How Much Privacy Protection Do Internet Browsers Offer?

Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox each offer unique privacy and security features. Is it enough?

When you’re browsing the web on your desktop or mobile device, chances are you’re using one of the “big four” browsers. Ranked in order by their number of total active users, they are: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox.

The parent companies of the “big four” recognize how concerned you are about protecting your privacy and identity, which is why they’ve been offering new features designed to protect your personal information and limit the amount of data captured when you browse the web.

But no matter how seriously these browsers are taking your privacy, know that no web browsing can truly be considered 100% private. In general, the big browsers aren’t able to provide all of the protections you need, especially if your data winds up for sale on so-called data broker sites, or if your information becomes compromised and is placed for sale on the dark web where cybercriminals lurk.

Let’s take a look at the four most popular internet browsers to see what they offer in terms of protecting your data, including key privacy settings. And we’ll examine what you can do to help fill in any privacy gaps when using them.

Google Chrome

According to StatCounter, Google’s Chrome is by far the most popular desktop web browser. While Chrome doesn’t have a particularly robust suite of built-in privacy features, it does offer some data protections, such as Safe Browsing, in which you’re alerted if the website you’re visiting could be harmful to your device or data. Additionally, Chrome uses open-source architecture; this makes it easier for third-party developers to offer extensions that can be added by users for enhanced privacy.

Be aware of tracking cookies, which currently underpin digital advertising, when using Chrome. In 2020, Google had announced a plan to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome, but that plan has been pushed to 2024.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge comes standard for Windows users, and is compatible with Windows 10 and above, as well as MacOS and Linux. It receives mixed reviews in terms of user privacy. However, Edge is continually adding new features, and it currently offers safeguards such as a tool called Windows Defender SmartScreen, which automatically blocks suspicious websites and downloads.

While Edge offers the ability to send Do Not Track requests to websites, it can’t guarantee that those sites won’t track your activities even after the Do Not Track request is sent.

Apple Safari

Apple’s native browser, Safari, gets generally good reviews when it comes to user privacy. For example, it offers a tool called Intelligent Tracking Prevention, designed to prevent third-party providers from tracking you across the web. It also offers the ability to hide your device’s IP address from trackers, and gives you the option to manually delete cookies.

Among Safari’s potential drawbacks: It offers only a limited number of third-party extensions, giving you fewer options for privacy add-ons. Also, Apple no longer makes Safari compatible with operating systems outside of its own, so if you run Windows or Android, you can only download an outdated, unsupported version of Safari, which is not ideal for security reasons.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox gets strong reviews overall for its privacy features, including Enhanced Tracking Protection. According to its parent company Mozilla, Enhanced Tracking Protection “blocks trackers that follow you around online to collect information about your browsing habits and interests without breaking site functionality.”

Should your data wind up on “people search” (data broker) sites, Mozilla does offer a tool that allows you to request data removal. However, unlike IDX’s ForgetMe tool, which removes users’ data profiles from more than 100 data broker sites automatically and continuously, Mozilla’s data-removal tool does not automatically keep removing your data if or when it reappears on those sites; you’ll need to make a new removal request each time this happens.

How to enhance your protection, regardless of browser

The bottom line: Each of the four major browsers offers at least some basic level of privacy protection. However, if you’re serious about your privacy, and want to take extra measures to ensure that your data profile doesn’t end up in the wrong hands, consider adding a comprehensive privacy protection plan like the options available through IDX. These plans include features built around the early detection of breached information as well as continuous removal of data from unwanted websites. Designed for compatibility with all major desktop and mobile browsers, the IDX tools include:

CyberScan Dark Web Monitoring

Data breaches can and do happen, no matter which browser you use. IDX’s CyberScan tool continuously monitors all layers of the web, from the surface web we’re all familiar with, to the dark web where fraudsters buy and sell stolen identities, to alert you should your personal information become compromised. You’ll gain valuable time to take action before the data breach results in actual identity theft.

ForgetMe Automatic Data Removal

There are more than 100 data brokers or “people search” sites that scour the internet collecting your private information, then sell it to advertisers and other groups. IDX’s ForgetMe tool automatically gets your data profile removed from these sites. Critically, it keeps scanning the data broker sites to see if your profile has reappeared; when this happens, it automatically repeats the removal request as often as necessary until the site stops posting your data.

While the “big four” browsers each have their own advantages and unique features, the truth is that none offer full privacy protection. For optimal peace of mind, and to fill in any data-privacy gaps when using these browsers, don’t forget to add 24/7 privacy and identity protection.