IP address and physical location. It also provides access to many websites and services that might normally be blocked to your area, due to geographical content blocking.

While the Tor Browser does a great job of anonymizing your web browsing, it only anonymizes your browser activity , and the traffic for other internet-connected apps on your computer or mobile device is routed in the usual, unprotected manner.

In addition to IP address spoofing, the Tor Browser also protects your privacy by routing your internet searches through the anonymous DuckDuckGo search site, which doesn’t track you – unlike the Bing and Google search sites.

Tor is lightweight and self-contained, which makes it an excellent candidate for including on a USB stick so you can use it on other computers, no installation needed.

Tor Browser isn’t a valid candidate for use as your daily driver browser, as the relay method used by the network to anonymize your internet usage can noticeably slow down your online experience . So, you’ll likely still want to have Chrome or another browser handy for activities that aren’t security-critical.

I advise you that the Tor Browser allows users to access some of the more dangerous, and let’s say “seedier,” parts of the web, which could lead you to encounters with viruses and malware more often than you normally might. So be careful to practice safe browsing, even with the extra access to these more “unusual” areas of the net.

• Brave Web Browser

Brave is an open-source browser based on the Chromium browser engine, which is the same engine that the Google Chrome browser uses. The lightweight browser claims improved loading speeds and reduced data usage , mostly due to its advanced ad tracking and blocking abilities.

Brave is available for the Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. It includes HTTPS Everywhere integration, blocks cookies, and boasts a growing community of developers working to improve the browser.

While Brave blocks all ads and trackers by default, you can allow selected ads and trackers via the browser’s preferences panel.

Since ads are the main source of income for many websites, the company also offers a “Brave Payments” system , which allows users to anonymously donate to content producers they like. Brave then automatically distributes microdonations to the desired content producers.

Brave does allow the use of browser extensions. However, those extensions are limited to a small number of approved extensions. Brave-approved extensions include those from 1Password, bitwarden, Dashlane, Honey, LastPass, MetaMask, PDF Viewer, Pocket and Torrent Viewer.

The browser also offers a number of innovative tab-based features, such as tab previews, which offer a full-screen preview of a tab when you hover your mouse pointer over it.

In addition, the browser includes the ability to create new private tabs on the fly and set the number of tabs to be shown per session.

• Other Methods of Securing Your Web Browsing

In addition to trying to use the most secure browser, you can also help protect your security and privacy while surfing the web by using plug-ins or adjusting the settings on your browser of choice. You can also help protect yourself by simply practicing safe computing.

In this section, I’ll share the various methods that you can use to secure your browsing by using plug-ins like HTTPS Everywhere, apps like those available from VPN providers, and the settings you can change in your browser to harden your security settings. (But never harden your heart, as Quarterflash did .)

I’ll also look at common-sense steps to take to protect yourself and your precious personal information.

HTTPS Everywhere

HTTPS Everywhere is a free extension for the Firefox, Chrome and Opera browsers on most desktop computing platforms, and on Android mobile devices. This free extension encrypts your communication with a large number of websites , making your browsing sessions more secure.

HTTPS Everywhere is the result of collaboration between The Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Although many websites offer support for encryption over HTTPS, not all do. Or, some of the websites may use HTTPS for logins, but leave much of the rest of the site open to unencrypted HTTP communication.

HTTPS Everywhere sits in the background, quietly rewriting HTTP requests to use the more secure HTTPS on websites that support it.

The extension was inspired by Google’s increased usage of HTTPS and is designed to force the use of the secure transport layer where possible.

​Zscaler Tools (Internet Explorer 6 to 10)

While the HTTPS Everywhere extension is not officially available for Internet Explorer, there is an extension based on the HTTPS Everywhere project available for Internet Explorer 6 to 10.

Zscaler Tools – HTTPS Everywhere for Internet Explorer – is still in its early days, development-wise, as the version number of 0.0.0.3 indicates. The extension translates URLs from HTTP to HTTPS according to EFF rules and also secures cookies.

It does not support HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) at this time, and also doesn’t provide support for custom rules. HSTS is a web server directive that tells user agents and web browsers how to handle its connection through a response header sent at the very beginning and back to the browser. 

The extension is available on the Zscaler website, and the download includes an installer. You’ll need to restart Internet Explorer to enable the extension.

​Disconnect

Disconnect is a browser extension that works on the major browser platforms (Chrome/IE/Firefox/Safari). The extension works to block web tracking, malware and “malvertising” while you roam the web. Disconnect also offers apps for Android and iOS devices.

The Disconnect button sits in your browser’s toolbar and displays the total number of tracking requests from every page you visit. If the icon is green, it means the extension has blocked all of the requests on a page. If the icon is gray, it means the extension was only able to block some of the requests.

Clicking the toolbar icon shows the type of requests that Disconnect has blocked, including advertising, analytics, social and content requests.

Google, Facebook and Twitter are shown separately, allowing you to block or unblock a site with a click of the mouse. You can also add websites to a blacklist or a whitelist to block or unblock all requests from a website.

The Disconnect service is available in three levels of service:

• Basic offers protection for a single browser, allowing you to block trackers and search privately.
• Pro blocks malware and trackers across all of your devices.
• Premium also secures your Wi-Fi connection and masks your location via the Disconnect VPN service.

I have found the Disconnect browser extension’s basic plan is perfect for my needs, as I already have a favorite VPN I use to protect my internet connection.

​DuckDuckGo

The DuckDuckGo website has long been an excellent way to prevent your search activity from the monitoring it is subject to when you use one of the big boys like Google or Bing.

The private search engine recently made an extension available for Firefox, Safari and Chrome, which offers private search, tracker network blocking and smart encryption .

The DuckDuckGo browser extension also shows you a Privacy Grade of A to F when you visit a website. This lets you view, at a glance, how well your privacy is protected on any given site.

The score is based on the presence of hidden tracker networks, the website’s privacy practices and its available encryption. (Take it from me, they’re strict. I haven’t seen a website that’s earned an “A” grade yet.)

The search company has partnered with Terms of Service Didn’t Read (TOSDR) to include their scores of the service and privacy policies of websites, when it’s available. The extension also includes DuckDuckGo’s private web search , making private searches more convenient than ever.

In addition to the browser extension, DuckDuckGo has also released a new version of their mobile private search app for iOS and Android devices.

The DuckDuckGo browser extension is available for Firefox, Safari and Chrome.

​Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) protects your internet connection by encasing it in a layer of encryption.

This prevents anyone who’s looking to monitor your connection, such as hackers, government agencies or even your own Internet Service Provider, from seeing your online travels, as well as the important personal information related to those travels.

I have tested and reviewed a large number of VPN providers on this very website, and they are a valuable tool for protecting your internet connection – especially when traveling and when you’re forced to use your computer or mobile device on an open Wi-Fi hotspot, such as those found in coffee shops, hotels and other public locations.

In addition to protecting your internet connection from prying eyes, a VPN also allows you to appear as if you’re connected in another global location. This makes it easier to access international web content , such as video and audio streaming content, that might normally be blocked from your actual location.

I strongly recommend that you check out NordVPN to protect your web browsing, no matter which browser you use. NordVPN provides top-notch online security and privacy for most popular device platforms. Its impressive global server network delivers fast connections that are protected with the latest in security and privacy measures.

In addition to comprehensive online protection, NordVPN also delivers reliable access to numerous video streaming sites around the globe. The provider protects users’ accounts with two-factor authentication and offers blocking of malware and other online-related threats.

For more information, check out my articles about the best VPNs for Chrome , Firefox , Edge , Safari and Tor .

