Chinese browsers in Russian. What browsers are there? Browsers: list, reviews. New browsers. Disadvantages of a “living legend”

05/01/2019 17:33

Each person has unique tastes, preferences, and requirements. If one thing gets tested by a hundred people, each will give a different result. Some opinions will be similar, others will differ and this is natural. In the software field everything is exactly the same. A browser is a program that a person uses to surf the Internet. We run it every day, so it’s important to choose a convenient browser that will meet all the requirements.
Using the browser, you can search for any information, listen to music, watch movies, and play your favorite games. Any rating will be controversial, but let's try to rank the best browsers. In this article you will look at the criteria for choosing a good browser for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. We will study in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Based on our rating, you will be able to choose a good browser for yourself.

Google Chrome 1st place

This is the most popular browser that exists today. The program can be called the best and fastest on the Windows operating system. Its opening took place in 2008. Chrome was based on the popular Safari browser at that time, made on the WebKit engine. Formally, it was crossed with the V8 javascript engine. Subsequently, this hybrid was renamed Chromium. Such famous companies as Google, Opera Software, as well as Yandex and several other large developers participated in further development. Google was the first to create its own version of the browser on Chromium. A year later, it was installed on 3.6% of computers worldwide. He began to quickly gain popularity, today he is the undisputed leader and occupies 42.21%. It is worth noting that the majority are smartphones that come with a pre-installed browser.

Advantages:

1. High speed. Chrome is significantly superior to its competitors in terms of browser speed, as well as processing of displayed resources. In addition, there is a convenient function for preloading pages, this further increases the speed of work.
2. Safety. The company has implemented reliable technologies that ensure the safety of using the browser. They continue to actively develop. The browser has a database of phishing and malicious resources, which is updated regularly. The browser works according to a unique scheme in such a way that not a single process is used, but several at once, but with lower privileges. Downloading files with .bat, .exe or .dll resolution requires additional confirmation, which reduces the chances of downloading a virus.
3. There is an "Incognito" mode. This is a very convenient feature when you need to view a large number of sites, but not leave traces of their visit on your computer.
4. Thoughtful interface. It is quite simple and contains everything you need, without unnecessary elements. Chrome is the first browser to offer quick access. On the panel you can see the most visited resources. Another feature is the joint use of the address bar and the search engine. Later this feature was implemented in other browsers.
5. Stable work. Recently, there have been no such cases when Google Chrome experienced glitches or was very slow. This can only happen if there are viruses in the system. In many ways, security and stability are improved by using multiple processes that are separated from each other. If one of them stops working, the others continue to function.
6. There is a task manager in the "Additional tools" menu. Almost no one knows about this feature. Thanks to this convenient tool, you can track how many resources an entire tab or a separate plugin takes up. You can find and fix the source of the problem if the application starts to slow down.
7. Large selection of extensions, many of which can be downloaded for free. There are also many plugins and themes. The browser can be customized depending on personal preferences, which is very convenient.
8. It is possible to automatically translate pages. Google Translator is used for this.
9. The program is updated automatically without disturbing the user.
10. Search queries can be specified by voice, for this purpose the service “ OK Google».

Flaws:

1. Starting with version 42.0, support for NPAPI plugins was stopped, including the fairly popular Flash Player.
2. For the application to run smoothly, you need at least 2 GB of RAM.
3. Most of the extensions and plugins are made in a foreign language.
4. A significant load on the hardware contributes to the short battery life of laptops and smartphones.

I've been using Chrome for quite a long time, and as my main browser. During the entire period of work, he did not cause any serious complaints. Its integration into the system of other Google services is very convenient. One account can unite your computer and mobile device, and there is the possibility of continuous synchronization.
I don’t like the fact that all user data is stored on American servers (most likely now the data is stored on Russian servers). Mail, personal contacts and search information are stored there. True, we should not exclude the possibility that other browsers do the same. You need to take precautions whenever possible, then you will have nothing to fear. If you do not want to disclose your own data, but still continue to use Chrome, then use SlimJet or SRWare Iron, we will talk about them below.

Yandex.Browser 2nd place

The browser has the shortest history; it was opened in 2012. It is extremely popular in Russia. The browser supports integration with Yandex services, which are very convenient to use. The default search engine is Yandex. The interface turned out to be quite original, even though it was created on the Chromium engine. The quick launch panel immediately catches your eye. It is made in a tiled style.

The user can place up to 20 tiles. The browser uses a “Smart String”, which not only transmits the entered phrase to the search engine, but also automatically selects the required site if the name matches. Unfortunately, so far this function only works with large resources. Mouse manipulation is supported, with which you can control the viewing of web pages with simple movements.

Advantages:


Flaws:

1. Not everyone will like the original interface.
2. Linking to various Yandex services. Without them, the program is deprived of many features.
3. Rarely, but still problems arise with transferring settings and history.

Not everyone will like the new interface, because it is radically different from its competitors. It will take some time to get used to such features.

Mozilla Firefox 3rd place

Now Mozila is the most popular foreign browser, and in Russia it ranks third. Over the past few years, it has begun to lose ground, but only slightly. The first version of the program appeared in 2004, since then there have been many changes. The application engine is Gecko - it is freely available and continues to be improved by developers. Formally, this is the first browser that had a huge base of extensions even before the advent of Chrome. He was among the first to implement the maximum confidentiality regime that Google invented.

