Cybercrimes are on a steady rise. The internet is full of malicious websites, malware and third-party apps trying to steal your data. An internet browser is a critical tool to help keep us safe from online attacks. At the same time, a good browser should also function well and be user friendly.
Here are some of the safest and best internet browsers.
Chrome
Google Chrome is one of the most popular internet browsers right now. It has a simple and user-friendly interface making it easy to use for people who are not well versed with the latest technology. It has a huge library of extensions.
Google Chrome works well on a variety of devices and is compatible with macOS X 10.10, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Ubuntu, Linux and many other operating systems. It works well as a mobile browser too on both Android and Apple devices.
Chrome’s desktop version can eat far more RAM than other browsers. This can become a problem for users with low amounts of RAM or if they open too many tabs.
Features
Chrome keeps its interface simple by not overwhelming its users with many features. There is a search bar, navigation controls and your downloaded extensions. This helps in keeping your workspace simple so that you can focus on your work at hand.
While Chrome keeps its features minimal, it offers a large number of options when it comes to extensions. No other browser offers as many third-party features as Chrome. There is an extension for all your basic needs, whether it be bookmarking, saving your preferences, proofreading your work or anything else.
One of the reasons why so many people opt for Google Chrome is because of its cross connectivity between devices. If you already use Google, it’s easy to sync your data that you can access from any of your devices. This also makes installing and loading up your history on Google Chrome much easier.
If you use Google’s other services such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Translate or any other service, you can integrate these services on the Chrome browser. The browser also comes with a built-in PDF reader although it doesn’t have as many features as a dedicated PDF reader.
Security
If you ever stumble upon an unsafe website with an invalid security certificate, Google Chrome sends you a warning. All the pop-ups are blocked automatically. If you want to allow a pop-up, you have to manually permit it.
Google Chrome doesn’t come with an in-built adblocker but you may install one from the Google web store for free. You can also safely store your passwords with this browser. These passwords are protected by system security.
There is an issue of privacy with Google Chrome as Google is notorious for using your data to tailor ads. However, it doesn’t sell your data to any third party. If you want to prevent this browser from collecting your data, you have to manually disable some features.
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is another popular option on this list. It is fast and keeps your information secure. Since Mozilla is a nonprofit organization, it doesn’t sell your data for its own profits. This gives this browser an advantage over other browsers.
Just like Chrome, Firefox also keeps its interface clean and simple. However, it offers far more customization options than Chrome. You can customize almost every element of the browser and add buttons according to your needs.
Features
It comes with a built-in app called Pocket that helps you save any articles that you can read later on any device. If you read many articles, blogs, research papers, this tool can come in handy for you.
Another feature offered by Firefox is their screen capture tool. You can take a screenshot of your screen without scrolling using this feature. The mobile version of Firefox allows users to disable all images while browsing. This is helpful for people with limited data.
Many older websites and applications that do not work well with other browsers work really well with Firefox.
It uses significantly less RAM than Chrome.
Security
It comes with a pop-up blocker and also blocks any malicious websites. The biggest strength of Firefox is its ability to keep its users’ data private. It comes with strict controls that help you block any trackers that may be reading your data. You can block these trackers while still enabling the cookies.
Firefox’s data collection policy is also commendable. It doesn’t collect your private information and only anonymously collects numeric data for the purpose of development. You have the option to turn that off too in the settings menu.
Its commitment to privacy makes it one of the safest internet browsers. Since Mozilla is not trying to make a profit, users find it easier to trust Firefox. The company is very transparent and releases its financial report annually explaining its profits and expenses.
Puffin
Puffin is a great option for users who are worried about their internet safety and privacy. It is developed by CloudMosa and is a web-based browser. Puffin doesn’t require much RAM usage and saves its users significant bandwidth.
It has a unique approach to protect its users from malware and other malicious websites. It runs the website code on its own server before showing it to the user. Anything that might cause harm to your computer is loaded on Puffin’s server rather than your own device.
A drawback of using Puffin is that it’s not free. There are three different plans and the cheapest one costs $20 per year, but you can get one month’s free trial.
Features
Puffin’s best feature is that it runs and renders websites on the cloud. Since it loads websites on its own server first, there is no need for additional features such as safe browsing and pop-up blockers. It essentially functions like a VPN.
You can download files to cloud-based services such as Dropbox, Google Drive and more.
Puffin lacks many other common features that you may find with Chrome or Firefox. If you’re using Puffin on multiple devices, there’s no way to sync your data. You can only use four search engines—Google, Naver, Bing and Yandex.
