WebProNews

Tag: Chrome

  • Google Reportedly Pays Apple for Chrome Search Revenue on iOS

    Google Reportedly Pays Apple for Chrome Search Revenue on iOS

    In what is sure to be a problem for both companies, an alleged secret non-compete agreement has come to light involving Chrome on iOS.

    According to The Register, Google pays Apple a portion of the revenue it receives from searches in the iOS version of its Chrome web browser. This arrangement is above and beyond what Google pays Apple to be the default search provider on the iPhone and iPad.

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a 356-page report in mid-June 2022 detailing the relationship between Google and Apple. Below is an excerpt from that report:

    Google pays Apple a share of the search revenue it earns from browser traffic on iOS in the following contexts: in return for being the default search provider on Safari, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from Safari search traffic; and pursuant to various commercial arrangements, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from [x] search traffic.

    The Register’s sources have told the outlet that the redacted “x” in the above text stands for “Chrome.”

    Such an arrangement would be relatively unusual since Apple doesn’t actually do anything worthy of receiving a portion of Google’s Chrome search revenue. A clue to the reasoning behind the deal may rest in a private antitrust lawsuit brought against both companies by the Alioto Law Firm in San Francisco.

    “Because more than half of Google’s search business was conducted through Apple devices, Apple was a major potential threat to Google, and that threat was designated by Google as ‘Code Red,’” the complaint argues. “Google paid billions of dollars to Apple and agreed to share its profits with Apple to eliminate the threat and fear of Apple as a competitor.”

    The Register reached out to attorney Joseph M. Alioto, who was not surprised by this report. He did, however, point out the legal issues if such a secret non-compete agreement truly exists.

    “The division of the market is per se illegal under the antitrust laws,” said Alioto.

    If The Register’s sources are correct, and the two companies have colluded to the degree reported, it could be exactly the smoking gun regulators need to take more definitive action against Apple and Google specifically, as well as Big Tech in general.

  • Google Is Prepping an iOS Browser That Uses Chrome’s Engine

    Google Is Prepping an iOS Browser That Uses Chrome’s Engine

    Google’s engineers are reportedly working on an iOS version of Chrome that will use Chrome’s Blink rendering engine instead of iOS WebKit.

    Apple’s current App Store rules dictate that all web browsers must use the same WebKit rendering engine that Safari uses. This means there is very little true choice among iOS web browsers, with the only real difference being the front-end features.

    According to The Register, Google’s engineers are working on a version of Chrome for iOS that uses Blink, not WebKit.

    Despite how it looks, Google insists that it’s not trying to flaunt Apple’s rules and that the new browser is for internal use only.

    “This is an experimental prototype that we are developing as part of an open source project with the goal to understand certain aspects of performance on iOS,” a spokesperson told The Register. “It will not be available to users and we’ll continue to abide by Apple’s policies.”

    Despite Google’s response, it’s also possible the company is preparing for a future where Apple is forced to allow third-party browsing engines. The Open Web Advocacy group is trying to pressure Apple to open up iOS browser options, and regulators have taken note of Apple’s stance as a possible antitrust issue.

    If Apple is ever forced to ease its restrictions, Google will already have a head start on releasing a full-fledged Chrome browser for iOS.

  • Upcoming Versions of Chrome May Translate Text in Images

    Upcoming Versions of Chrome May Translate Text in Images

    Google is working on a major new Chrome feature, one that would translate text directly within pictures and images.

    Chrome already has robust translations abilities, but that only works with standard text. The translation doesn’t work when the text is part of an image, unless you perform a Google image search. According to Chrome researcher Leopeva64, Google is working to overcome that hurdle.

    If Google is successful, the feature would be big step forward for translation services.

  • Google Emails Indict the Company in Chrome Incognito Trial

    Google Emails Indict the Company in Chrome Incognito Trial

    Google’s legal defense in a privacy lawsuit has taken a major hit thanks to emails proving the company knowingly tracked user data.

