Section 1.1: The Desperate Plea

And that’s just the beginning. The more you attempt to part ways, the more Edge insists on keeping you around.

This has to be some of the most cringe-worthy marketing language I've encountered in a while.

Can you genuinely put your faith in Microsoft's assurances? I’m skeptical. Is it wise to trust Microsoft over Google?

Interestingly, Microsoft isn't alone in this tactic. When you access Google on a browser other than Chrome, it bombards you with irritating notifications.

Oh dear. Google, I understand your eagerness for me to download Chrome, but this banner is excessive. It's nearly impossible to see the Google logo without first dismissing this intrusive advertisement.

Apple takes a subtler approach, with notifications that are less overwhelming.

Section 1.2: Evaluating the Browsers

So, which of the three major browsers reigns supreme?

Many users initially turned to Chrome for its speed. However, after testing all three native browsers with Browser Bench Speedometer 2.0, it appears that Safari outperforms Chrome, with Edge trailing just behind.

The findings were clear: Safari scored 208, Chrome 185, and Edge 175.

Both Google and Microsoft depend heavily on web advertising for revenue, which means they have a vested interest in tracking user behavior. In contrast, Apple primarily profits from its iPhones and has been vocal about privacy concerns.

Privacy is increasingly becoming a reason for users to abandon Chrome. Experts have long cautioned that Chrome collects vast amounts of user data—data that would astound anyone who glimpsed its server logs.

Google's tracking methods include:

1. Cookies: Each search adds a cookie to your browser, allowing Google to monitor your activity.
2. In-browser tracking: Even without using Google Search, Chrome can log your every keystroke.
3. Fingerprinting: Chrome can identify your device and collect identifiable data, even if cookies are disabled.
4. Wi-Fi sniffing: Google gathers Wi-Fi data via its street view cars, enabling profiling based solely on Wi-Fi information.

I decided to assess all three native browsers using the Panopticlick tracking test, and the results confirmed what many already suspected.

Both Chrome and Edge failed to offer any protection against tracking, while Safari provided some level of defense.

However, neither Chrome nor Edge provided adequate safeguards against intrusive ads, invisible trackers, or fingerprinting. Although Safari offered the highest level of tracking protection, it still falls short compared to dedicated privacy-focused browsers like Brave.

While Brave does pass the tracking test, it may perform slightly slower than its competitors, with a score of around 85 on the Browser Bench Speedometer 2.0 test.

Despite some minor slowdowns with multiple tabs open, I found Brave quite appealing.

If privacy is a significant concern for you, Chrome is not a suitable choice, and Edge is simply another version of the same issue. Based on my experiences with speed and privacy, my preference is Safari. It feels cleaner and is better designed for my device.

While I may miss some Chrome extensions, I can easily integrate them into Brave when necessary.

So, are you ready to abandon Chrome?

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