Advantages:

1. A simple and very convenient interface with no unnecessary details.
2. A convenient settings system that allows you to radically change your browser, customizing it to your liking.
3. A large number of various plugins. They can be chosen to suit every taste, because at the moment there are more than 100,000 of them.
4. Cross-platform. The browser can be downloaded for any operating system that is used on modern technology.
5. Reliability. I have found myself in situations where the user caught a banner that blocked all browsers, but Firefox continued to function.
6. Maximum level of security and privacy of personal data.
7. Convenient bookmarks bar.
8. The program may refuse to allow various websites to track information about you. You can set up private browsing. In addition, there is a Master Passwords feature that further protects your entries on certain resources.
9. Updates occur in the background without the need for user intervention.

Flaws:

1. Compared to Chrome, the interface is a little slower and takes longer to respond to user manipulations.
2. Performance is average;
3. Lack of script support on some resources, as a result of which the content may not function properly.
4. The application requires a large amount of RAM to run.

Opera 4th place

This is the oldest browser, which was opened back in 1994. I started using it about 15 years ago, and I still use it as needed. Until 2013, Opera had its own engine, but now Webkit+V8 is used. The exact same technology is used in Google Chrome. In 2010, the company opened a mobile version of the program. Now it is the fourth most popular browser in Russia, and in the world it ranks sixth.

Advantages:

1. Excellent speed of operation and page display. The browser's features include a turbo mode, which significantly increases page loading speed through the use of cloud technologies. At the same time, traffic is saved significantly, which is very important when using the mobile version.
2. There is a convenient express panel with saved bookmarks. This is a redesign of the Speed ​​Dial tool that we saw in previous versions of the browser.
3. Opera Link technology, which is needed to synchronize different devices.
4. Lots of hotkeys for easy control.
5. Opera Unite Internet browser.

Flaws:

1. To work effectively, you need a large amount of RAM. If you open several tabs at the same time, Opera will start to slow down. Even the reliable Chrome engine does not improve the situation.
2. On many sites there is incorrect operation of scripts and various forms. There are a large number of complaints when working with WML.
3. Stability cannot be called the browser's strong point. The company was never able to get rid of periodic crashes and freezes.
   4. Own bookmarking system, nicknamed “Piggy Bank”. This is quite an interesting solution, but it is poorly implemented.

I use Opera only as an additional browser. The "Turbo" function is useful when working with a modem, because in this case it combines high page display speed and savings in traffic consumption. Using Unite technology, you can turn your browser into a real server. On it you can provide access to a variety of files, exchange SMS notifications and photographs. The files are stored on the PC and become accessible only when the program is launched. This is an excellent replacement for Chrome if for some reason you do not want to use it.

K-Meleon 5th place

This application began to be developed back in 2000. In fact, it is a relative of Mozilla Firefox; they use the same engine. You may ask why he was included in the rating if they are practically the same? The fact is that they have strong differences. For example, today K-Meleon is the lightest browser for the Windows system. Such results were achieved thanks to the features of its development. Initially, the program was only supposed to demonstrate the capabilities of the new engine. As a result, the company was able to achieve economical consumption of PC resources.

Advantages:

1. Small requirements for PC resources, including a low amount of RAM.
2. Using the native Windows interface, which significantly saves time and resources spent on the interface.
3. High speed.
4. Good personalization options, and you don't need to use third-party extensions for this. Everything is arranged using macros. It will be difficult for a beginner to master, but you can figure it out in your free time.
5. There is a large selection of assemblies. You can choose an extension with the desired set of functions.
6. You can create multiple profiles for different users.

Flaws:

1. Quite a clumsy interface. If you compare it with the Top 5 leaders, then this browser has a too simple design.
2. Rarely, there are problems with displaying the Cyrillic alphabet, but the situation has been corrected in recent updates.

This is the best option for weak PCs. The browser will function normally on an old laptop running the Windows XP operating system. You will be able to enjoy comfortable Internet surfing. And it will work even better on modern hardware. Many professionals use it, considering it the best browser. This should not be surprising, because in some respects K-Meleon is superior to its competitors.

Internet Explorer

This is a free browser that comes with integrated Windows software. The development was carried out by Microsoft from 1995 to the present day. Therefore, the browser was one of the most popular in Russia, but then Chrome appeared. Now he has lost a lot of his position and ranks 5th in popularity. The reason can be considered the completion of its development. Along with Windows 10, the company's development, Spartan, was released.
Throughout the history of the browser, it was never considered the best; everyone knew about a large number of vulnerabilities that were exploited by various viruses. For a very long time it was the weak point of every computer running the Windows operating system. The situation changed for the better with the release of Internet Explorer 10, which is included with Windows 8. All the holes in it were corrected and, subject to certain rules, the browser was considered safe.
Version 11 appeared along with the Windows 8.1 update, it is the latest in the line. In terms of speed, it can be compared with its competitors, but is still slightly inferior to them. Now there is a privacy mode, a preliminary rating, and caching is also supported, which allows you to increase the speed of the browser. Despite successful innovations, the browser is only losing its position. In my work, I use Internet Explorer only to log into the web interface of my home router and other network equipment. There is a simple explanation for this: this is the browser developers use, so the markup is designed for it. It is better to use another browser to view Internet resources.