    Google is being sued over claims it continues to track Chrome browser users even when Incognito mode is enabled. Incognito mode is supposed to provide users with a measure of privacy and prevent Google from tracking their browsing when activated. The plaintiffs are seeking class action status, saying Google knowingly continued tracking users when Incognito was active.

    Plaintiffs appear to have a fairly strong case based on internal emails among Google executives, according to Bloomberg.

    “Make Incognito Mode truly private,” marketing chief Lorraine Twohill wrote in an email to CEO Sundar Pichai, highlighting ways the company could gain user trust. “We are limited in how strongly we can market Incognito because it’s not truly private, thus requiring really fuzzy, hedging language that is almost more damaging.”

    Read more: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Will Not Be Questioned in Privacy Suit

    As if acknowledging Incognito mode is ineffective wasn’t bad enough, the browser’s lack of privacy was even the topic of jokes within the company.

    “We need to stop calling it Incognito and stop using a Spy Guy icon,” one engineer wrote in a 2018 chat with other Google Chrome engineers.

    In response, another engineer posted a link to a “Simpsons” cartoon character called “Guy Incognito.”

    “Regardless of the name, the Incognito icon should have always been” Guy Incognito, the employee wrote. “Which also accurately conveys the level of privacy it provides.”

    Google, for its part, argues that users knew what they signed up for.

    “Incognito mode offers users a private browsing experience, and we’ve been clear about how it works and what it does, whereas the plaintiffs in this case have purposely mischaracterized our statements,” spokesman Jose Castaneda said in an email to Bloomberg.

    Unfortunately for the company, its own internal communication paints a picture that it knew users were confused about how Incognito mode did and did not work.

    At this point, it’s hard to imagine a judge not approving the class action status and even harder to imagine Google prevailing in court.

  • Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Will Not Be Questioned in Privacy Suit

    Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Will Not Be Questioned in Privacy Suit

    Google scored a major victory in the privacy lawsuit it is facing in California, with a judge ruling that Sundar Pichai cannot be questioned.

    Google is facing a legal challenge over its Chrome browser’s Incognito mode. Incognito mode is supposed to prevent Google from collecting data about the user’s web browsing, but the plaintiffs allege that the company continued data collection even when the mode was activated.

    According to Reuters, the plaintiffs wanted to question Pichai, but the judged ruled that his position as a high-ranking officer of the company would likely preclude him from having “unique knowledge” of the situation. The issue goes to the “apex doctrine,” where plaintiffs have an uphill battle to prove that those at the very top of a company know enough about day-to-day operations to justify questioning them.

    “The challenge presented by the apex doctrine is whether a senior executive has relevant information to a particular subject,” US Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen wrote, saying that Chrome’s Incognito mode was already the “subject of extensive discovery and testimony in this action.”

  • Apple’s Safari Tops 1 Billion Users, Still Distant Second to Chrome

    Apple’s Safari Tops 1 Billion Users, Still Distant Second to Chrome

    Apple’s Safari is now the second most popular browser on the market, with more than 1 billion users, although it still comes in a distant second to Google Chrome.

    Safari is the default browser on all Macs, iPhones, and iPads. Its default status, especially on Apple’s mobile devices, have helped drive it to second place, passing both Firefox and Microsoft Edge, according to Atlas VPN.

    Despite Safari’s gains, Google’s Chrome is still the undisputed 800-lb gorilla in the browser market. Chrome currently has more than 3.3 billion users.

    Interestingly, compared to last year, Microsoft Edge has come in third place, surpassing Firefox with 212 million users. In contrast, Firefox has slipped below the 200 million threshold, coming in at 179 million.

    Many users are growing increasingly concerned with the reach of Google’s Chrome. Not only does Chrome itself dominate the market, but many other browsers are also based on Chrome. Microsoft Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, and others all use the same rendering engine as Chrome. Some users fear this gives Google a dangerous amount of influence over the development of the internet and see Firefox as the last best hope for a free internet.

  • PSA: Update Chrome Now to Avoid Actively Exploited Vulnerability

    PSA: Update Chrome Now to Avoid Actively Exploited Vulnerability

    Another week, another Chrome update to address a bug that is being actively exploited.