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​Use Your Browser’s Security and Privacy Tools

You may or may not be aware that whichever browser you use, it has privacy and security settings that you can adjust to your liking . Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge browsers all have options that allow you to protect yourself while browsing.

I’ve already covered how to do this in a quite informative article, How to Browser the Web as Anonymously as Possible , which is (in my humble opinion) highly recommended reading for those interested in securing their favorite web browser.

• Action Steps

We’ve covered a lot in this article, but nothing too arcane. By taking the time to investigate your options, you can easily decide on the most secure browser for your needs, and even find ways to better strengthen your browser of choice’s own security protections with the use of extensions or a VPN.

I have personally found that Google’s Chrome, with a few well-chosen extensions such as HTTPS Everywhere and Disconnect, as well as a high-performance VPN like NordVPN , to be one of the best ways to protect online travels from prying eyes. All those individual pieces stack up to a security wall that keeps your screen from becoming cluttered with ads and adware and protects you from malware.

For privacy protection from a base browser configuration, try Brave browser. macOS Monterey 12 users can take advantage of the privacy and security improvements Apple has brought to Safari. With the proper combination of VPNs, browser extensions, and antivirus/anti-malware protection, you can be reasonably safe on the web. Just stay out of the dark corners of the web.

When I’m researching subjects like the dark web , or when I want to protect myself from detection by my ISP or friendly neighborhood government agent, I always use the Tor Browser due to its use of connection relays to obfuscate my actual location and the activities that I am conducting.

You may find that, much like your other online activities, there isn’t any single app that will cover all of your security and privacy needs. That’s why I always suggest keeping various tools in your online arsenal to protect yourself and your activities. That’s why you should also check out the other guides on my site for more information on how to protect yourself while online.

Enjoy your travels, and stay safe!

• Secure & Private Web Browser FAQs
• What Is the Most Private Browser?

Thanks to its use of multiple relays to anonymize your IP address and identity, I consider the Tor Browser to be one of the most private browsers available. However, it is also one of the slowest browsers around, thanks to using multiple relays.

• Is Mozilla's Firefox a "Safe" Browser?

Firefox is an open-source browser, meaning anyone can examine the code, and this helps keep things on the up-and-up. Firefox also offers a variety of security features, including phishing and malware protection, blocking attack websites, and warning users when a website attempts to install add-ons.

• What browser should you use when Tor is not an option?

Use a browser like Brave or Firefox. Make sure the browser settings are set to their most private, deleting your browsing history as well as your caches each time the browser is shut down. Also, use a VPN, like NordVPN , this will encrypt your internet connection, preventing your ISP and other nosy types from tracking your online travels.

• What is the least secure web browser?

Yandex, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Waterfox, are all less than secure. Yandex is owned by a Russian company that is much like Google, and like Google, it collects information about your online activities for sale to advertisers and other nosy types. Microsoft Edge is owned by a less than private company, and Waterfox is owned by an advertising firm.

• Will installing addons and toolbars slow down my browser's performance?

Depending on the addon or toolbar, it could potentially slow down your browser's performance. For example, if you install a lot of toolbars, they may take up valuable resources that could impact your browser's overall speed.

Additionally, some addons and toolbars are designed to run in the background and can use up CPU and memory resources, which can also slow down your browser. However, not all addons and toolbars will have a negative impact on your browser's performance. Some are actually designed to improve speed and efficiency. So it really depends on the particular addon or toolbar you're using.

• Do I Need to Use a Privacy Browser?

That depends, do you care if you're being tracked, putting your online privacy at risk? If the answer is yes, you need to use a privacy browser. A privacy browser automatically erases your browsing and search history, limits web tracking, and in some cases, it even helps to hide your real IP address.

• What is the Most Common Personal Web Privacy Vulnerability?

One of the most common web privacy vulnerabilities is self-inflicted. It occurs when you post your personal or business information on social media. By posting your name, address, phone number, job information, and other sensitive information you provide enough information to allow bad guys to find out more information, while also giving them enough info to possibly open new credit accounts without your knowledge.

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Firefox is no longer supported on macOS 10.14 and below.

Comparing Firefox Browser with Apple Safari

If you use a Mac or have an iPhone, chances are you’re familiar with the Safari web browser. The fact that it’s pre-installed as the default browser for Apple product users definitely gives it an early advantage, but Firefox has its own set of useful features that make it an attractive alternative and can now be set as your default browser on your Mac and iPhone. Here we’ll explore the main differences between our browser and Safari in terms of privacy, utility and portability between devices.

Security and Privacy

Privacy has become a white hot topic for tech companies as they realize more and more people are feeling vulnerable to things like data breaches, ad trackers and hackers. But when it comes down to the real tools people use to navigate the actual interwebs, is it all talk or are they actually taking action to keep your data secure?

As alluded to before, Apple is one of those companies that recently decided to step up their privacy game. Not long ago, Apple implemented cross-site tracking prevention in Safari, which prevents ads from following you around the internet. Safari also offers a strong password suggestion when you sign up for a new account on any website. And if you’re invested in the iCloud ecosystem, it syncs that password securely with your other devices, so you never actually have to remember it.

Like Safari, we at Firefox have made a point of focusing on privacy and security. But unlike Safari, we’ve been standing on the privacy soap box for a long time. In fact, Mozilla (our parent company) was one of the first voices in the tech community to sound the alarm for online privacy.

Our Private Browsing mode blocks trackers and erases your passwords, cookies and history every time you close it. But you can also experience our advanced privacy features even in regular browsing mode. With the latest edition of Firefox, enhanced tracking prevention is turned on by default. This prevents things like cross-site trackers from following you as you jump around the web. Also, with Facebook being caught out almost daily for privacy problems, our Facebook Container extension makes a lot of sense. It makes it harder for Facebook to track you around the web — similar to what Safari does to prevent cross-site tracking — but Firefox actually isolates your Facebook session into a separate container blocking Facebook from tracking what you do on other websites. Why do they need to know what you look up on WebMD anyway?

As far as security goes, Firefox is solid there as well. Any time you’re in Firefox, you can right-click in the password field to securely generate a strong password using the Fill Password option. When you save your new password, we will prompt you to save to its built-in password manager, Lockwise . We also serve up users and account holders with another free and useful product called Monitor that automatically alerts you if your data is included in a known data breach.

If you choose to use Safari, you’re in safe hands as long as you’re using an Apple device. But Safari only works on Apple devices, whereas Firefox works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux. So no matter what operating system you choose, Firefox has you covered with our security and privacy protections.

Download Firefox Browser

Apple is widely known for its closed ecosystem as it relates to creating software for its products. But inside the App Store, it does offer a section to developers to create plugins and add-ons to make the browser more robust. These extensions are also browsable through the App Store and easily added to Safari.

In addition to the regular set of features you’d expect in a browser, such as tabbed browsing and private browsing, Safari has some unexpected features as well. For instance, if a user were to right-click a word anywhere on a page inside Safari, then click Look Up, they’d get a dictionary definition plus entries from the thesaurus, App Store, movies and more. Safari’s Parental Controls are easy to customize, allowing the adults to breathe a little easier when the kids begin to get curious about the internet.

Like Safari, Firefox encourages its enthusiastic developer community to create add-ons and extensions to the browser. And since our platform is open-source, there’s a vast selection adding a wealth of functionality.

Also, when you sign up for a Mozilla account, you get access to unique services like Pocket that integrate directly into the browser. The Pocket for Firefox button lets you save web pages and videos to Pocket in just one click, so you can read a clean, distraction-free version whenever and wherever you want — even offline.

Firefox is also great for video and audio. With autoplay blocking built directly into the browser and turned on automatically, no website will ever shout or bark at you uninvited.