Now there are many browsers that we did not mention in our review. We've presented our picks for the best browsers, but everyone may have a different opinion. The review represents only those reviewers that I have encountered. They are completely free to download and use without any restrictions. The current version can be found on the official website. If you can suggest decent browsers that should be in the Top 5, then indicate your options in the comments.

Today, the browser has become one of the main computer programs that no user can do without. Usually, when choosing a browser, we limit ourselves to a very small list consisting of several well-known names - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari. However, the number of existing web browsers is far from exhausted by these programs. We want to introduce you to the most interesting alternative browsers, which may not be well known, but definitely deserve your attention.

A modern browser is a complex program that includes several independent components, including a page rendering engine, a user interface, a Javascript processing engine, an XML parser, and so on. This multi-level architecture makes it quite easy to change individual browser modules, which third-party developers successfully use by releasing their own modifications of web browsers based on existing browser engines. The most common browser engines today: Trident (Internet Explorer),
Gecko (Mozilla Firefox) and Webkit (Chrome, Safari), so in this review all programs are divided according to this criterion.

Browsers based on Mozilla Firefox

Gecko is a web page rendering engine known to us primarily from the Mozilla Firefox browser. When creating Gecko, the developers ensured support for open Internet standards, cross-platform, and most importantly, free distribution, thanks to which this engine is successfully used in a wide variety of software products.

Waterfox(Windows Vista x64, Windows 7 x64)

Despite the popularity of 64-bit systems, Mozilla does not yet plan to release a special version of the browser for this architecture. The Waterfox project fills this gap by providing us with a version of the browser specifically optimized to run in this environment. Although Waterfox has almost the same functionality as Firefox, it still makes sense to try this program, since the developers promise us a significant increase in performance on 64-bit systems.

Purpose. If you have a 64-bit system and want a small gain in speed, then this program is worth trying.

(Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, x86/x64)

Another optimized and accelerated version of Firefox, which is only available for Windows and has both 32 and 64 bit versions. The developers focused their main efforts on creating a program specially optimized for full use of all the capabilities of modern processors. In addition to changes hidden under the hood of the browser aimed at maximizing performance speed, there are also some tweaks to the user interface, but they are very minor. However, in future versions, according to the developers, the differences from the parent browser will be more noticeable, since Firefox will soon undergo a significant redesign, and Pale Moon will retain its familiar appearance.

Purpose. For those who like to get the most out of their hardware, as well as those who don’t like the changes to the Firefox interface.

(Windows, Linux, MacOS)

It would be a big mistake to consider SeaMonkey a subsidiary of the Firefox browser; rather, they are siblings based on the same Mozilla Suite project. Firefox took the path of making the program as lightweight as possible, while SeaMonkey retained all existing components, including a web browser, email program, HTML page editor, address book and IRC client. Thus, in one program we get a complete gentleman’s set of functions necessary for working on the Internet, which in one package consume much less resources than Firefox, Thunderbird, etc. installed separately.

Purpose. This combine may appeal to fans of multifunctional all-in-one solutions who are willing to put up with a frankly outdated interface and low operating speed.

Wyzo(Windows, MacOS)

This browser is based on the 3.6 branch of the Firefox browser, so those users who did not accept the fundamental update of the program in the fourth version should pay attention to it. In addition, Wyzo boasts built-in support for the BitTorrent protocol, an improved file downloader, and full compatibility with Firefox themes and extensions.

Purpose. If for some reason you have become attached to the Firefox 3.6 family, then this browser is for you.

Browsers based on Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer, more than any other browser, needs improvement. Despite the presence of a fairly stable, and in the latest versions also very fast Trident page processing engine, Microsoft's browser loses to its competitors due to modest functionality and slow implementation of new technologies. All the more valuable to us are those products in which third-party developers try to correct the inherent shortcomings of IE.

(Windows)

This web browser is one of the most successful offspring of Internet Explorer. If you don't take into account the slightly outdated appearance, then we can say that Avant Browser is exactly the browser that IE wanted to become as a child. Judge for yourself, record low memory consumption, built-in ad and pop-up blocking, auto-filling forms and a password manager, the ability to store your bookmarks, passwords, settings in online storage, support for mouse gestures, an RSS feed reader system and many other features make this browser perhaps the best choice among IE-compatible browsers. Add to this excellent localization, regular updates and a large user community, and it becomes clear that this browser is a must-try for all fans of Microsoft's Trident page rendering engine.

Purpose. This browser will appeal to those users who want all the benefits of the Trident engine, but cannot put up with the functionality of Internet Explorer.

(Windows)

An exotic browser from developers from distant Japan. Like many products native to this country, it has a number of unique features. First of all, this is the ability to use not only the Trident engine, which is included by default, but also Gecko with WebKit. Thus, users are given the opportunity to use the functions of all the most popular browsers today in one interface. It's even possible to assign a specific rendering engine to individual sites, so that if there are problems with any page, the browser will automatically switch to a more appropriate rendering engine. In addition, the browser has the ability to install add-ons (including for Chrome and Firefox), change the appearance using skins, as well as such a developed customization system that you can use it to change literally any aspect of the program’s operation.

Purpose. A complex product that requires configuration and learning. It can be useful if you need to see the display of sites in different browsers.