    Google Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser by far, with billions of users relying on the browser. Unfortunately, it’s become an all-too-common occurrence for Google to release an update that addresses a major security vulnerability. Often these are vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited.

    The latest update is no exception. Google has released version 98.0.4758.102 for macOS, Linux, and Windows. The update fixes a slew of issues, but the one of particular note is issue “CVE-2022-0609: Use after free in Animation.”

    According to the release notes, “Google is aware of reports that an exploit for CVE-2022-0609 exists in the wild.”

    Google has not given any additional details, although it’s believed the exploit could allow an attacker to remotely run code on a vulnerable computer. Once the update has been downloaded by a majority of users, Google will likely reveal more information, but will not do so until then to protect users from being attacked.

  • Alphabet CEO Pichai Cannot Avoid Testifying in Privacy Suit

    Alphabet CEO Pichai Cannot Avoid Testifying in Privacy Suit

    A federal judge has ruled that Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai can be questioned in a lawsuit over the company allegedly tracking users unlawfully.

    Like many web browsers, Google Chrome has an “Incognito” mode. Typically, “Private” or “incognito” mode means the browser will not track a user’s activity, and the company behind the browser will not have access to any information about what the user is looking at.

    In the case of Chrome, however, Google is accused of continuing to track users, even when Incognito mode was activated. According to Reuters, Pichai was warned in 2019 that Chrome’s Incognito mode could cause problems, given the company described the feature as “private.” Despite the warning, the company continued, since Pichai reportedly didn’t want Incognito mode “under the spotlight.”

    Google has clarified that its Incognito mode only means browsing data is not stored locally, but the company still tracks the activity. Needless to say, this definition is not what users expect, nor is it the industry standard.

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen in San Jose, California, has ruled that Picahai can be questioned, for up to two hours, since “a few documents establish that specific relevant information was communicated to, and possibly from, Pichai.”

    The development is good news for privacy advocates, and not so good news for Google.

  • Mozilla to Pass $500 Million in 2021 As Other Services Take Off

    Mozilla to Pass $500 Million in 2021 As Other Services Take Off

    Mozilla is closing in on a major milestone, set to pass $500 million in 2021 revenue as the company’s other services gain ground.

    Mozilla has always been in a unique and precarious position. The organization is responsible for one of the most important pieces of software, in its Firefox web browser. Although Chrome has long-since come to dominate the browser market, Firefox consistently wins praise for its focus on user privacy, unlike Chrome. In fact, Mozilla has established itself as a stalwart defender of user privacy, and is on the forefront of such efforts.

    Despite its importance, and what the company stands for, Mozilla’s primary financial support has come from search deals with Google, to the tune of nearly 90% of the company’s revenue. Relying on its greatest competitor, one whose values are almost diametrically opposed to Mozilla’s, is a dangerous position to depend on.

    According to TechCrunch, the status quo is finally starting to change. While Mozilla reported $466 million in search revenue in 2020, and $465 million in 2019, the organization is set to pass $500 million in 2021.

    Most significantly, however, an increasing share of Mozilla’s revenue is coming from its other services, such as Mozilla VPN, Pocket and Firefox Relay Premium. In fact, revenue from these other services is expected to grow 150% in 2020, accounting for 14% of Mozilla’s total revenue. According to TechCrunch, Mozilla’s VPN service alone saw a 450% revenue growth from 2020 to 2021.

    While 14% is still a relatively small portion of Mozilla’s total revenue, it’s an excellent start toward finally breaking free of dependence on Google.

  • EFF: Google Chrome’s ‘Manifest V3 is Deceitful and Threatening’

    EFF: Google Chrome’s ‘Manifest V3 is Deceitful and Threatening’

    The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is calling out Google’s Manifest V3 (MV3) browser extension plans, calling them “deceitful and threatening.”

    MV3 represents a significant change to how Chrome browser extensions are implemented. In an effort to increase compatibility, Mozilla has already announced that Firefox will adopt MV3 too.

