Zoho published one safe browser that can — if you really, really want it — make you a sitting duck for ad trackers and big tech, while boasting other robust security features.
His new browser Ulaa (opens in new tab), disables monitoring of mouse movements and clicks and prevents them from becoming a marketing statistic. This is on top of the standard ad, notification, and pop-up blockers.
It also offers “a multi-ID model that updates frequently, making it impossible to correlate a logged-in user with a browser session”. This is an extremely important measure at a time when countless nebulous advertisers see nothing wrong with tracking you across the internet.
Open season for internet data breaches
Ulaa goes the other direction with a supposedly ill-advised “Open Season” mode, turning off all his protections. From the bright red color scheme to the repeated warnings that users are being watched and their data collected, it’s clear that the overarching goal is reconnaissance.
That all sounds great, but Ulaa – how many, many browsers currently out – is a Chromium fork. Take to the streets and ask people if they know what Chromium is, and if they all say no, you’ll realize that despite all Zoho’s good intentions, maybe it’s just preaching to the choir.
The leading browsers are the domain of big tech, that’s (probably irreversibly) a given.
Microsoft Edge And Apple’s Safari are bundled with the most popular operating systems in the world, and Google Chrome belongs to a household name and makes it the most popular available browser. Mozilla’s Firefoxa solid privacy-centric choice, has seen its market share dwindle.
Zoho’s UIaa browser is a great idea in theory, but it’s unlikely to change minds about the importance of online privacy or raise awareness of the dirty tricks that advertising and social media companies use to protect your track activities for their own purposes. Plus, if you’ve even heard of Ulaa, you probably have an existing browser designed to protect your privacy.
- Here is our list of the best firewalls at the moment
Over The registry (opens in new tab)
