Google Chrome Review: A Trade-off Between Convenience and Privacy

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Fast page loading and launching
  • (3 more, see all...)

The issue that made many die-hard Chrome users consider switching to another browser is the shift to Manifest V3, scheduled to happen in June 2023. In theory, Manifest V3 promises to add extra security, performance and privacy compared to its Manifest V2 predecessor.

V3, however, brings a series of changes to the API that creates a conflict between Google as an advertisement power and its browser, as a user agent. A noteworthy change is the replacement of the webRequest API calls with declarativeNetRequest, which comes with a 30,000-rule limit. This will have a direct impact on numerous wide-spectrum content blockers that require a lot of space to include domain lists and rulesets to ensure their effectiveness.

Despite the controversy, many remain loyal to Chrome. After all, the browser is extremely fast and packs several powerful features many users want and use regularly.

Lightning-fast and can optimize your web browsing experience

Chrome is known as one of the fastest browsers out there. Microsoft's decision to adopt the Chromium framework for its Edge browser is an indication to Chrome's overall speed and performance. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that your hardware and the number of extensions installed can also impact its efficiency.

One of the reasons for Chrome's speed is its multiprocess architecture, which allows each tab to run as a separate process. Additionally, the browser includes pre-rendering and predictive loading features that prepare pages you frequently visit, or are likely to visit, in the background. The web browser also monitors your system's resources and prioritizes them for the currently active tab, ensuring a smooth browsing experience. Furthermore, Chrome incorporates a Memory Saver tool whose role is to free up memory from inactive tabs.

The main window of Chrome
The main window of Chrome

Great tab management features that can boost your productivity

Like many people these days, you may need to have multiple tabs open for various tasks that you handle simultaneously. In the past, this would have required the use of bookmarks or extensions to keep everything orderly. Fortunately, the Tab Group feature in Chrome is a helpful tool for staying organized.

To group your tabs, right-click on any of them and select ‘Add tab to new group’, then provide a name and label it with a color of your choice. To collapse a group of tabs when you're not using them, click on the label. It goes without saying that you can ungroup as well as add and remove tabs via the right-click options. Using these features can significantly improve your productivity and help you manage your work more efficiently.

Numerous customizations to make Chrome your own

Except for a few celebratory themes, the default theme can be quite bland. However, Chrome supports customization, so you can easily transform the browser to suit your style, mood, and preferences. To start, you can change the theme and wallpaper to something that motivates you to reach your goals. To change the theme, go to the Settings menu and click on Appearance. From there, you can access the Theme tab and choose from a variety of options available in the Google Web Store.

If you did not find a suitable theme, you can customize the look and feel by changing the color theme. You can even create palettes for each new tab page and profile. In addition, you can adjust the page zoom, font style and size, and add an avatar to make the browsing experience more enjoyable.

Lastly, there are thousands of extensions available that can help you personalize Chrome to your liking. Whether it is ad blockers, productivity tools, or social media integrations, you can easily find an extension to suit your needs.

The built-in protection and online privacy of Chrome

With the release of Chrome 111, Google decided to remove the built-in antivirus, Chrome Cleanup Tool. Luckily, it still includes a handful of features to make your browsing as safe as possible. For starters, you can easily clear and manage cookies, caches and any other items that are routinely collected by the sites you are visiting. It also packs a tool to block all cookies and other elements, although this may be inconvenient as it will not remember logins, customization options or shopping baskets, for instance, if you opt for it. If you need help managing their settings, you can take a Privacy Guide tour to learn how to protect yourself from data collection.

Chrome's Safe Browsing feature is another security feature worth mentioning, as it detects and warns you about websites, downloads, extensions, and other potential threats. You can configure the browser to always use a secure connection, view all connected devices, and enroll in the Google Advanced Protection Program, if you are frequently targeted with malware. Then again, it is important to note that enhanced protection requires data to be sent to Google.

Google is currently experimenting with a Privacy Sandbox feature that promises a similar browsing experience with less data collection. It will be interesting to see how this feature progresses.

You can make your privacy and security while browsing as tight as you need
You can make your privacy and security while browsing as tight as you need

The double-edged sword of integration with Google Services

If you want to make the most out of Chrome, then it is recommended to create a Google account, as it acts like a hub for managing various services, such as Gmail, YouTube, or Google Docs, for instance. By enabling syncing services, you can access your browsing history, bookmarks, and passwords across devices, anytime and anywhere. You can use Chrome without a Google account, but you will not reap the same benefits.

While integrating services can be convenient and lead to enhanced productivity, they also come with risks that you should be aware of. One such risk is the potential for a security breach to compromise all services connected to a single account. In addition, the use of multiple Google Services can lead to privacy concerns as the data collected can be used for personalized ads and profiling.

To mitigate these risks, you can consider using multiple Google accounts for different services and adjusting their privacy settings accordingly. It is also important to regularly review and manage connected services to ensure that only necessary and trusted services have access to data.


The Good

There are undoubtedly numerous benefits of using Chrome as your default browser, the number one being its speed. Moreover, it comes with a user-friendly interface that makes navigating web pages a seamless experience. If you are not a fan of the looks or feel, then you have dozens of customization options and extensions to make Chrome your own. By enabling the syncing features, you will have everything from themes and avatars to passwords and bookmarks across devices.

At the same time, the browser packs embedded security features that can protect you from various online threats. The Safe Browsing feature, that warns you before entering a potentially dangerous site, is one example in this sense.

The Bad

Data harvesting is the top reason users stay away from this browser. Some even go so far as to state that Google holds enough user data to create a perfect clone of your identity. Considering that Google makes its money by using the said data and targeted advertising, the common belief is that Chrome does not do much to protect your privacy.

In fact, if you take a quick look over Google’s Privacy&Terms, they openly admit that they may publicly share non-personal identifiable information with third-parties, including advertisers, developers and publishers.

The Truth

There is no denial that Chrome is a well-rounded tool that packs several great features to make browsing enjoyable and convenient. This goes double if you are already using other Google services. While an excellent browser, you should be aware of the potential privacy and security risks that come with it. The issues of data collection, profiling, and personalized ads are significant concerns associated with Chrome, and Google Services in general.

user interface 5
features 4
ease of use 5
pricing / value 5


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
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Chrome (9 Images)

The main window of ChromeYou can group up tabs based on your projectsChrome comes with numerous customization featuresYou can make your privacy and security while browsing as tight as you needThe browser packs tool that can help boost the performance of your system
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