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When you are deciding on the best browser to use on your MacBook, you’re usually attempting to balance privacy with efficiency. A more private browser may not be the fastest, and vice versa, so it’s important to first determine what matters to you most. With that said, there are a few browsers that always rank higher on tech experts’ lists when asked to pinpoint the one browser they never use. We spoke with experts about the one browser they consistently skip when working or playing on their MacBooks — this is what they had to say.
If privacy is of the utmost importance to you, Harriet Chan, co-founder of CocoFinder, suggests skipping Google Chrome altogether.
“Never use Google Chrome on your iOS device to ensure your privacy is respected and maintained,” Chan says. “The browser suggests protecting your privacy, but at the same time, it mines your data to sell you more material.”
Another reason that Chan says she won’t use Chrome is “the introduction of FLOC(Federated Learning of Cohorts), a secret algorithm that keeps track of the websites you visit and your online activity to assign you to a new group,” Chan says. “The idea is terrible as there are fears that the anonymized group IDs and IP Addresses will soon be recognized by third parties and used for targeted marketing and selling.”
Unlike Chrome, whose tabs are all under one session, with a browser like Safari, browsing initiated in one tab is isolated from browsing started in another, which stops websites from tracking your web activity, according to Chan. “Safari also blocks third-party cookies in its normal mode, a feature that’s not applicable in Chrome. Besides, since Safari is the stock browser on every iOS device, there is no excuse to use Chrome,” Chan says.
But Olivia Tan, co-founder at CocoFax, doesn’t necessarily agree. Because the choice of a browser is so personal, there may not be a one-size-fits-all option. Tan says she doesn’t use Safari.
“Safari will give you the worst browsing experience because the developers won't really be sure about the usage, as they will release features to the beta versions that have not yet been 100% tested or approved for an official release,” Tan says. “Now, I like to look at browsers in a different way, in other words, what you’re getting from them. Is convenience your primary concern, or is it privacy?”
Tan says her preferred browser for MacBook is Brave browser, due to the fact that it loads pages fast. “However, the main selling point for me (The browser is free by the way), is the fact that it allows you to customize your privacy as well as security,” Tan says. “You can block cross-site trackers, automatically upgrade connections to HTTPS, and block scripts. You can even block cross-site cookies and cross-site recognition. There are even global shield settings that you can customize.”
The browser you choose will be a personal decision, but keep in mind: they aren’t all one and the same – doing your homework on browsers ensures you’ll find one that meets your specific requirements for speed and privacy.