    According to the EFF, however, MV3 represents a major threat to privacy and security, thanks to the limits it places on how extensions work.

    Manifest V3, or Mv3 for short, is outright harmful to privacy efforts. It will restrict the capabilities of web extensions—especially those that are designed to monitor, modify, and compute alongside the conversation your browser has with the websites you visit. Under the new specifications, extensions like these– like some privacy-protective tracker blockers– will have greatly reduced capabilities. Google’s efforts to limit that access is concerning, especially considering that Google has trackers installed on 75% of the top one million websites.

    The EFF aren’t the only ones warning about MV3.

    “A web browser is supposed to act on behalf of the user and respect the user’s interests,” says Jonathan Mayer, Princeton University. “Unfortunately, Chrome now has a track record as a Google agent, not a user agent. It is the only major web browser that lacks meaningful privacy protections by default, shoves users toward linking activity with a Google Account, and implements invasive new advertising capabilities. Google’s latest changes will break Chrome privacy extensions, despite academic research demonstrating that no change is necessary. These user-hostile decisions are all directly attributable to Google’s surveillance business model and enabled by its dominance of the desktop browser market.”

    “Nearly all browser extensions as you know them today will be affected in some way: the more lucky ones will ‘only’ experience problems, some will get crippled, and some will literally cease to exist,” writes AdGuard’s Andrey Meshkov.

    It’s unlikely Google will back down from its MV3 plans, given how much it relies on the very kinds of trackers many privacy extensions are designed to combat. Hopefully, however, Mozilla will rethink its adoption of MV3, given the company’s commitment to privacy and security.

  • PSA: Google Updates Chrome to Fix Serious Security Issues

    PSA: Google Updates Chrome to Fix Serious Security Issues

    Google has issued another update to Chrome in an effort address security issues.

    Google has released a number of security updates for Chrome in recent weeks, but the latest update addresses no fewer than 11 security issues, nine of which have a severity rating of “High.”

    The company says “the Stable channel has been updated to 93.0.4577.82 for Windows, Mac and Linux which will roll out over the coming days/weeks.”

    Users should update Chrome as soon as possible to avoid any issues.

  • Hostilities Between Microsoft and Google Resume

    Hostilities Between Microsoft and Google Resume

    Microsoft and Google are resuming open hostilities, following a five-year cease-fire.

    Microsoft and Google had an agreement, beginning five years ago, to stop suing each other and work out their differences behind closed doors. During that period, the two companies worked closely together on some projects, not the least of which is Microsoft adopting Chromium as the rendering engine for its Edge web browser. The company has become one of the biggest contributors to the open source rendering engine, with many of Microsoft’s improvements making their way into Google’s Chrome, also based on Chromium.

    Despite the benefits of the two companies’ non-aggression pact, that pact has ended, driven largely by Microsoft’s growing frustration with Google’s approach to its ad business and the debate around paying content creators.

    According to Bloomberg, tensions started building over Google’s reluctance to pay news publishers for content. In contrast, Microsoft has been a proponent of reimbursing news publishers and content creators. The breaking point, however, was Microsoft’s frustration about marketers not having equal access to search engines when using Google’s ad campaign tools. 

    “If you want to advertise, if you want to sell advertising or buy advertising on the internet, you have to use Google’s tools, and when they make their tools in a manner that fails to interoperate easily with others, it impacts everybody,” said Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith, in April, in a Bloomberg television interview. “We raised the concerns with them and they just turned a deaf ear.”

    The two companies already compete on vast array of fronts, not the least of which is the cloud. Now that the gloves have come off, it will be interesting to see just how far the hostilities go.

  • Third-Party Cookies Get a Stay of Execution as Google Postpones Plans

    Google is pushing back its plans to eliminate support for third-party cookies, buying the advertising industry more time to adapt.

    Third-party cookies are one of the most commonly used methods advertisers use to track individuals as they move across the web. Apple’s Safari, the second-most popular browser behind Google’s Chrome, already blocks third-party cookies by default. This makes it more difficult for advertisers to track users and build a profile about them.