(Windows)

Despite the fact that SlimBrowser is updated quite regularly (the latest version was released just the other day), it looks like IE 8. However, under the hood of the program there is a whole set of popular functions, such as automatic filling of web forms, a built-in translator, a quick search panel , advanced download manager, ad blocker, HTML and script editor, integration with Facebook and other social services, support for skins, etc. Although SlimBrowser became one of twelve browsers offered for users of the European Economic Area, I would not call it an independent product - rather, it is just a set of useful settings and add-ons for Internet Explorer, collected under one shell.

Purpose. Although the developers boldly claim on the home page that this is the best browser for Windows, it is still just a collection of useful add-ons.

Browsers based on Google Chrome

Now many have forgotten, but the WebKit engine traces its origins to the KHTML project, originally developed for the KDE environment on Unix systems. Its source code is open, that is, available for use in projects for any purpose. The most famous of them are the Safari and Google Chrome browsers, but there are also a huge number of other programs that use WebKit components to one degree or another.

(Windows, MacOS, Linux)

Despite the fact that Google Chrome and Chromium are developed by the same company, and both use the same engine and interface solutions, there are still a number of significant differences between them. Chromium lacks auto-update, support for some proprietary audio-video formats and Flash, and does not have a module for working with PDF. But at the same time, the Chromium browser offers all the latest and experimental features that developers are still planning to implement in Google Chrome.

Purpose. If you want to be the first to try all the innovations that will appear in Google Chrome, then this is your choice.

(Windows)

Google has recently been often reproached for its lack of respect for privacy. In particular, the Chrome browser has been repeatedly seen collecting various information about user actions on the Internet. That is why a number of alternative browsers have appeared, in which increased attention is paid to privacy and security. The Comodo Dragon program is developed by Comodo, which is well known for its antivirus and firewall. It uses a connection through a SecureDNS server to block malicious sites, uses a more advanced anonymous surfing mechanism, and also makes a number of other changes that increase your security.

Purpose. This browser is designed for those who are seriously concerned about their security and privacy.

(Windows, MacOS)

This browser is intended for fans of social networks and is reminiscent of the now closed Flock project. With its help, you can easily receive updates in your accounts, communicate with friends, and share any content of the pages you are viewing. The browser has special additional panels that serve to display buttons for connected social services, a list of friends, and a built-in chat. RockMeIt, unlike Chrome, stores the user profile on Facebook servers and, accordingly, to work, you need to log in to your account on this social network.

Purpose. If you are an active participant in social networks, especially Facebook, then you should definitely pay attention to this program.

(Windows, Linux, MacOS (beta))

Our Chinese comrades are famous for their ability to repeat and improve a wide variety of products. Google's browser did not escape this fate either. CoolNovo has all the features of Chrome plus a number of additional useful features that make working with the browser more comfortable. Thanks to the efforts of Chinese developers, the browser began to understand mouse gestures, acquired a convenient download manager, a built-in ad blocking mechanism, a “super drag and drop” function and many other features. In addition, the program takes care of protecting the user’s personal information: private information is cleaned more thoroughly and Google Chrome spy components are disabled.

Purpose. There's no magic - it's just Chrome complete with a few useful extensions and tweaks. It will be useful to everyone who needs an upgraded version of Google Chrome.

(Windows, Android)

One of the oldest alternative browsers, which since 2004 has managed not only to change the main page display engine from Trident to WebKit, but also to gain well-deserved popularity among a large army of users. The reason for this was the rather serious equipment of Maxthon, which provides out of the box many convenient functions that are available in other browsers only after installing dozens of extensions. These include the ability to customize the appearance using skins, the Super Drag&Drop function, mouse gesture control, ad blocking, built-in RSS reader, auto-update service, built-in notepad, download manager, the function of storing user data in a cloud service with the ability to synchronize between different computers and much more. It must be emphasized that Maxthon, unlike many competitors, is an independent project, and not a redesigned version of Google Chrome.

Purpose. A fast, convenient and functional web browser that has its own personality and a long history of development. A real and very worthy alternative to the favorites.

Conclusion

In this review, we tried to introduce you to the most interesting representatives of alternative browsers. Some of them are designed to perform highly specialized tasks, while others provide users with a wide range of options when working on the Internet. As you can see, the list of modern web browsers is much wider than the four names known to all and includes programs worthy of use. Among all the considered alternatives, we would like to draw special attention of readers to Avant Browser and Maxthon, which contain a number of original solutions and are fully capable of performing the role of a full-time web browser.

Browsers powered by the Gecko engine from Mozilla are called geckos. But few people know about this, since such browsers occupy a negligible market share, and the main gecko himself is unlikely to ever be able to take a leading position, overtaking Google Chrome in popularity.

Since Gecko is an open source engine, anyone can use it as a platform and create their own browser. But such a new browser, naturally, must differ in some way from Mozilla Firefox itself - for example, carry additional functionality or be adapted to the hardware characteristics of individual computer devices. Gecko-powered browsers are a pretty good choice if you need a fast, flexible, customizable web browser. By default, Mozilla Firefox clones inherit all its advantages: they get the performance of Gecko, extensibility of functionality due to built-in add-ons from the Fire Fox store, and the ability to change the design by installing additional themes. In select Gecko-powered browsers, users will even be able to rely on the Mozilla synchronization service that they previously used when working with Firefox.