There are a few countries such as China, UAE, Iran and Qatar that block Puffin. There are some sites that do not open on this browser.
Security
Because of its unique approach, you get unparalleled security with Puffin. There is no risk of your device getting infected because nothing is ever loaded on your device. This is also great for users’ privacy.
Edge
Microsoft Edge recently transformed massively with many updates to its user interface and features. It’s available on a variety of devices and has excellent features for mobile users.
Internet Explorer has long been criticized for its slow speed and lack of features. Although popular once, it lost in popularity to many faster and better browsers. This made Microsoft work hard on Edge.
Features
Since it’s based on Chromium, users of Edge have access to Chrome’s huge library of extensions. Microsoft also has many add-ons for Edge users. It also has a syncing feature similar to Chrome.
It has an ‘immersive reader’ mode that lets its users access a web page without images and other distractions making it easy to read long-form articles online. There is also a feature to read aloud any highlighted text making it convenient for users with a disability. It works well with the English language but not any other languages.
The mobile version of Edge offers a ‘NewsGuard’ feature. This feature analyses different news portals and rates them on how trustworthy they are. It also offers offline access to many websites that are added to its reading list.
It also comes with a built-in translator to access websites in different languages. It uses Bing Translator to translate and it offers translation from 69 languages.
Security
Edge uses the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen system to keep the data of its users safe. It also has a basic password manager to keep your passwords safe. There are no in-built ad blockers but you can download one as an extension. It blocks all pop-ups.
Microsoft’s privacy policy is not clear about what it protects and what it doesn’t. It doesn’t mention if they sell private data to third-party advertisers or not. There are options for disabling information but you have to manually do it in the settings.
Tenta
Tenta is a browser that is relatively new in the market. It focuses specifically on its users’ privacy and security. Although it has great features for safety, it doesn’t perform very well when it comes to speed. Its lackluster speed is not bad enough to make it a bad experience for its users though.
It’s only available for Android devices at present.
Features
It has an in-built VPN although the more advanced features can only be unlocked with a paid subscription. You can connect through servers located in 17 countries.
It offers a feature called ‘Media Vault’ where you can download any files and they are stored in a vault. This vault can only be accessed with a private key, making it a safe way to store your files.
It has the option of downloading any videos on the internet outside of Youtube. The browser also has an in-built ad blocker.
It offers a feature called ‘Nuke History’ that allows you to delete all your data related to a single domain or a website.
Security
The in-built VPN and ad blocker are great for securely browsing the internet. Since Tenta is an encrypted browser, your data is safe even when you are sharing your device with someone else.
Tenta doesn’t log your browsing history. The privacy policy is clear on what it does and doesn’t collect.
Vivaldi
This browser is developed by the same team as Opera. It has a great privacy policy and is easy to use. It’s based on Chromium and its users can access Chrome’s library of extensions.
It is light on RAM usage while still providing a user-friendly interface. It receives frequent security updates making it a very safe browser to use.
This browser is completely free to use. However, it is not accessible on iOS devices at the moment.
Features
It allows you to shut off auto-suggestions while browsing. It offers management and grouping of tabs which helps you keep track of your browsing. It comes with a built-in feature that allows you to take private notes and connect them to any website that you are using. It also comes with a screenshot feature.
It automatically blocks ads and any pop-ups. If you visit an insecure website, it notifies you with a clear warning.
Vivaldi has a great selection of options to customize the browser. There is also an option to change your theme every single day with a schedule that you can set up. You can also set your own keyboard shortcuts. There is an option of syncing your data if you register for a Vivaldi account.
If you enjoy blogging, Vivaldi makes it easy for you with its blogging features. It also has a feature to block audio from tabs that you are not actively using. This is a great feature for people who are used to working on multiple tabs.
Security
This browser uses Google Safe Browsing to offer its users a safe environment for browsing.
It only collects basic anonymized data from its users which is used to update its performance and is never sold to any third-party app.
Its privacy policy is direct and simple to understand. Vivaldi allows you to block cookies on any website that you are visiting.
The Bottom Line
Staying safe while browsing the internet is important. Since we all are online almost every day using our internet browsers, they are convenient avenues for cybercrimes. This is why choosing a good browser is important.
With this comprehensive list, we hope you’ll be able to find a browser that works well for you while keeping your data safe.
Lorenzo has been using the internet for as long as he can remember. He was there for the early days of message boards, he watched social media take over, and he’s excited to see what comes next.
