There are a lot of browsers in the market today. Each of them comes with their own unique set of features that appeal to different types of users. However, if privacy is the first and foremost thing in your mind, then you might want to avoid these mobile browsers if you want to protect your data.
These mobile browsers collect your location data
According to a recent Surfshark report, eight out of fifteen mobile browsers they tested were collecting location data. And yes, this includes all the major browsers. Based on their research, Yandex tops the list as the location data it collects is both precise and approximate.
It uses your location data for the app’s functionality, analytics, advertising, personalization, and fraud prevention. Next is Google’s Chrome, which collects all the same data but uses approximate location instead of precise location. Mozilla’s Firefox also appears to be just as guilty, along with Microsoft Edge. In fact, Edge was found to share location data with third parties.
Apple’s Safari also made the list, but it only uses approximate location and only for personalization purposes. Surfshark does note that maybe its data on Safari might not be 100% complete. “Data for Safari was collected from the Apple App Store and cross-referenced against Google Play Store entries, since Safari is not available on the Play Store,” says the report.
So, which browsers are safe?
Based on Surfshark’s research, there are a few mobile browsers that apparently do not collect location data. This includes DuckDuckGo and Brave, both of which are favored by privacy-minded users. Surprisingly, Samsung’s browser also makes it onto that list.
So, does this mean you should stop using the mobile browsers that collect your location data? That’s a hard question to answer, and it depends. If you’re a heavy Google user, using Chrome is a natural extension. It makes it easier to manage your accounts, browsing history, passwords, and so on.
Apple users might prefer using Safari simply because it’s native to iOS and macOS. Some users might use Edge because it’s bundled with Windows. Collecting location data doesn’t inherently make these bad browsers. But if you are concerned, you could always consider using a VPN.
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