These are the worst web browsers for sucking up all your data, so you may want to stop using them

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Two particularly data-hungry browsers are used by 90% of the world

Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox browser apps on a mobile phone
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  • Google Chrome is the most data hungry mobile web browser, with 20 data types being collected
  • Most other mobile browsers collect an average of 6 data types
  • Chrome and Safari command a 90% mobile browser market share

The world’s most popular web browsers are also the most data hungry, new research from Surfshark has found.

Analyzing download statistics from AppMagic, Surfshark found Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari account for 90% of the world's mobile browser downloads.

However, Chrome sucks up 20 different types of data while being used, including contact info, location, browsing history, and user content, and is the only browser to collect payment methods, card numbers, or bank account details.

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Chrome data collection

Surfshark does point out the reason some financial information may be stored by Chrome is because users can opt in to store their banking information for easier transactions, however.

Microsoft's Bing took second place for data collection, hoovering up 12 types of data, closely followed by Pi Browser in third place with nine data types, with Safari and Firefox collecting eight types and sharing fourth place.

At the other end of the scale, both Brave and Tor are the least data hungry browsers, with Brave requiring identifiers and usage data, and Tor collecting no data at all.

When it comes to the types of data collected, Pi Browser, Edge, and Bing all collected the most tracking data, usually sold to third parties to be used for targeted advertising.

Pi Browser collects browsing history, search history, device ID, product interaction, and advertisement data, while Edge collects customer support request data, and Bing collects user ID data.

In the US, Safari takes a 50% mobile browser usage share, with Chrome filling another 43% - and the UK follows a similar trend, with Chrome at 47% and Safari at 43%.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent data collection, and if you’re looking to keep your data safe while browsing, it may be worth taking a look at our guide to the best VPN.

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Benedict Collins
Benedict Collins
Senior Writer, Security

Benedict is a Senior Security Writer at TechRadar Pro, where he has specialized in covering the intersection of geopolitics, cyber-warfare, and business security.

Benedict provides detailed analysis on state-sponsored threat actors, APT groups, and the protection of critical national infrastructure, with his reporting bridging the gap between technical threat intelligence and B2B security strategy.

Benedict holds an MA (Distinction) in Security, Intelligence, and Diplomacy from the University of Buckingham Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS), with his specialization providing him with a robust academic framework for deconstructing complex international conflicts and intelligence operations, and the ability to translate intricate security data into actionable insights.

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