Screenshots is another popular feature built right into the Firefox browser, allowing you to easily capture a picture of your screen. When you take a screenshot, you can choose to copy the file or choose which folder you want to find it in, instead of cluttering your desktop.

Both browsers have a lot of crossover features, as well as some unique functions. It’s worth mentioning, if you take a lot of screenshots, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without this handy feature that’s built right into Firefox. But if you’re just looking for a fast, private browser for surfing and shopping, then you may want to give Firefox a try — especially if you’ve been exclusively using Safari because it came preloaded as the default browser on your computer. Eventually, you’ll discover which one is more suited to your needs.

Portability

Firefox and Safari both provide a seamless experience when moving from desktop to mobile browsing or vice versa. For Safari, one of its main strengths is its continuity features. It syncs your bookmarks, tabs, history and more to iCloud so they’re available on all your devices. That means you can open a tab on your iPhone and have it also appear on your macOS laptop with just a click.

Firefox also offers a similar sync feature when you sign up for a free Mozilla account that enables users to easily synchronize their bookmarks, browsing history, preferences, passwords, filled forms, add-ons, and the last 25 opened tabs across multiple computers. What sets Firefox apart from Safari is that it is available on any desktop or mobile platform, iOS, Android, Windows or macOS, boosting its portability across any device you may own.

The Firefox app for iOS and Android is one of the fastest browsers available and also has solid security and anti-tracking features — a huge plus if you’re constantly bouncing between a laptop and mobile devices.

Since Safari is Apple’s proprietary web browser, its iCloud syncing works exclusively with Apple products. This can be somewhat limiting if, for example, you’re both an Android user and an iPhone user or if you have a Windows based PC for work but use an iPhone as your personal device.

Overall Assessment

Safari does a great job of making the browsing experience simple, fast, and seamless if you’re an Apple user with multiple Apple products. Like Safari, Firefox is a fast and utilitarian browser, but privacy and cross-platform compatibility are our defining features. Firefox updates each month with new features and functionality. For example, one recent update switched on our Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) by default for new users, which effectively blocks cookies and cross-site trackers.

In the end, it just boils down to what you value in your browser. If you’re integrated with the Apple ecosystem, Safari is still a great choice. But if you value having the latest and greatest privacy protections and being able to work across multiple operating systems, we think Firefox is your best bet. Firefox is also a solid option as a secondary browser for those Apple-exclusive users who may want to switch into a different browser for those online moments that call for extra layers of privacy protection.

The comparisons made here were done so with default settings and across browser release versions as follows: Firefox (81) | Safari (14) This page is updated semi-quarterly to reflect latest versioning and may not always reflect latest updates.

