Guide to Choosing a Browser
Comparing Brave, Edge, Chrome, Safari and Firefox, and which suits you best
CHOOSING A WEB BROWSER
Your web browser is the application you use to visit websites, but it’s also how scams can reach you. All the main browsers are free and broadly similar to use, but they differ in how much they do to protect you from misleading adverts, scam pop-ups and dangerous websites.
THE MAIN BROWSERS
MOST PROTECTIVE
Brave
Benefits: It blocks most adverts and trackers automatically, including many of the misleading adverts and pop-ups that lead to scam pages, and it warns you about known dangerous websites. As it’s built on the same technology as Chrome, it looks familiar and works with almost every website.
Drawbacks: Now and then a website needs Brave’s protection relaxing before it will work properly. It also offers optional extras, such as cryptocurrency rewards, an AI assistant and a paid VPN, which can be confusing, although we can switch these off for you.
BUILT INTO WINDOWS
Microsoft Edge
Benefits: It’s already installed on every Windows computer and includes Microsoft’s SmartScreen warnings, along with a scareware blocker, switched on as standard, that steps in when it spots a fake virus warning.
Drawbacks: Its start page is busy with news, adverts and shopping suggestions, and Microsoft often promotes its own services, which many people find distracting.
MOST POPULAR
Google Chrome
Benefits: The most widely used browser, with Google’s Safe Browsing warnings built in. Your bookmarks and passwords follow you to any device signed in to your Google account.
Drawbacks: Its strongest scam protection, Enhanced Protection, isn’t switched on as standard, and it’s closely tied to Google’s advertising business.
APPLE DEVICES
Safari
Benefits: Built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac, it’s simple to use, warns you about fraudulent websites and limits how much of your browsing can be tracked.
Drawbacks: It’s only available on Apple devices.
PRIVACY FOCUSED
Mozilla Firefox
Benefits: Made by Mozilla, which is backed by a not-for-profit foundation, it offers strong privacy protection, with tracker blocking switched on as standard.
Drawbacks: A small number of websites are designed with Chrome in mind and may not work quite as smoothly.
KEEPING ANY BROWSER SAFE
Whichever browser you choose, a few simple habits will keep you much safer.
- Let your browser update itself, and restart it when it asks you to, so you always have the latest protection.
- If a website asks to show notifications, choose Block. Scammers use notifications to show fake virus warnings long after you’ve left their website.
- Only install add-ons or extensions you trust, as some are designed to track you or show unwanted adverts.
- Never call a phone number shown in a pop-up or an advert. Use the number on the company’s own website, statement or bill instead.
- Check the web address carefully before entering a password or card details, as fake websites often look very like genuine ones.
- Using just one browser keeps things simple, with all your bookmarks and saved passwords in one place.
WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?
If you’re worried about scams
Brave. By blocking adverts and pop-ups, it closes off many of the routes scammers use. It’s our recommended choice for anyone less confident online, and we can install it with the optional extras switched off.
If you have an iPhone and a Windows computer
Brave on both is the best choice for anyone less confident online, as it gives the same protection on the phone and the computer, and Brave Sync keeps your bookmarks and passwords in step. Otherwise, keep Safari on the iPhone and use Edge or Chrome on the computer, where the free iCloud for Windows app makes the passwords saved on your iPhone available.
If you use Windows and are happy with Edge
Microsoft Edge is a sound choice, as long as it’s kept up to date and its scareware blocker stays switched on.
If you have an Android phone and a Windows computer
Brave on both is the best choice for anyone less confident online, giving the same protection on the phone and the computer, with Brave Sync keeping your bookmarks and passwords in step. Otherwise, Google Chrome on both is the simplest option: it’s usually already on the phone, and signing in to the same Google account on the computer brings your bookmarks and saved passwords across. Remember to switch on Chrome’s Enhanced Protection on both.
If all your devices are Apple
Safari is already built in and works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
WE CAN SET IT UP FOR YOU
We can install Brave or tidy up your existing browser, move your bookmarks and saved passwords across, and switch off anything you don’t need.
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