Below is not a complete list of browsers based on the Gecko engine, but the five most popular ones developed for the Windows operating system have been selected. So, what browsers are there besides Mozilla Firefox based on its Gecko engine?

Waterfox browser

Download Waterfox browser - download

The Waterfox browser is no different from the original Firefox, except that it is optimized for 64-bit Windows operating systems.

The Firefox browser for Windows itself is a 32-bit program. The consequence of this optimization is, accordingly, greater operating speed compared to Firefox on 64-bit systems.

Browser based on Gecko Cyberfox engine

Download Cyberfox browser - download

Cyberfox is another Mozilla Firefox clone that does not offer any additional functionality, but is aimed at performance by optimizing not only for the processor architecture, but also for its manufacturer.

The browser exists in versions adapted for the operation of processors separately from AMD and separately from Intel. On the Cyberfox project website, when downloading, you must select a version in accordance with the processor manufacturer and the bitness of Windows installed.

Russification of Waterfox and Cyberfox

Distributions of the Waterfox and Cyberfox browsers on their official websites are supplied only with an English-language interface. The process of their Russification rests entirely with the user. Fortunately, this process cannot be called overly complex. After installing Waterfox or Cyberfox, either open the main menu of the browser and click the “Add-ons” button, or select it among the quick access options on the home page.

In the first tab of the add-ons section, in the search bar, enter the name of the add-on for the Russian-language localization package – Russian (RU) Language Pack – and start installing it with the Install button.

After pressing Enter, a warning window will appear indicating that you need to be careful when working with browser settings. Here you need to click the inscription “I"ll be careful, I promise!”

Once in the settings section, enter the name of the item responsible for changing the browser interface language in the search bar: general.useragent.locale

After clicking “Ok” and restarting the browser, the Waterfox and Cyberfox interface will be Russified.

Pale Moon

Download Pale Moon Browser - download

If the two previous participants in the review are aimed at maximum performance with the browser by optimizing the software and hardware components of the computer, then Pale Moon is, on the contrary, a browser to reduce the load on system resources. Pale Moon is optimized for low-power computer devices running 32- and 64-bit Windows. This is a browser with reduced RAM consumption by disabling some functions of the original Mozilla Firefox.

On the official website of the Pale Moon project, you can download the web format of the browser installer, in the window of which you then need to select the version in accordance with the bitness of the Windows system.

Pale Moon is also installed with an English-language interface, but the Russification of this browser is a little easier than in the two previous cases. After installing Pale Moon in the window of this browser, you need to open its official website and go to the download section for language packs, and there select Russian and download its Russification file.

The Russian localization add-on will be automatically installed in the browser, and the interface will change after restarting Pale Moon.

Among other features of Pale Moon is a unique start page with widgets for popular web services.

SeaMonkey Browser

Download SeaMonkey browser - download

SeaMonkey is a multifunctional project based on Gecko for antique lovers. It is not similar to today's Mozilla Firefox, but rather a continuation of the Netscape Navigator concept. SeaMonkey is also called not a browser, but a navigator, and, like Netscape Navigator and early Mozilla Firefox, it has an interface overloaded with various options.

The problem with the unsightly appearance of SeaMonkey can be solved by installing a stylish theme from the Mozilla add-on store.

SeaMonkey is an ideal solution for outdated computer devices, since it is based on the same outdated software technologies. At the same time, SeaMonkey works successfully even with the newest version of Windows 10.

SeaMonkey is a multifunctional package that includes such components as: browser, IRC chat, HTML editor, full-fledged email client, RSS reader.

The SeaMonkey interface is Russified, the navigator even has Russian-language web support for the project, from where you can download it.

Browser powered by Gecko Tor engine

Download Tor Browser - download

Tor is a browser based on the Gecko engine and accesses blocked sites.

By accessing the Internet through the Tor browser, the user connects to a huge database of web servers around the world, through which all his traffic is passed, thereby providing him with anonymity on the Internet. Security services will not be able to obtain any information about Tor users and will not track their location.

The choice of Russian is provided when downloading the Tor browser on the official website of the project.

Nowadays, no one can be surprised by the statement about the importance of the Internet both for entertainment and for serious work. It should be noted that the productivity of the work process largely depends not so much on the connection speed, but on the convenience and thoughtfulness of the browser used.

If you don’t know what browsers are and how they differ from each other, this article is especially for you. So let's get started! What kind of browsers are there? The list can be very long, but let’s list the main “players” in this market:

• Internet Explorer.
• Opera.
• Firefox.
• Google Chrome and all its derivatives.

We will now talk about all these “characters” in more detail.

Internet Explorer

This is a real legend. Whether it’s deserved or not, everyone decides for themselves, but no one will dispute the fact that the overwhelming majority of experienced users started with it. In 2001, when the Internet in our country was almost in its infancy, and even in large cities Dial Up ruled, the sixth “donkey” was the only association with the word “browser”.

Of course, someone knew about the Opera project, very few geeks in the vastness of our country used Netscape, but the palm definitely belonged to IE, since there were simply no worthy alternatives at that time. For information, the history of Firefox began only in 2004, and the word “chrome” was perceived only as the name of a chemical element until 2008! Yes, yes, the Google Chrome browser appeared relatively recently!