iPhone User Guide

• iPhone models compatible with iOS 17
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• S Max' class='toc-item' data-ss-analytics-link-url='https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xs-max-iphcd2066870/ios' data-ajax-endpoint='https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xs-max-iphcd2066870/ios' data-ss-analytics-event="acs.link_click" href='https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iphone-xs-max-iphcd2066870/ios' id='toc-item-IPHCD2066870' data-tocid='IPHCD2066870' > iPhone X S Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Setup basics
• Make your iPhone your own
• Take great photos and videos
• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Share features with your family
• Use iPhone for your daily routines
• Expert advice from Apple Support
• What’s new in iOS 17
• Turn on and set up iPhone
• Wake and unlock
• Set up cellular service
• Use Dual SIM
• Connect to the internet
• Sign in with Apple ID
• Subscribe to iCloud+
• Find settings
• Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
• Learn the meaning of the status icons
• Charge the battery
• Charge with cleaner energy sources
• Show the battery percentage
• Check battery health and usage
• Use Low Power Mode
• Read and bookmark the user guide
• Learn basic gestures
• Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID
• Adjust the volume
• Find your apps in App Library
• Switch between open apps
• Quit and reopen an app
• Multitask with Picture in Picture
• Access features from the Lock Screen
• View Live Activities in the Dynamic Island
• Perform quick actions
• Search on iPhone
• Get information about your iPhone
• View or change cellular data settings
• Travel with iPhone
• Change sounds and vibrations
• Use the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Create a custom Lock Screen
• Change the wallpaper
• Adjust the screen brightness and color balance
• Keep the iPhone display on longer
• Use StandBy
• Customize the text size and zoom setting
• Change the name of your iPhone
• Change the date and time
• Change the language and region
• Organize your apps in folders
• Add, edit, and remove widgets
• Move apps and widgets on the Home Screen
• Remove apps
• Use and customize Control Center
• Change or lock the screen orientation
• View and respond to notifications
• Change notification settings
• Set up a Focus
• Allow or silence notifications for a Focus
• Turn a Focus on or off
• Stay focused while driving
• Customize sharing options
• Type with the onscreen keyboard
• Dictate text
• Select and edit text
• Use predictive text
• Use text replacements
• Add or change keyboards
• Add emoji and stickers
• Take a screenshot
• Take a screen recording
• Draw in documents
• Add text, shapes, signatures, and more
• Fill out forms and sign documents
• Use Live Text to interact with content in a photo or video
• Use Visual Look Up to identify objects in your photos and videos
• Lift a subject from the photo background
• Subscribe to Apple Arcade
• Play with friends in Game Center
• Connect a game controller
• Use App Clips
• Update apps
• View or cancel subscriptions
• Manage purchases, settings, and restrictions
• Install and manage fonts
• Buy books and audiobooks
• Annotate books
• Access books on other Apple devices
• Listen to audiobooks
• Set reading goals
• Organize books
• Create and edit events in Calendar
• Send invitations
• Reply to invitations
• Change how you view events
• Search for events
• Change calendar and event settings
• Schedule or display events in a different time zone
• Keep track of events
• Use multiple calendars
• Use the Holidays calendar
• Share iCloud calendars
• Camera basics
• Set up your shot
• Apply Photographic Styles
• Take Live Photos
• Take Burst mode shots
• Take a selfie
• Take panoramic photos
• Take macro photos and videos
• Take portraits
• Take Night mode photos
• Take Apple ProRAW photos
• Adjust the shutter volume
• Adjust HDR camera settings
• Record videos
• Record spatial videos for Apple Vision Pro
• Record ProRes videos
• Record videos in Cinematic mode
• Change video recording settings
• Save camera settings
• Customize the Main camera lens
• Change advanced camera settings
• View, share, and print photos
• Use Live Text
• Scan a QR code
• See the world clock
• Set an alarm
• Change the next wake up alarm
• Use the stopwatch
• Use multiple timers
• Add and use contact information
• Edit contacts
• Add your contact info
• Use NameDrop on iPhone to share your contact info
• Use other contact accounts
• Use Contacts from the Phone app
• Merge or hide duplicate contacts
• Export contacts
• Get started with FaceTime
• Make FaceTime calls
• Receive FaceTime calls
• Create a FaceTime link
• Take a Live Photo
• Turn on Live Captions in a FaceTime call
• Use other apps during a call
• Make a Group FaceTime call
• View participants in a grid
• Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
• Share your screen in a FaceTime call
• Collaborate on a document in FaceTime
• Use video conferencing features
• Hand off a FaceTime call to another Apple device
• Change the FaceTime video settings
• Change the FaceTime audio settings
• Change your appearance
• Leave a call or switch to Messages
• Block unwanted callers
• Report a call as spam
• Connect external devices or servers
• Modify files, folders, and downloads
• Search for files and folders
• Organize files and folders
• Set up iCloud Drive
• Share files and folders in iCloud Drive
• Share your location
• Meet up with a friend
• Send your location via satellite
• Add or remove a friend
• Locate a friend
• Get notified when friends change their location
• Notify a friend when your location changes
• Add your iPhone
• Add your iPhone Wallet with MagSafe
• Get notified if you leave a device behind
• Locate a device
• Mark a device as lost
• Erase a device
• Remove a device
• Add an AirTag
• Share an AirTag or other item in Find My on iPhone
• Add a third-party item
• Get notified if you leave an item behind
• Locate an item
• Mark an item as lost
• Remove an item
• Adjust map settings
• Get started with Fitness
• Track daily activity and change your move goal
• See your activity summary
• Sync a third-party workout app
• Change fitness notifications
• Share your activity
• Subscribe to Apple Fitness+
• Find Apple Fitness+ workouts and meditations
• Start an Apple Fitness+ workout or meditation
• Create a Custom Plan in Apple Fitness+
• Work out together using SharePlay
• Change what’s on the screen during an Apple Fitness+ workout or meditation
• Download an Apple Fitness+ workout or meditation
• Get started with Freeform
• Create a Freeform board
• Draw or handwrite
• Apply consistent styles
• Position items on a board
• Search Freeform boards
• Share and collaborate
• Delete and recover boards
• Get started with Health
• Fill out your Health Details
• Intro to Health data
• View your health data
• Share your health data
• View health data shared by others
• Download health records
• View health records
• Monitor your walking steadiness
• Log menstrual cycle information
• View menstrual cycle predictions and history
• Track your medications
• Learn more about your medications
• Log your state of mind
• Take a mental health assessment
• Set up a schedule for a Sleep Focus
• Turn off alarms and delete sleep schedules
• Add or change sleep schedules
• Turn Sleep Focus on or off
• Change your wind down period, sleep goal, and more
• View your sleep history
• Check your headphone levels
• Use audiogram data
• Register as an organ donor
• Back up your Health data
• Intro to Home
• Upgrade to the new Home architecture
• Set up accessories
• Control accessories
• Control your home using Siri
• Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
• Set up HomePod
• Control your home remotely
• Create and use scenes
• Use automations
• Set up security cameras
• Use Face Recognition
• Unlock your door with a home key
• Configure a router
• Invite others to control accessories
• Add more homes
• Get music, movies, and TV shows
• Get ringtones
• Manage purchases and settings
• Get started with Journal
• Write in your journal
• Review your past journal entries
• Change Journal settings
• Magnify nearby objects
• Change settings
• Detect people around you
• Detect doors around you
• Receive image descriptions of your surroundings
• Read aloud text and labels around you
• Set up shortcuts for Detection Mode
• Add and remove email accounts
• Set up a custom email domain
• Check your email
• Unsend email with Undo Send
• Reply to and forward emails
• Save an email draft
• Add email attachments
• Download email attachments
• Annotate email attachments
• Set email notifications
• Search for email
• Organize email in mailboxes
• Flag or block emails
• Filter emails
• Use Hide My Email
• Use Mail Privacy Protection
• Change email settings
• Delete and recover emails
• Add a Mail widget to your Home Screen
• Print emails
• Get travel directions
• Select other route options
• Find stops along your route
• View a route overview or a list of turns
• Change settings for spoken directions
• Get driving directions
• Get directions to your parked car
• Set up electric vehicle routing
• Report traffic incidents
• Get cycling directions
• Get walking directions
• Get transit directions
• Delete recent directions
• Get traffic and weather info
• Estimate travel time and ETA
• Download offline maps
• Search for places
• Find nearby attractions, restaurants, and services
• Get information about places
• Mark places
• Share places
• Rate places
• Save favorite places
• Explore new places with Guides
• Organize places in My Guides
• Delete significant locations
• Look around places
• Take Flyover tours
• Find your Maps settings
• Measure dimensions
• View and save measurements
• Measure a person’s height
• Use the level
• Set up Messages
• About iMessage
• Send and reply to messages
• Unsend and edit messages
• Keep track of messages
• Forward and share messages
• Group conversations
• Watch, listen, or play together using SharePlay
• Collaborate on projects
• Use iMessage apps
• Take and edit photos or videos
• Share photos, links, and more
• Send stickers
• Request, send, and receive payments
• Send and receive audio messages
• Animate messages
• Change notifications
• Block, filter, and report messages
• Delete messages and attachments
• Recover deleted messages
• View albums, playlists, and more
• Show song credits and lyrics
• Queue up your music
• Listen to broadcast radio
• Subscribe to Apple Music
• Play music together in the car with iPhone
• Listen to lossless music
• Listen to Dolby Atmos music
• Apple Music Sing
• Find new music
• Add music and listen offline
• Get personalized recommendations
• Listen to radio
• Search for music
• Create playlists
• See what your friends are listening to
• Use Siri to play music
• Change the way music sounds
• Get started with News
• Use News widgets
• See news stories chosen just for you
• Read stories
• Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
• Listen to Apple News Today
• Subscribe to Apple News+
• Browse and read Apple News+ stories and issues
• Download Apple News+ issues
• Listen to audio stories
• Solve crossword puzzles
• Search for news stories
• Save stories in News for later
• Subscribe to individual news channels
• Get started with Notes
• Add or remove accounts
• Create and format notes
• Draw or write
• Add photos, videos, and more
• Scan text and documents
• Work with PDFs
• Create Quick Notes
• Search notes
• Organize in folders
• Organize with tags
• Use Smart Folders
• Export or print notes
• Change Notes settings
• Make a call
• Answer or decline incoming calls
• While on a call
• Set up voicemail
• Check voicemail
• Change voicemail greeting and settings
• Select ringtones and vibrations
• Make calls using Wi-Fi
• Set up call forwarding and call waiting
• Avoid unwanted calls
• View photos and videos
• Play videos and slideshows
• Delete or hide photos and videos
• Edit photos and videos
• Trim video length and adjust slow motion
• Edit Cinematic mode videos
• Edit Live Photos
• Edit portraits
• Use photo albums
• Edit, share, and organize albums
• Filter and sort photos and videos in albums
• Make stickers from your photos
• Duplicate and copy photos and videos
• Merge duplicate photos and videos
• Search for photos
• Identify people and pets
• Browse photos by location
• Share photos and videos
• Share long videos
• View photos and videos shared with you
• Watch memories
• Personalize your memories
• Manage memories and featured photos
• Use iCloud Photos
• Create shared albums
• Add and remove people in a shared album
• Add and delete photos and videos in a shared album
• Set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Add content to an iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Use iCloud Shared Photo Library
• Import and export photos and videos
• Print photos
• Find podcasts
• Listen to podcasts
• Follow your favorite podcasts
• Use the Podcasts widget
• Organize your podcast library
• Download, save, or share podcasts
• Subscribe to podcasts
• Listen to subscriber-only content
• Change download settings
• Make a grocery list
• Add items to a list
• Edit and manage a list
• Search and organize lists
• Work with templates
• Use Smart Lists
• Print reminders
• Use the Reminders widget
• Change Reminders settings
• Browse the web
• Search for websites
• Customize your Safari settings
• Change the layout
• Use Safari profiles
• Open and close tabs
• Organize your tabs
• View your Safari tabs from another Apple device
• Share Tab Groups
• Use Siri to listen to a webpage
• Bookmark favorite webpages
• Save pages to a Reading List
• Find links shared with you
• Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
• Automatically fill in forms
• Get extensions
• Hide ads and distractions
• Clear your cache
• Browse the web privately
• Use passkeys in Safari
• Check stocks
• Manage multiple watchlists
• Read business news
• Add earnings reports to your calendar
• Use a Stocks widget
• Translate text, voice, and conversations
• Translate text in apps
• Translate with the camera view
• Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or an Apple TV channel
• Add your TV provider
• Get shows, movies, and more
• Watch sports
• Watch Major League Soccer with MLS Season Pass
• Control playback
• Manage your library
• Change the settings
• Make a recording
• Play it back
• Edit or delete a recording
• Keep recordings up to date
• Organize recordings
• Search for or rename a recording
• Share a recording
• Duplicate a recording
• Keep cards and passes in Wallet
• Set up Apple Pay
• Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
• Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
• Track your orders
• Use Apple Cash
• Use Apple Card
• Use Savings
• Pay for transit
• Access your home, hotel room, and vehicle
• Add identity cards
• Use COVID-19 vaccination cards
• Check your Apple Account balance
• Use Express Mode
• Organize your Wallet
• Remove cards or passes
• Check the weather
• Check the weather in other locations
• View weather maps
• Manage weather notifications
• Use Weather widgets
• Learn the weather icons
• Find out what Siri can do
• Tell Siri about yourself
• Have Siri announce calls and notifications
• Add Siri Shortcuts
• About Siri Suggestions
• Use Siri in your car
• Change Siri settings
• Contact emergency services
• Use Emergency SOS via satellite
• Request Roadside Assistance via satellite
• Set up and view your Medical ID
• Use Check In
• Manage Crash Detection
• Reset privacy and security settings in an emergency
• Set up Family Sharing
• Add Family Sharing members
• Remove Family Sharing members
• Share subscriptions
• Share purchases
• Share locations with family and locate lost devices
• Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
• Set up parental controls
• Set up a child’s device
• Get started with Screen Time
• Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
• Set up Screen Time
• Set communication and safety limits and block inappropriate content
• Charging cable
• Power adapters
• MagSafe chargers and battery packs
• MagSafe cases and sleeves
• Qi-certified wireless chargers
• Use AirPods
• Use EarPods
• Apple Watch
• Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
• Connect to a display with a cable
• HomePod and other wireless speakers
• Pair Magic Keyboard
• Enter characters with diacritical marks
• Switch between keyboards
• Use shortcuts
• Choose an alternative keyboard layout
• Change typing assistance options
• External storage devices
• Bluetooth accessories
• Share your internet connection
• Allow phone calls on your iPad and Mac
• Use iPhone as a webcam
• Hand off tasks between devices
• Cut, copy, and paste between iPhone and other devices
• Stream video or mirror the screen of your iPhone
• Start SharePlay instantly
• Use AirDrop to send items
• Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable
• Transfer files between devices
• Transfer files with email, messages, or AirDrop
• Transfer files or sync content with the Finder or iTunes
• Automatically keep files up to date with iCloud
• Use an external storage device, a file server, or a cloud storage service
• Intro to CarPlay
• Connect to CarPlay
• Use your vehicle’s built-in controls
• Get turn-by-turn directions
• Change the map view
• Make phone calls
• View your calendar
• Send and receive text messages
• Announce incoming text messages
• Play podcasts
• Play audiobooks
• Listen to news stories
• Control your home
• Use other apps with CarPlay
• Rearrange icons on CarPlay Home
• Change settings in CarPlay
• Get started with accessibility features
• Turn on accessibility features for setup
• Change Siri accessibility settings
• Open features with Accessibility Shortcut
• Change color and brightness
• Make text easier to read
• Reduce onscreen motion
• Customize per-app visual settings
• Hear what’s on the screen or typed
• Hear audio descriptions
• Turn on and practice VoiceOver
• Change your VoiceOver settings
• Use VoiceOver gestures
• Operate iPhone when VoiceOver is on
• Control VoiceOver using the rotor
• Use the onscreen keyboard
• Write with your finger
• Use VoiceOver with an Apple external keyboard
• Use a braille display
• Type braille on the screen
• Customize gestures and keyboard shortcuts
• Use VoiceOver with a pointer device
• Use VoiceOver for images and videos
• Use VoiceOver in apps
• Use AssistiveTouch
• Adjust how iPhone responds to your touch
• Use Reachability
• Auto-answer calls
• Turn off vibration
• Change Face ID and attention settings
• Use Voice Control
• Adjust the side or Home button
• Use Apple TV Remote buttons
• Adjust pointer settings
• Adjust keyboard settings
• Adjust AirPods settings
• Turn on Apple Watch Mirroring
• Control a nearby Apple device
• Intro to Switch Control
• Set up and turn on Switch Control
• Select items, perform actions, and more
• Control several devices with one switch
• Use hearing devices
• Use Live Listen
• Use sound recognition
• Set up and use RTT and TTY
• Flash the LED for alerts
• Adjust audio settings
• Play background sounds
• Display subtitles and captions
• Show transcriptions for Intercom messages
• Get Live Captions (beta)
• Type to speak
• Record a Personal Voice
• Use Guided Access
• Use built-in privacy and security protections
• Set a passcode
• Set up Face ID
• Set up Touch ID
• Control access to information on the Lock Screen
• Keep your Apple ID secure
• Use passkeys to sign in to apps and websites
• Sign in with Apple
• Share passwords
• Automatically fill in strong passwords
• Change weak or compromised passwords
• View your passwords and related information
• Share passkeys and passwords securely with AirDrop
• Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices
• Automatically fill in verification codes
• Automatically fill in SMS passcodes
• Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges
• Use two-factor authentication
• Use security keys
• Manage information sharing with Safety Check
• Control app tracking permissions
• Control the location information you share
• Control access to information in apps
• Control how Apple delivers advertising to you
• Control access to hardware features
• Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
• Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
• Use a private network address
• Use Advanced Data Protection
• Use Lockdown Mode
• Use Stolen Device Protection
• Receive warnings about sensitive content
• Use Contact Key Verification
• Turn iPhone on or off
• Force restart iPhone
• Back up iPhone
• Return iPhone settings to their defaults
• Restore all content from a backup
• Restore purchased and deleted items
• Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone
• Erase iPhone
• Install or remove configuration profiles
• Important safety information
• Important handling information
• Find more resources for software and service
• FCC compliance statement
• ISED Canada compliance statement
• Ultra Wideband information
• Class 1 Laser information
• Apple and the environment
• Disposal and recycling information
• Unauthorized modification of iOS

