If you use an Android smartphone, we can bet that it comes with a browser that has been installed from Google or manufacturer. For example, if you have a Samsung smartphone, it will display the Default Internet Explorer browser, and several Samsung models include Google Chrome that has been previously installed. But not only Samsung devices – at least 3 billion people worldwide use Android smartphones (via The Verge). Not to mention, you can buy a new car with Android OS that has been previously installed in the dashboard.
Most Android smartphones currently have previous installed widgets that tell you the latest news based on your current location and search history. If you check the news, the tab is opened in the default browser. From the surface, everything looks perfect, but if we dig deeper, you will realize that you might have to consider changing your android default browser with a better alternative. Why do we think so? Let’s find out.
Pre-installed browsers could share your data with third parties
Because Google has Android, most smartphones with Android OS are available with Google applications that have been previously installed such as Gmail, Youtube, Map, Play Store, and Chrome. Not surprisingly, Google Chrome is the most popular cellular browser (via Statcounter). Of course, Chrome is comfortable because you can easily synchronize with other Google services on all your Android devices, but not known for its privacy. As reported by Forbes, Google has been in the spotlight to harvest data using its Chrome browser. Apart from Google’s claim that it did not sell personal data to third parties, it had been sued for violating his promise – and a judge refused to reject the lawsuit. In addition, we have previously told you another reason why you should stop using Google Chrome, and at the top of the list is a matter of performance and extension security.
Even if Google Chrome is not a browser that has been previously installed, one of the other popular options, Samsung’s internet browser, not much better. According to Samsung’s Privacy Policy, information collected from your default browser can be used to create profiles for third parties. Of course, the possibility of a third party using the data harvested from your default browser to adjust the personal advertisements that appear on your Android.
However, you can consider privacy browsers such as Duckduckgo and Firefox Focus who do not share your data with third parties. If you decide to take the route, here is how you can change the default application on your Android smartphone.