It must be admitted that Internet Explorer was good for those years, and many of its features were completely unique. Thus, IE 6 became the world's first browser that had on board the P3P platform tools, which provided an advanced (in those years) level of user security when working on the network.

It is not surprising that due to its widespread use and presence by default in the Windows family of operating systems, it is “donkey” that has become the de facto standard for almost all government agencies in our country. To this day, normal work with the websites of government agencies, Sberbank, and all similar structures is possible only from this browser. This is largely due to its use of ActiveX structures, which greatly simplify the creation of software components for this type of resource.

Disadvantages of a “living legend”

It is no coincidence that we constantly used the phrase “at that time.” In 2001, IE was rightfully the leader, but... Its creators completely forgot that the browser should be updated from time to time. Until 2006, when Vista and IE7 appeared on the scene, there were basically no updates.

Competitors were not asleep; by that time they had already appeared: the legendary Opera 9, which is still revered by many as the best browser, Firefox 2, as well as several add-on browsers that used the IE engine (Maxthon, Avant Browser). All of them were more convenient, more functional and much safer than the hopelessly outdated Internet Explorer. The appearance of the seventh version did not save the situation, since IE7 was in many ways the same sixth “donkey”. Of the visible changes, one could notice only a slightly “refreshed” interface, and support for tabs, which Opera has had since the seventh version (2005).

Add to this terrible compatibility with HTML standards, disgusting page rendering and terribly slow loading speed. It is not surprising that only IE 9 finally “became like a browser,” as many publications wrote about it. Currently the latest is the eleventh version, which is really quite good.

The problem is that there are a huge number of old releases (IE6 somehow got rid of them), errors (!) from which had to be ported to the new Explorer. This was done so that old versions of sites created specifically for the “donkey” would be adequately displayed in Internet Explorer 11. This approach does not add either popularity or trust to the Microsoft product.

Alas, when working with state and municipal websites, you will not have any special alternatives. However, there are exceptions: several years ago, the German government officially encouraged municipal workers to use Firefox, since IE “does not meet modern security requirements.” So what other browsers are there?

Opera

Since we have mentioned this product several times, we will continue the story about it. It all started in Norway in 1994. Until 2005, versions were produced that were not particularly popular. Everything changed in 2006, when Opera 9 was released. At that time, it was ideal. Judge for yourself:

• excellent work with tabs;
• built-in email client;
• bit-torrent client, also built into the browser;
• work with most HTML standards;
• mouse gesture support;
• the widest possibilities for customization;
• the ability to block ads without using third-party utilities.

And all this in a 2006 browser! In addition, we forgot to mention one more “killer” feature of Opera. We are talking about the “Turbo” mode. What is the essence of this option? It's simple. When activated, all traffic to the user’s computer passed through Opera Software’s servers and was compressed several times along the way. In some cases, it was possible to save up to 80% of all traffic!

Taking into account the fact that in those years there was no normal high-speed and unlimited Internet even in large cities, this technology was a royal gift for users of our country and the entire former CIS. It is not surprising that in some regions the real market share of this browser was confidently approaching 50%, while in the world this figure rarely exceeded 3-4%.

In addition, Opera Mini appeared in 2009, which made normal Internet surfing possible even for owners of old phones. By the way, the phrase “free browsers” can only make modern users smile, while Opera for smartphones was paid for a long time, and for desktops (up to Opera 5) this browser was distributed on a fee basis.

Sunset

After the release of version 10.6, strange things began to happen to the company: constant reorganizations forced most of the old developers to leave, and users began to complain about the poor performance of their favorite browser. In 2013, a rather ridiculous event happened. The new management of the company announced a complete transition to the Blink engine, which is a product developed by Google, as well as the linking of Opera to the Chromium project.

It’s not hard to guess what emotions all this evoked among users. They said that almost all new browsers are already clones of Chrome, so the appearance of another player from the same series did not inspire anyone. In addition, the enormous dissatisfaction of both ordinary users and professionals was caused by the simple fact that from the old “Opera”, in fact, only the name remained.

No mouse gestures, no usual customization options... and there weren’t even bookmarks in the new version! The developers swear that everything will be fixed “in the near future,” but this has been going on for two years now, and there has been no particular progress. The company lost a huge number of users, some of whom switched to Chrome, while others started using Firefox.

Almost everyone agrees that the Opera project no longer exists: even if the developers return some of the old functionality to the browser (it won’t be possible to “screw in” everything due to the features of the new engine), the entire cycle of creating the program will be tied to Chromium and Google itself. By the way, what browsers are there based on the Google product? We'll talk about this below.

Google Chrome and its derivatives

The history of this browser, as we have already mentioned, began in 2008. The very news that Google is going to create its own browser has caused a lot of controversy on the Internet. Some rejoiced, some experts were more cautious in their forecasts, but the fact remains that the event was clearly extraordinary. Today, the Chrome browser claims to be the “number 1 browser”, displacing not only IE, but even Firefox in this position. How did this happen?

When the new Internet browser first came out, everyone loved its incredible speed. Many people liked the ascetic and simple interface, which did not distract from work. However, the “first approximation” was not very successful, since almost all experienced users noted the complete lack of useful plugins, due to which the browser could not resist advertising, and poor integration with third-party applications (antiviruses, download managers, etc.).