Browse the web using Safari on iPhone

View websites with Safari

You can easily navigate a webpage with a few taps.

Get back to the top: Double-tap the top edge of the screen to quickly return to the top of a long page.

See more of the page: Turn iPhone to landscape orientation.

Refresh the page: Pull down from the top of the page.

Preview website links

Touch and hold a link in Safari to see a preview of the link without opening the page. To open the link, tap the preview, or choose Open.

To close the preview and stay on the current page, tap anywhere outside the preview.

Translate a webpage or image

When you view a webpage or image that’s in another language, you can use Safari to translate the text (not available in all languages or regions).

Add Safari back to your Home Screen

If you don’t see Safari on your Home Screen, you can find it in App Library and add it back.

On the Home Screen, swipe left until you see the App Library.

Enter “Safari” in the search field.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

#protect2024 Secure Our World Shields Up Report A Cyber Issue

Tips to Stay Safe while Surfing the Web, Part 1: Web Browser Settings

Description, the bottom line.

Web browsers, such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, are a rich target for threat actors because they collect extensive amounts of personal information. In addition, threat actors often use web browsers to spread malware since people rely on them heavily for access to the internet. To mitigate these risks, you should:

• Keep your browser up to date and routinely close out of it.
• Clear cookies and stored data from your browser.
• Adjust browser settings to prevent it from storing your data and cookies.
• Properly vet extensions before adding them to your browser.

The Problem

Threat actors often exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers to spread malware.

Web browsers are very attractive targets for cyber threat actors since they are one of the most commonly used apps. If you do not take the proper security precautions, threat actors can exploit vulnerabilities in your web browser and disseminate malware.