    Google had previously planned on following Apple’s lead by early 2022. Because advertisers have built an entire industry around surreptitiously tracking users as they browse the web, and building detailed profiles on them, the thought of being cut off from one of the primary ways to do so caused much hand-wringing among ad companies.

    Google is now saying it will not begin making the change until mid-2023, with the process completed approximately three months later in late 2023. The company said the revised timeline would provide advertisers the time they neede to adapt and adopt more privacy-conscious advertising methods.

    This will allow sufficient time for public discussion on the right solutions, continued engagement with regulators, and for publishers and the advertising industry to migrate their services. This is important to avoid jeopardizing the business models of many web publishers which support freely available content. And by providing privacy-preserving technology, we as an industry can help ensure that cookies are not replaced with alternative forms of individual tracking, and discourage the rise of covert approaches like fingerprinting.

  • Google Releases Chrome Update Addressing Zero-Day Exploit

    Google Releases Chrome Update Addressing Zero-Day Exploit

    Google has released a major updated for its Chrome web browser, addressing a number of security issues, including a zero-day exploit.

    Google Chrome is currently the most popular web browser on the market by a wide margin. In addition to the success it enjoys as a standalone product, a number of companies use Chrome’s rendering engine, Chromium, as the basis of their browsers. Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi are just a few of the browsers built on Chromium.

    The latest update addresses a number of security issues, the most important of which is a zero-day exploit. Google has published details on its blog, and will roll the update out to individuals who don’t apply the patch on their own.

    Users of Chromium-based browsers should likewise check to make sure they’re running the latest version of their browsers.

  • Firefox Update Brings Fresh New Look, Improved Experience

    Firefox Update Brings Fresh New Look, Improved Experience

    Mozilla has announced the latest version of Firefox, sporting a new look and improved user experience.

    Once the second most popular browser, Firefox is now a distant third, behind Google Chrome and Apple Safari. Microsoft Edge is in fourth place, nipping at its heals. Mozilla has been working to reverse its fortunes in an effort to regain market share.

    As part of that effort, the company has released the latest update, a major overhaul of the user experience. According to the company, it analyzed more than 17 billion clicks to better determine how to streamline the browsing experience.

    Going into the Firefox redesign, our team studied how people interact with the browser, observing their patterns and behaviors. We listened to feedback and gathered ideas from regular people who just want to have an easier experience on the web. We obsessed over distractions, extra clicks and wasted time. The resulting new design is simple, modern and fast and delivers a beautiful experience to support what people do most in Firefox.

    One of the most visible changes is a redesigned tab bar, more rounded and floating above the toolbar. The new update also includes new icons, crisp typography, streamlined menus and improved spacing in the UI.

    Privacy features also received a major boost, building on Firefox’s already stellar reputation in that area.

    All browsers have a private browsing mode, but none match Firefox. The popular Total Cookie Protection moves from the optional strict setting to always-on in private browsing. This feature maintains a separate “cookie jar” for each website you visit while browsing privately. Any time a site deposits a cookie, Firefox locks it up in its own cookie jar so that it can’t be shared with any other website.

    The new version is available for all major platforms, including desktop and mobile.

  • Microsoft Edge for Linux Getting Sign-In and Sync Support

    Microsoft Edge for Linux Getting Sign-In and Sync Support

    Microsoft is adding sign-in and sync support to the Linux version of its Edge web browser.

    Microsoft Edge is the company’s web browser that replaced its long-lived Internet Explorer. While Edge was originally powered by Microsoft’s own rendering engine, the company transitioned it to Chromium, the open source rendering engine that powers Google’s Chrome. Unlike Internet Explorer, Edge is available for several of the most popular Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian and openSUSE.

    In a post on the company’s Dev channel, Microsoft’s Josh Bodner announced that sign-in and sync are available in dev build 91.0.831.1.

    We’re also starting to roll out sign-in and sync for Linux users! Please note that this is only supported for personal Microsoft Accounts at the moment, and you may need to enable a flag in order to see this setting.