The beginning of success

For someone else, this might be a failure, but not for Google! The company’s incredible capabilities and aggressive marketing policy did their job: at first, when using the company’s search engine, a suggestion was given to “try a new browser,” and today Chrome checkboxes are available in almost every second shareware application (included in the installation kit).

Soon this particular browser was on the computer of almost every second user, and professionals increasingly began to use it. The proactive policy of Google again played a role, which very soon achieved full integration of its product. In addition, using a Google account, users gained access to Google projects such as Drive, Mail, Documents and many others.

To be fair, it is worth noting that Google (the browser) is a very safe product: the process separation policy bears fruit. It is difficult for malicious code to penetrate from the virtual sandbox into the production system. Among other things, Chrome now has plugins for blocking ads and Flash content, integration systems with the most popular downloaders, and so on. In 2014, the official x64 version appeared, which became even safer and faster.

Flaws

Alas, there are enough of them. Firstly, those same fans of the old Opera really miss the ability to change the browser “to suit themselves”. The maximum that the WebKit engine gives is to apply a color scheme. All. A simple user is not entitled to anything more. Of course, you can use the Flag argument and “surf” the browser from the inside, but you can’t do anything special even from there.

Secondly, there are serious concerns about the privacy of user information. In general, Google has never hidden the fact that all your data can be viewed for the presence of child pornography and information that could be classified as a “terrorist threat,” but this does not make it any easier for suspicious individuals. The browser extensively collects information about your search preferences and frequently visited pages, generating targeted advertising based on this data. However, all modern free browsers often suffer from this.

It is shown not only on the pages themselves, but even in GMail mail. The latter, by the way, is extremely disliked in large companies; sometimes employees are directly prohibited from using it. Of course, there is not a single proven fact of leakage of any corporate data, but this measure is not superfluous...

As for the “sky-high” speed, today it’s no longer possible to call the Google Chrome browser fast. With installed plugins and a connected user account, the application (especially on older machines) does not launch quickly.

Chromium

After the scandal with the Chrome license agreement, in which the developers allowed themselves to have rather frivolous clauses about user privacy (they were subsequently removed or changed), the Chromium project appeared. Unlike its “big brother,” this browser is based on open source software that anyone can change at their own discretion. In terms of functionality, it is not much different from the parent application, with the exception of the ease of creating your own plug-ins.

It was on its basis that a huge mass of “chrome-like” programs appeared, which we will now talk about. In general, almost all new browsers that appear recently are just that in 90% of cases. This is due to the ease of adapting the code to your needs, and you don’t have to worry about updating “your” product, since all the work will fall on the shoulders of Google programmers.

"Yandex browser)

Today it is the most successful fork (branch). The creator is the “domestic-Dutch” search engine Yandex. The first versions of Yandex (browser) differed from Chrome only in a different search engine and a slightly changed design, but today the situation has changed radically. Thus, there appeared: support for mouse gestures, intelligent search menus and other “goodies”, which gave many users reason to call this browser “the successor of the old Opera”. This fact in itself is surprising, especially considering the biased attitude of professionals towards any Chrome fork. Thus, the free Yandex browser has very good prospects.

"Amigo"

This is the exact opposite of the project discussed above. Also a product of a domestic company, but this time the authorship belongs to the Mail.ru corporation. Alas, there are no “breakthrough” opportunities. Among the features is only close integration with all existing social networks, but it is quite difficult to consider this circumstance as a special advantage. In addition, Amigo (browser) also collects a bunch of advertising information, which is then shown in abundance to the user.

There's nothing special about it anymore. In addition, there are also such varieties of “Chrome”:

• “Internet” (from the same Mail.ru, somewhat similar to “Yandex”).
• "Uranus" (from Ucoz).
• Dragon (from Comodo).
• "Nichrome" (from "Rambler").
• Iron (German development, originally created to profit from the developers' blog).

And many, many similar products. What browsers are there besides this “variegated” family?

Firefox

Appeared in 2004 (as already mentioned above). It was developed on the basis of the mortal “ashes” of Netscape. The first versions were simply terrible, they constantly hung and were terribly slow. Of course, the collapse of the program was the most common occurrence. Time passed. In 2006, there was already Firefox 2, which had good qualities, and the third version was among the Guinness record holders (several million people downloaded it in the first 24 hours).

Why is this browser so attractive to users from all over the world? First of all, its “omnivorousness”. While some developers relied on functionality (Opera), others on beauty (Safari), and Microsoft did nothing at all, the Mozilla Foundation team collected all HTML standards, at least theoretically found on the Internet. As a result, their browser is a kind of “standard”. If a site does not open normally in Fox, then it is unlikely to open anywhere else.

In addition, numerous plugins were the reason for its success. With their help, you can turn your browser into a multifunctional “harvester”, with capabilities almost superior to the operating system! In particular, the Tor browser, created on its basis, largely uses the capabilities of various extensions designed to improve the level of user anonymity on the Internet.

In addition, even with a dozen or two extensions, Mozilla starts very quickly even on older machines, which is not what you can expect from Chrome.

Finally, this browser, unlike almost all existing solutions on the market, can be flexibly customized to suit your needs, and the available themes will help you bring the interface closer to the old versions of Opera, Chrome or even the old IE6. It is precisely because of the latter circumstance that experienced users often strive to install the Firefox browser.