Web browsers collect mountains of personal information, which could be lost or exposed in a data breach.

Web browsers include several mechanisms that accumulate and store information that reveals a lot about your interests, habits, work, and identity. Since it can be hard to know who can access this information, surfing the web without taking measures to safeguard your privacy puts you at risk.

 Here are some common ways that web browsers collect information about you:

• Geolocational data

Malicious websites could abuse access to your location, camera, and microphone to monitor your activity, conversations, and whereabouts.

Websites might also request your permission to send you pop-up notifications. When pop-up notification permissions are enabled on your web browser, a threat actor could use pop-up notifications as part of a phishing campaign or to deliver malware. The intention is to frustrate or overwhelm the user with pop-ups to get them to click on a link they otherwise would not have.

• Cookies. Cookies instruct your web browser to collect, store, and share information about your browsing habits, including your website history, search history, the links you click on, the content you interact with on social media, etc., and share this information with the cookie owner. Data brokers and advertising networks often use cookies to compile and sell your information. Threat actors can also develop cookies to obtain information about potential targets. In sum, cookies pose risks to your privacy due to the vast amount of intimate information they can obtain and the difficulty of knowing who is receiving information from these cookies.  
• Browsing history – Your browser can record every website you have ever visited.
• Saved form data – Your browser saves your personal data to autofill certain information fields on forms for you (e.g., name, email address, date of birth, address, phone number, and credit card information).
• Locational data – Even without a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, your browser can use your IP address, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to collect and share information about your location with websites.
• Account credentials – Many browsers give you the option to store your account credentials. This makes your credentials vulnerable to leakage if a cyber threat actor successfully exploits vulnerabilities in the browser or your operating system .
• Download history – Your browser can show every file you have downloaded and the file path to where you have it stored on your device, making it easy for threat actors to find data of interest.
• Personal data – Your browser can also collect data about your browsing habits and device activity and share it with third parties to deliver targeted advertisements to you.

The Solution

Protect yourself against malware.

• If available, turn on automatic updates.
• Restart your browser regularly to allow the security updates to take effect. (Note: Some browsers may automatically download the newest updates but require the application to be closed and restarted to activate the newest update.)
• If you are logged into an account associated with your web browser (e.g., you’re logged into your Google account while using Google Chrome, or logged into your Microsoft account while using Microsoft Edge), enable multifactor authentication to protect your account. (See Project Upskill Topic 2.2 . )  

Limit the amount of personal data that your browser saves and stores.

• Clear stored data from your browser history (including your browsing history, location, and downloads). If possible, update your settings to “never save” or “clear when you close your browser.”
• Do not save payment information in your web browser.
• Be wary of using your browser’s native password manager. ( Note: You should store your passwords in a password manager not related to your browser so they are safe even if a threat actor compromises the browser. See Topic 2.1 for more guidance on password managers.)
• Do not allow your browser to save and autofill sensitive data in online forms.
• Manage the ad settings in your browser to turn off ad personalization.

Limit the amount of data that websites and third parties can obtain through your browser.

• Clear cookies from your history. (Most browsers have this option under “Privacy & Security” in Settings.)
• Enable browser settings to automatically clear cookies when you close your browser. ( Note: Regularly close your browser.)
• Enable any browser settings that allow you to limit cookies during your browser session. ( Note: First-party cookies, or cookies that belong to the website you are visiting, may be required for the website to function properly. As a result, you should allow the first-party cookies and clear them when you exit the website to prevent them from tracking you for longer periods of time.)
• If available, enable browser settings that block third-party cookies to limit tracking from websites and organizations you do not visit.
• Note: See USSOCOM’s Social Media Smart Cards for specific instructions on how to complete these steps for some of the most popular browsers.

Restrict site permissions as much as possible.

• Do not give websites access to your location, camera, or microphone unless these permissions are required for the website to function properly.

Properly vet browser extensions.

• Follow Project Upskill Topic 1.4 to ensure any browser extensions meet your privacy and security needs.
• One extension that CISA recommends is AdBlock. AdBlock can help block advertisements and unwanted pop-ups that carry malware. You can find a link to AdBlock on our webpage Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools | CISA .
• Update your browser regularly.
• Close out of your browser regularly.
• Enable MFA if your browser is connected with an account.
• Clear stored data from your browser history.
• Turn off ad personalization in your browser settings.
• Regularly clear cookies from your history.
• Enable settings to limit cookies.
• Vet your browser extensions before installing them.
• Allow your web browser to save and autofill your sensitive information.
• Save payment information in your web browser.
• Use the native password manager associated with your web browser.
• Give websites access to your location, camera, or microphone unless required for website functionality.

Project Upskill is a product of the  Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative .

Prerequisites

• Module 1: Basic Cybersecurity for Personal Computers and Mobile Devices
• Module 2: Protecting Your Accounts from Compromise
• Module 3: Protecting Data Stored on Your Devices
• Topic 4.0: How to Communicate Securely on Your Mobile Device

Related Training

Joint cyber defense collaborative (jcdc) cyber incident exercise discussion, follow cybersecurity best practices to protect yourself from tracking technologies and spyware, manage your online presence, limit your digital footprint.

Security Blog

Real-time, privacy-preserving url protection.

For more than 15 years, Google Safe Browsing has been protecting users from phishing, malware, unwanted software and more, by identifying and warning users about potentially abusive sites on more than 5 billion devices around the world. As attackers grow more sophisticated, we've seen the need for protections that can adapt as quickly as the threats they defend against. That’s why we're excited to announce a new version of Safe Browsing that will provide real-time, privacy-preserving URL protection for people using the Standard protection mode of Safe Browsing in Chrome.

Current landscape

Chrome automatically protects you by flagging potentially dangerous sites and files, hand in hand with Safe Browsing which discovers thousands of unsafe sites every day and adds them to its lists of harmful sites and files.

So far, for privacy and performance reasons, Chrome has first checked sites you visit against a locally-stored list of known unsafe sites which is updated every 30 to 60 minutes – this is done using hash-based checks .

Hash-based check overview

But unsafe sites have adapted — today, the majority of them exist for less than 10 minutes, meaning that by the time the locally-stored list of known unsafe sites is updated, many have slipped through and had the chance to do damage if users happened to visit them during this window of opportunity. Further, Safe Browsing’s list of harmful websites continues to grow at a rapid pace. Not all devices have the resources necessary to maintain this growing list, nor are they always able to receive and apply updates to the list at the frequency necessary to benefit from full protection.

Safe Browsing’s Enhanced protection mode already stays ahead of such threats with technologies such as real-time list checks and AI-based classification of malicious URLs and web pages. We built this mode as an opt-in to give users the choice of sharing more security-related data in order to get stronger security. This mode has shown that checking lists in real time brings significant value, so we decided to bring that to the default Standard protection mode through a new API – one that doesn't share the URLs of sites you visit with Google.

Introducing real-time, privacy-preserving Safe Browsing

How it works.

In order to transition to real-time protection, checks now need to be performed against a list that is maintained on the Safe Browsing server. The server-side list can include unsafe sites as soon as they are discovered, so it is able to capture sites that switch quickly. It can also grow as large as needed because the Safe Browsing server is not constrained in the same way that user devices are.