    The company does warn that there may be issues, given this is still a development feature.

    Users interested in more information can read the full release notes here.

  • DuckDuckGo Calls Out Google’s Apps For Spying On Users

    DuckDuckGo Calls Out Google’s Apps For Spying On Users

    DuckDuckGo is mincing no words in calling out Google’s apps for spying on users and not respecting their privacy.

    Google drew widespread criticism for taking months to roll out updates to its iOS apps after Apple introduced privacy labels in the App Store. The new feature is designed to let users know exactly what personal information an app collects and tracks. Google has only recently updated many of its apps, after dragging its feet for months after privacy labels went live.

    DuckDuckGo is calling the company to task for what Chrome and the Google app privacy labels reveals about Google’s data collection.

    Google is already facing increased backlash for its privacy practices, including a lawsuit that claims the company continues to track people even when Chrome’s Incognito Mode is enabled.

    Users who truly value privacy should migrate away from Google’s apps sooner rather than later.

  • Google Wants a More Private Web, Will Not Build ‘Alternate Identifiers’ to Replace Cookies

    Google Wants a More Private Web, Will Not Build ‘Alternate Identifiers’ to Replace Cookies

    Google has announced it has no intention to build or use “alternate identifiers” as a replacement to cookies for tracking individuals.

    Google stunned the industry when it announced it would remove support for third-party cookies in Chrome, which currently has roughly 70% of the web browser market. While useful for providing site functionality, cookies are often used to track individuals across websites and build a startlingly complete picture of a person’s interests and browsing habits.

    Some had thought Google might develop alternative identifier solutions to replace cookies, but the company has firmly shot that idea down. David Temkin, Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust, outlined the company’s plans in a blog post:

    That’s why last year Chrome announced its intent to remove support for third-party cookies, and why we’ve been working with the broader industry on the Privacy Sandbox to build innovations that protect anonymity while still delivering results for advertisers and publishers. Even so, we continue to get questions about whether Google will join others in the ad tech industry who plan to replace third-party cookies with alternative user-level identifiers. Today, we’re making explicit that once third-party cookies are phased out, we will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals as they browse across the web, nor will we use them in our products.

    Temkin reiterated the company’s commitment to its Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) API. FLoC is designed to hide an individual in the crowd, essentially providing privacy through obscurity. Some are not convinced, however, with the EFF labeling FLoC “a terrible idea.”

    Still, given Google’s history of ignoring and abusing individuals’ privacy, a history that has resulted in lawsuits, its refreshing to see the company take at least some stand for privacy.

    Keeping the internet open and accessible for everyone requires all of us to do more to protect privacy — and that means an end to not only third-party cookies, but also any technology used for tracking individual people as they browse the web. We remain committed to preserving a vibrant and open ecosystem where people can access a broad range of ad-supported content with confidence that their privacy and choices are respected. We look forward to working with others in the industry on the path forward.

  • Brave Launching Privacy-Focused Brave Search

    Brave Launching Privacy-Focused Brave Search

    Brave, the privacy-focused web browser made by JavaScript creator Brendan Eich, is throwing its hat in the search engine ring.

    Brave has made a name for itself as one of the best web browsers for an out-of-the-box privacy focus, aggressively blocking trackers and ads. The browser uses Chromium as its rendering engine, ensuring its high performance and compatibility. Brave also includes its own cryptocurrency, which can be used as a way of rewarding content makers, in an effort to reinvent how paid web content works.

    The company’s latest effort is its most ambitious yet, with plans to take on Google with a more privacy-focused alternative — Brave Search.

    Billed as “search without a trace,” Brave Search will respect privacy, not harvesting user data, tracking or profiling users, or being beholden to advertisers. The search engine will offer both ad-free paid search and ad-supported free search options.

    The most critical basis of a search engine is its index of the web. To make Brave Search a reality, the company acquired Tailcat, an open search engine developed by the same team responsible for German search engine Cliqz, a Hubert Burda Media holding. Tailcat will form the basis of the new Brave Search.

