The latest story doing the rounds on tech sites is based on the results of a “study” by a company called Digitain to ascertain levels of browser privacy.
According to the Digitain report, Google Chrome is by far the least private browser… well, no sh*t Sherlock. In the study, rankings for browsers were evaluated on how they handled privacy, anti-fingerprinting, tracker and data blocking, connection, and navigation security. Here then are the results (scores are out of 100, and the lower the score, the better):
- ChatGPT Atlas – 99
- Google Chrome -76
- Vivaldi – 75
- Microsoft Edge – 63
- Opera – 58
- Ungoogled – 55
- Mozilla Firefox – 50
- Apple Safari – 49
- DuckDuckGo – 44
- Tor – 40
As it happens, I tend to agree with the rankings. However, that is based on experience plus common sense. I certainly wouldn’t need a “study” to tell me that Chrome is the least private of the mainstream browsers. And we’ve already reported on the dangers of the new AI Browsers (such as ChatGPT Atlas): Beware AI Browsers!
Even though I tend to agree with the rankings, I have two serious concerns over the authenticity of Digitain’s study and its findings:
- It’s been widely acknowledged that Brave is the most privacy-focused of the mainstream browsers, and any study of this type that omits Brave is surely lacking in credibility
- I’d never heard of Digitain, so I looked it up, fully expecting to see a security company or maybe an online privacy consultancy. But no… Digitain actually specializes in sports betting and gaming platform technology. Consequently, I have serious doubts about Digitain’s qualifications to perform any such study
In the end, as I mentioned earlier, any experienced user could easily come up with very similar rankings, and without the need for a so-called study.
BOTTOM LINE:
This story is more of the same clickbait from tech sites, stating the obvious while dressing it up as some sort of startling revelation.
As an aside, it amuses me no end that Chrome is widely recognized as the least private of the mainstream browsers yet continues to dominate market share. Go figure!
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I started using Brave a few weeks ago, and don’t think I’ll ever replace it. Nothing it can’t do, but seems to do it faster. Built-in adblocker is great.
Thanks Jim
You’ve been well and truly buring the midnight oil with all your columns this week covering others over the Xmas break !
I’ve written too much already so just agreeing with you that the browser security rankings seem as would be expected despite the potentially doubtful qualifications of the report authors. I guess people just install Chrome because Google sticks it in your face if you search the internet for a browser just as Microsoft tries to overwhelm you with Edge within Windows if you aren’t firm. I am satisified with Firefox on the PC (I have the little red lion Brave icon waiting patiently on my taskbar as well but tend to stick with Firefox most of the time).
Hope you had a great Xmas and New Year
Cheers
Reg
Thanks Reg. Wishing you and yours all the best for 2026.
Cheers… Jim
Jim you said Chrome was in last place but the list showed it in 2nd place?
Hey Robert,
As mentioned in the article, in that list lower scores are better, so the top listing is actually the worst for privacy down through to the bottom listing which is the best.
I said Chrome is the least private of the “mainstream” browsers. I’m leaving out ChatGPT Atlas because it is not a mainstream browser.
Hope that clarifies for you.
hi jim, and a happy new year. been using Waterfox for a year and really like it. never a problem or lockup, very customizable, easy to set up new profiles. have tried all the others and come back to this one. thanks for the nice article. Clas
Hey Clas,
Waterfox is a Firefox derivative, and Firefox is an excellent browser, so you’re in good hands.
I had not heard of Brave before. Thanks Jim.