Behind the scenes, here's what is happening in Chrome:

• When you visit a site, Chrome first checks its cache to see if the address (URL) of the site is already known to be safe (see the “Staying speedy and reliable” section for details).
• If the visited URL is not in the cache, it may be unsafe, so a real-time check is necessary.
• Chrome obfuscates the URL by following the URL hashing guidance to convert the URL into 32-byte full hashes.
• Chrome truncates the full hashes into 4-byte long hash prefixes.
• Chrome encrypts the hash prefixes and sends them to a privacy server (see the “Keeping your data private” section for details).
• The privacy server removes potential user identifiers and forwards the encrypted hash prefixes to the Safe Browsing server via a TLS connection that mixes requests with many other Chrome users.
• The Safe Browsing server decrypts the hash prefixes and matches them against the server-side database, returning full hashes of all unsafe URLs that match one of the hash prefixes sent by Chrome.
• After receiving the unsafe full hashes, Chrome checks them against the full hashes of the visited URL.
• If any match is found, Chrome will show a warning.

Keeping your data private

In order to preserve user privacy, we have partnered with Fastly , an edge cloud platform that provides content delivery, edge compute, security, and observability services, to operate an Oblivious HTTP (OHTTP) privacy server between Chrome and Safe Browsing – you can learn more about Fastly's commitment to user privacy on their Customer Trust page . With OHTTP, Safe Browsing does not see your IP address, and your Safe Browsing checks are mixed amongst those sent by other Chrome users. This means Safe Browsing cannot correlate the URL checks you send as you browse the web.

Before hash prefixes leave your device, Chrome encrypts them using a public key from Safe Browsing. These encrypted hash prefixes are then sent to the privacy server. Since the privacy server doesn’t know the private key, it cannot decrypt the hash prefixes, which offers privacy from the privacy server itself.

The privacy server then removes potential user identifiers such as your IP address and forwards the encrypted hash prefixes to the Safe Browsing server. The privacy server is operated independently by Fastly, meaning that Google doesn’t have access to potential user identifiers (including IP address and User Agent) from the original request. Once the Safe Browsing server receives the encrypted hash prefixes from the privacy server, it decrypts the hash prefixes with its private key and then continues to check the server-side list.

Ultimately, Safe Browsing sees the hash prefixes of your URL but not your IP address, and the privacy server sees your IP address but not the hash prefixes. No single party has access to both your identity and the hash prefixes. As such, your browsing activity remains private.

Real-time check overview

Staying speedy and reliable

Compared with the hash-based check, the real-time check requires sending a request to a server, which adds additional latency. We have employed a few techniques to make sure your browsing experience continues to be smooth and responsive.

First, before performing the real-time check, Chrome checks against a global and local cache on your device to avoid unnecessary delay.

• The global cache is a list of hashes of known-safe URLs that is served by Safe Browsing. Chrome fetches it in the background. If any full hash of the URL is found in the global cache, Chrome will consider it less risky and perform a hash-based check instead.
• The local cache, on the other hand, is a list of full hashes that are saved from previous Safe Browsing checks. If there is a match in the local cache, and the cache has not yet expired, Chrome will not send a real-time request to the Safe Browsing server.

Both caches are stored in memory, so it is much faster to check them than sending a real-time request over the network.

In addition, Chrome follows a fallback mechanism in case of unsuccessful or slow requests. If the real-time request fails consecutively, Chrome will enter a back-off mode and downgrade the checks to hash-based checks for a certain period.

We are also in the process of introducing an asynchronous mechanism , which will allow the site to load while the real-time check is in progress. This will improve the user experience, as the real-time check won’t block page load.

What real-time, privacy-preserving URL protection means for you

Chrome users.

With the latest release of Chrome for desktop, Android, and iOS, we’re upgrading the Standard protection mode of Safe Browsing so it will now check sites using Safe Browsing’s real-time protection protocol, without sharing your browsing history with Google. You don't need to take any action to benefit from this improved functionality.

If you want more protection, we still encourage you to turn on the Enhanced protection mode of Safe Browsing. You might wonder why you need enhanced protection when you'll be getting real-time URL protection in Standard protection – this is because in Standard protection mode, the real-time feature can only protect you from sites that Safe Browsing has already confirmed to be unsafe. On the other hand, Enhanced protection mode is able to use additional information together with advanced machine learning models to protect you from sites that Safe Browsing may not yet have confirmed to be unsafe, for example because the site was only very recently created or is cloaking its true behavior to Safe Browsing’s detection systems.

Enhanced protection also continues to offer protection beyond real-time URL checks, for example by providing deep scans for suspicious files and extra protection from suspicious Chrome extensions.

Enterprises

The real-time feature of the Standard protection mode of Safe Browsing is on by default for Chrome. If needed, it may be configured using the policy SafeBrowsingProxiedRealTimeChecksAllowed . It is also worth noting that in order for this feature to work in Chrome, enterprises may need to explicitly allow traffic to the Fastly privacy server. If the server is not reachable, Chrome will downgrade the checks to hash-based checks.

While Chrome is the first surface where these protections are available, we plan to make them available to eligible developers for non-commercial use cases via the Safe Browsing API. Using the API, developers and privacy server operators can partner to better protect their products’ users from fast-moving malicious actors in a privacy-preserving manner. To learn more, keep an eye out for our upcoming developer documentation to be published on the Google for Developers site.

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More From Forbes

Apple loses key developer to rival browser company.

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With the web browser a key part of any operating system, a shift in how browsers work will impact countless users' lives. This makes today’s hiring announcement by The Browser Company’s CEO Josh Miller is both intriguing and important.

Safari icon displayed on an iPhone (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

" Huge hiring news to share: Apple’s Safari browser has 2 lead designers. Today we’re welcoming one of them, Charlie Deets to The Browser Company team! It’s a big deal for us — and plays into a larger strategic bet we’re making in 2024. "

That move involves the key phrase that will be mentioned in almost every product launch: the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence. Following the announcement, Miller goes on to talk about the company’s plans to integrate AI into its Arc Browser with the tagline “the browser that browses for you.” To accommodate the new way of thinking about the browsing experience, use the browser to support you pro-actively.

That requires thinking about the interface desig, and that’s where hiring Charlie Deets is important.

Unlike a desktop browser, any browser running on an iPhone or iPad is forced to use Apple's own Webkit rendering engine (a practice called out by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act). To make any material difference in the iPhone browser experience, it cannot be made in how the pages are rendered or laid out, but instead have to be in the interface. The use of AI in the Arc Browser offers something more than a light reskinning of the WebKit browser engine to look different to Safari.

How much difference can AI make to the underlying experience? Arc can answer that, assuming The Browser Company can find a happy user base to buy into the vision. Yet there is something bigger in the wings; Apple’s expected showcasing of AI at the upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference should help with the idea of AI in a browser… how much of that AI influence will be adopted by Safari and how much Apple will leave for third parties to leverage?

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The Best Way Yet to Measure Browser Performance">Speedometer 3.0: The Best Way Yet to Measure Browser Performance

Mar 11, 2024

by Ryosuke Niwa

As announced on browserbench.org today, in collaboration with other browser engine developers, Apple’s WebKit team is excited to introduce Speedometer 3.0 , a major update that better reflects the Web of today. It’s built together by the developers of all major browser engines: Blink, Gecko, and WebKit with hundreds of contributions from companies like Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Mozilla. This post is a deep dive into how the collaborative Speedometer project improved the benchmark’s measurements methods and test content.

To recap history, in 2014, the WebKit team at Apple released the Speedometer browser benchmark , designed to measure the responsiveness of websites and web apps.

The original Speedometer simulated user interactions in web applications, driving TodoMVC sample apps written using different JavaScript frameworks to add, complete, and remove todo items. It was unlike other DOM or web app benchmarks publicly available at the time. These older benchmarks were mostly collections of micro-benchmarks, and didn’t reflect how DOM APIs were used in real web apps, or how individual APIs interacted with the rest of the web browser engine. Speedometer quickly became an important tool for performance measurement and tuning not just in WebKit but also in other browser engines.