    “Brave has grown significantly over the past year, from 11 million monthly active users to over 25 million. We expect to see even greater demand for Brave in 2021 as more and more users demand real privacy solutions to escape Big Tech’s invasive practices,” said Brendan Eich, CEO and co-founder of Brave Software. “Brave’s mission is to put the user first, and integrating privacy-preserving search into our platform is a necessary step to ensure that user privacy is not plundered to fuel the surveillance economy.”

    “We are very happy that our technology is being used at Brave and that, as a result, a genuine, privacy-friendly alternative to Google is being created in the core web functions of browsing and searching,” added Paul-Bernhard Kallen, CEO of Hubert Burda Media. “As a Brave stakeholder we will continue to be involved in this exciting project.”

    “The only way to counter Big Tech with its bad habit of collecting personal data is to develop a robust, independent, and privacy-preserving search engine that delivers the quality users have come to expect. People should not be forced to choose between privacy and quality,” said Dr. Josep M. Pujol, head of the Tailcat project. “The team is excited to be working on the only real private search/browser alternative to Big Tech available on the market.”

    With Google Chrome and Google Search boasting a 70% and 92% share of their respective markets, Brave definitely has an uphill battle ahead of it. Nonetheless, the company has gained significant momentum over the last couple of years. In addition, Google’s antitrust troubles have opened the door to what may be the best opportunity to challenge the once unassailable market leader.

    In the meantime, interested users can sign up to be put on a waiting list for early access to Brave Search.

  • Judge ‘Disturbed’ by Google’s Data Tracking

    Judge ‘Disturbed’ by Google’s Data Tracking

    U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh has expressed she is “disturbed” by accusations regarding the depth of Google’s data tracking habits.

    Google is facing a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of lying to its customers when it says it doesn’t track them in Chrome’s Incognito Mode. When Incognito Mode is active, the browser is not supposed to remember browsing history, filled out form data, cookies, site data and more.

    The lawsuit alleges that Google is leveraging code in its analytics platform — which is used on countless websites — to bypass Incognito Mode. This allegedly gives Google the ability to scrape data to piece together a profile of users’ browsing and habits.

    According to Bloomberg, Judge Koh was “disturbed” by the accusations. When Google tried to have the case dismissed, Judge Koh said it was “unusual” that Google would go to the “extra effort” to collect the data in question, unless it was using it to do the very thing Incognito is supposed to prevent.

    Google is facing multiple lawsuits, both for its privacy practices and for alleged anticompetitive behavior. A judge finding the company’s actions ‘distrusting’ is not a good look for Google.

  • Microsoft’s New Patch Will Completely Replace Legacy Edge With New Version

    Microsoft’s New Patch Will Completely Replace Legacy Edge With New Version

    Microsoft has announced that an upcoming Windows 10 update will replace Edge Legacy with the new version.

    Microsoft Edge is the company’s replacement for Internet Explorer. Originally, Edge used Microsoft’s own in-house rendering engine. As part of the Windows 10 October 2020 Update, Microsoft unveiled the new version of Edge. The new version is based on Chromium, the same open source foundation for Google’s Chrome. This allows Edge to take advantage of Chrome’s popularity and compatibility.

    Microsoft has announced it is ending support for Edge Legacy on March 9. As a result, to prevent users from using an outdated, insecure browser, Microsoft is removing Edge Legacy and replacing it with the Chromium-based version.

    To replace this out of support application, we are announcing that the new Microsoft Edge will be available as part of the Windows 10 cumulative monthly security update—otherwise referred to as the Update Tuesday (or “B”) release—on April 13, 2021. When you apply this update to your devices, the out of support Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application will be removed and the new Microsoft Edge will be installed. The new Microsoft Edge offers built-in security and our best interoperability with the Microsoft security ecosystem, all while being more secure than Chrome for businesses on Windows 10.

    While some users may be put off by the thought of Microsoft removing a copy of their program, in this case the company is doing the responsible thing. Web browsers are one of the most commonly exploited attack vectors, so Microsoft removing an outdated and unsupported browser will likely go a long way toward protecting user security.