Flaws

These include the not very high security of the native (without installed extensions) application. However, without installed extensions, Firefox is generally a very average browser without any special features. Beginners do not always know which plugin to install and for what purpose. In addition, such add-ons are not always good in terms of software, and therefore often cause memory leaks and even crashes of the browser itself.

These are the main browsers. This list is far from complete, but in the article we present the most common types of programs of this kind. Of course, we haven't talked about Safari (which is used in Apple's OS), as well as many other browsers, many of which occupy leading positions in Asian markets, but these products are quite specific. In any case, they are used quite rarely; in our country you are unlikely to find a user on whose computer they would be installed.

We access the Internet every day through our web browsers, to which we have become very accustomed during this time. Windows OS users are probably more familiar with well-known browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc. In fact, there are many other browsers with a wide range of unique options.

There are browsers created for gamers, as well as browsers for social networking enthusiasts. We'll tell you about 20 web browsers for Windows that you might not have known about before. By the way, they could greatly simplify your life.

Dooble is a new free multi-platform browser released in September 2009. Its goal is to provide its users with a high level of privacy and offer them ease of use. The browser is currently available for Windows, OS X, Linux and FreeBSD. In addition to the basic set of options, Dooble has a built-in download wizard and it also supports third-party plugins.

U is a browser available for free to use, developed by Conduit. It is based on Chronium and features a user-centric design. U Browser will be especially relevant for those who like to use various social tools. With U, you can easily and easily connect with your online friends, access the apps you need, and even access your phone.

Coonwon is a Google Chrome encoding based browser designed specifically for gamers. It has a number of options that are ideal for fans of online games: performing automated tasks, drivers for joysticks, controlling game speed and much more.

BlackHawk is an easy-to-use web browser that seamlessly combines the speed of Chrome with the practical functionality of Firefox. Here you will find an exceptional approach to cookies.

Beamrise is the latest social media browser that combines chat and web browsing options. You can chat using familiar social networks, as well as make video calls in the browser itself. In addition, you will be pleasantly surprised by wonderful animations, visual bookmarks and free texts based on Android.

NetGroove is a lightweight, fast, tabbed browser powered by the Internet Explorer Engine. A distinctive feature of this browser is that you can use it directly from your flash drive without prior installation.

This is an Indian browser from Mozilla. It will provide you with the latest movies and songs, live cricket broadcasts, news from various sources (regional and Hindi sources). Among other things, no one will be able to track what you searched for or what pages you visited.

QT Web Browser is a portable, reliable, fast and lightweight web browser with a unique user interface. This is publicly available software based on the Nokia QT and Apple Webkit platform.

Browzar's main focus is privacy: it does not save browsing history, cookies, passwords, cache, temporary files, etc. It is perfect for banking and cloud operations. All information is automatically deleted immediately after you have completed the work and closed the browser.

Wyzo is often called The Media Browser, as it optimizes the work of online publications. It increases download speed and allows users to download torrents in just one click. Wyzo is compatible with all popular Mozilla-based browser add-ons.

It is a fast, reliable and powerful browser. It is one of the best web browsers for Windows when it comes to saving time. Filling out forms is much easier and faster here than in other browsers. SlimBrowser has a built-in filter and the ability to remove pop-up ads out of sight.

The Avant web browser will delight you with a pleasant and intuitive interface, as well as the absence of advertising and malware. Avant is multiprocessor and lightweight; it has a built-in download accelerator and video sniffer that allows you to find and download videos from the current web page. Avant options range from incognito mode to a flash animation filter.

Superbird is a free and fast alternative to Google Chrome. The strongest point of this browser is speed, data privacy and stability. The lightweight Superbird is ready to offer its users an automatic update option and a wide range of plugins. The security of user data on Superbird has been enhanced by ensuring that no information is shared with Google or other third parties.

Comodo IceDragon is based on Firefox and is rich in various useful options. Particular attention should be paid to security on Comodo, as it scans web pages for malware. Comodo IceDragon is fully compatible with all Firefox plugins.

A free web browser that uses 3 popular rendering engines - Trident, Gecko, WebKit. Using a special button, you can switch from one mechanism to another. Lunascape is a great choice for web developers.

TORCH, like all the browsers presented on our list, is completely free. With it, you can search and share photos, videos, links in just one click, and download your favorite videos. Suitable for those who like to collect and store memorable events.

Midori is a fast, lightweight and free web browser that is designed primarily for users who are concerned about security and safety. The default browser allows you to search by and also uses the interface GTK +2 and rendering mechanism WebKit.

Maxthon is a cloud browser with a unique dual-core design using Trident and Webkit. The browser offers cloud services, modes for more comfortable reading and other useful options. Here you will find great options to keep your data safe, as well as the ability to capture your screen.

Yandex.Browser is a very simple and intuitive browser that is based on the Chromium technology platform. It loads pages quickly and provides plenty of web browsing space. This browser also offers cloud browsing technology where privacy is maintained by Kaspersky Lab.

A multi-platform web browser based on the QtWebKit engine. The most successful options include: history and news feed, incognito mode, combined bookmark library, integrated ad blocking, speed dialing, cookie manager.