In 2018 the WebKit team, in collaboration with Google’s Chrome team, released Speedometer 2.0 , updated to use the latest frameworks and libraries available at the time. The Speedometer benchmark has since gained even more popularity among browser engines as a guide for optimization, and among independent testers and reviewers to compare different devices, operating systems, and browsers.

Today’s release of Speedometer 3.0 marks a major step forward in web browser performance testing. It improves the accuracy of measurement and measures the performance of a wide variety of contents.

Cross-Browser Collaboration

Speedometer 3.0’s release is a result of the collaboration among browser developers to improve the Web as a whole together. Much as Interop 2024 represents joint work to test and improve standards compliance, Speedometer 3.0 is a joint effort to test and improve browser performance.

Where previous Speedometer versions were developed as part of the WebKit project, Speedometer 3.0 has been developed and released under a joint multi-stakeholder governance model including the three major engine browsers: Blink, Gecko, and WebKit, and the repository has received hundreds of open source contributions since the original announcement in December 2022 . This collaboration better ensures fairness in measurement and workload composition. And together, the group created a shared vision for the benchmark.

Improved Test Harness

We’ve improved the way Speedometer measures runtime performance. Prior Speedometer versions measured the time to run a test script synchronously as “sync” time; and the time until a zero-delay timer scheduled at the end of “sync” work fires as “async” time, as shown in the following diagram:

However, this method sometimes misses important work that browser engines do in response to script-driven changes, because synchronous tasks and the zero-delay timer are scheduled without considering the timing of rendering updates. It also didn’t capture any work frameworks delay until the next requestAnimationFrame (rAF) callback, a common technique in modern frameworks. The following diagram illustrates how important work could be missed by the time calculations.

Speedometer 3.0 takes advantage of the fact that all browser engines have adopted the HTML5 event loop model for updating the webpage rendering. It measures test scripts within a requestAnimationFrame callback as “sync” time, and the time to fire zero-delay timer scheduled in a second requestAnimationFrame as “async” time:

Because the zero-delay timer is now scheduled in a second requestAnimationFrame, it’s guaranteed to be fired after all the zero-delay timers scheduled during the synchronous portion of the test had fired. Thanks to HTML5’s event loop processing model, browser engines update the rendering of web pages after all requestAnimationFrame are called before the next zero-delay timer fires. These changes greatly improved Speedometer’s ability to accurately measure the runtime of synchronous work and asynchronous work browsers do in response to script that handles user events.

The test harness has also been rewritten to use modern JavaScript features like modules, native promises, let & const, async & await, and class syntax, which were not widely available at the time Speedometer 1.0 was first written.

Like its precursors, Speedometer 3.0 sums up the runtime taken to simulate user actions such as adding todo items, completing them, and removing them per each workload, and computes the geometric mean of the totals across different workloads. The final score is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the reciprocal of the geometric mean:

Adjustment to Score

Since Speedometer’s benchmark content was last updated in 2018, web browsers have gotten increasingly better at handling Speedometer content. Moreover, new hardware, such as Apple Silicon Macs, continues to push the boundary of what’s possible in computing. Where originally scores were scaled to be under 100, modern browsers now can score over 500 on the fastest devices. To make scores easier to compare and to make room for future improvements, we’ve adjusted the score so that a typical web browser will get a score in the 20-30 range to start out.

Updated UI Frameworks

Now let’s take a look at the test content in Speedometer 3. Like the past versions of Speedometer, version 3.0 includes TodoMVC-based todo apps that emulate adding, completing, and removing todo items. To better represent the modern Web, the most widely used JavaScript UI frameworks were identified from the HTTP Archive in March 2023:

The monthly downloads in NPM was also taken into account to find frameworks with high momentum:

Based on these data points, we’ve included the following JavaScript frameworks in our todo apps: Angular , Backbone , jQuery , Lit , Preact , React , React+ Redux , Svelte , and Vue . For each framework, the most commonly used version at the time was picked. Todo implementations written in vanilla JavaScript using ES5, ES6, and web components are also included.

Complex DOM Versions

In addition, Speedometer 3.0 includes “complex DOM” versions of some of the TodoMVC applications. In these complex DOM versions, each todo app is embedded inside a UI structure which mimics a web application with many deeply nested DOM nodes and plenty of CSS rules. Even though the benchmark still emulates the same set of operations, doing so in the context of more DOM elements and CSS rules adds work and captures additional performance bottlenecks.

In order to ensure the variety of performance scenarios to be tested, Speedometer 3.0 includes 6 simple DOM todo applications and 6 complex DOM todo applications.

Broader Content

Together, these changes to todo apps dramatically improved the coverage of the benchmark. But Speedometer 3.0 takes it a step further and includes entirely new kinds of applications.

Speedometer 3.0 includes two test apps that mimic typical news sites, built using the popular single page application frameworks Next.js and Nuxt . It emulates user actions such as clicking on menu items and navigating to another page in the single page app setup.

Speedometer 3.0 also includes four charting applications based on Observable Plot , chart.js , React stockcharts , and WebKit’s performance dashboards . Observable Plot and React Stockcharts are based on D3 and test manipulating SVG-based graphics. Chart.js and WebKit’s performance dashboards test drawing canvas-based graphics.

Finally, Speedometer 3.0 has added two text editing applications: a JavaScript code editor built with CodeMirror and a WYSIWYG editor built with TipTap . In both scenarios, it emulates the steps to create a new editable region, loading a large amount of text, and syntax highlighting or boldening text:

The addition of these new applications dramatically broadens the scope of what Speedometer 3.0 measures, and provide new opportunities for browser engines to optimize a broad spectrum of features like JavaScript, style, layout, graphics, and DOM.

Future Work

Today marks a remarkable milestone for the Web platform. Speedometer 3.0 sets a whole new standard for measuring web browser performance. As browser developers optimize their engines, this will expand the horizon of what Web developers can achieve in the years to come. Because the goal of the Speedometer benchmark is to reflect the real-world Web as much as possible, we’re expecting this benchmark to evolve over time. We’ll be regularly updating the list of frameworks to be tested, and periodically updating the tested framework’s versions to reflect the real world usage. You can try Speedometer 3 benchmark on browserbench.org . If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to file issues on Github .

Goodbye Safari, Hello Arc? Apple's Browser Design Veteran Joins The Browser Company

A key designer behind Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Safari browser has left the company to join  The Browser Company , the firm behind the Arc web browser.

What Happened : The departure of  Charlie Deets , one of Apple’s lead designers for Safari, Applewas announced by  Josh Miller , CEO of The Browser Company, on Monday. Deets had been with Apple for five years and was responsible for the design of Safari, Home, Privacy, Accessibility, and Screen Sharing.

In his announcement, Miller described Deets as one of the two lead designers for Safari at Apple. Deets confirmed his move to The Browser Company on his personal X , formerly Twitter , account.

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Why It Matters : The Browser Company has been making waves in the browser industry with its innovative approach. Earlier this year, the company introduced a new iOS app ,  Arc Search , which combines a browser, search engine, and AI to offer a different web search experience.

Deets’s extensive experience in browser design could further bolster The Browser Company’s position in the market.

Last month, The Browser Company also announced that it had raised $50 million at a $550 million valuation. The company plans to make Arc generally available on Windows, Mac, and iOS with a single cross-platform syncing system by this summer, reported 9To5Mac.

Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Consumer Tech by  following this link.

Image Source – The Browser Company

Read Next:  Is This Real? Elon Musk Posts About Becoming Disney’s DEI Chief: ‘Can’t Wait To Work With Bob Iger’

Disclaimer:  This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

This article Goodbye Safari, Hello Arc? Apple's Browser Design Veteran Joins The Browser Company originally appeared on Benzinga.com .