Browser-Update.org

An initiative by websites to inform users to update their web browser

Warn insecure browsers with special message

December 2022

In light of the sever bug in Chrome, Edge, Opera and Vivaldi that is exploited in the wild (High CVE-2022-4262: Type Confusion in V8), we are notifying these browsers on all sites that have configured the browser-update.org script with insecure: true.

To better explain to users the urgency we improved the message in the notification

Your web browser (Chrome 108) has a serious security vulnerability! Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.Update browser Ignore

as well as on the update page:

Your browser is out-of-date.

Your browser has severe security issues. You could get a virus by just viewing a malicious website.

Please download one of these up-to-date, free and excellent browsers:

This is so far only in English and German but we plan to translate it into other languages as well.

The message for insecure browsers can me modified specifying {"text":{"insecure":"Your browser is insecure!"}}, see customize.

Which browsers are insecure? What is my browser? List of all browsers.

October 2022

We added pages with collected information on the browsers, their security and a page you can send people to identify their currently used browser.

List of browsers currently marked as insecure

This page lists all Browser versions which are currently marked as insecure on browser-update.org: Insecure browser versions

List of all browsers

This is the list of all browser detected and listed in browser-update.org: List of Webbrowsers

Info page: what is my browser?

This page shows your currently used browser: What is my webbrowser?

11 Best Secure Browsers That Protect Your Privacy in 2022

October 2022

We all know that the internet can be a scary place. Between hackers and cyber criminals, it's hard to feel safe online. That's why it's essential to use a secure browser that will protect your privacy. Luckily, there are a variety of browsers out there that can help you keep your information safe and protect your privacy. We are here with our list of the 11 most secure browsers that can protect your privacy in 2022.

The majority of browsers today are data collection tools for advertising companies. The largest and most popular browser, Google Chrome, is no exception. Through their advertising partners, these companies can make money from your browser. In addition, it is common for search engines, email services, and free mobile apps to violate users' privacy.

In a hurry? Quick summary of the most secure web browsers in 2022:

  1. Brave Browser: Browser with the highest level of privacy and security

  2. Firefox: An excellent combination of privacy and usability

  3. Tor browser: Ultimate anonymity and security

  4. Chromium browser: Most customizable browser for tech nerds

  5. Iridium Browser: An all in one solution for your privacy and security

  6. Epic Privacy Browser: Third party tracking killer, best for staying un-tracked

  7. GNU IceCat Browser: Best out-of-box protection, with numerous customization options

  8. Bromite Browser (Android): Best for surfing useful content and staying focused without ads

  9. LibreWolf: A perfect Firefox fork

  10. DuckDuckGo privacy browser: A great alternative to Google Chrome, with more than 80% features

  11. Pale Moon: Highly customizable and open-source with transparency.

What type of information do Browsers collect from Us?

Browsers collect a variety of information from users. This can include your IP address, geographic location, search history, and even the content of your emails. All of this information is then used to target ads at you. While this might not seem like a big deal, it can actually be quite dangerous.

Your IP address can be used to track your physical location. Hackers can use this information to target you with specific attacks. Additionally, your search history can be used to give you personalized offers and sales funnels. For example, if you're searching for a particular product, you might see ads for that product on other websites. This can be very annoying and even intrusive.

Does "Incognito" actually work?

The simple answer is NO! While "incognito" mode does not save your browsing history, it does not protect your privacy. Your ISP can still track what websites you're visiting. Additionally, any cookies that are placed on your computer will still be active. This means that companies can still collect data about you while you're in incognito mode. The only way you can bypass it is to either use a secure browser or use a reputed VPN that can hide your identity.

How do we choose a secure browser?

We choose a secure browser based on three factors mainly, they are:

- Security: The browser should have security features like encryption, anti-malware, and phishing protection.

- Privacy: The browser should have privacy features like Do Not Track, private browsing mode, and third-party cookie blocking.

- Ease of use: The browser should be easy to use and have a user-friendly interface.

We spent an adequate amount of time researching these browsers to ensure that we only include the best-in-class browsers regarding security and privacy. The definition of "BEST" can change from person to person; if one person is more concerned about security, they might go for a browser with more security features even if it lacks in other departments.

So be sure to identify the definition of "BEST" for yourself; we have something for everyone.

So, what's the best way to protect your privacy?

The best way to protect your privacy is to use a secure browser that offers privacy protection. There are a number of browsers out there that offer this type of protection. After 197 hours of collective research and testing, we've compiled a list of the 11 most secure browsers that can protect your privacy in 2022.

1. Brave Browser

Brave Browser is a relatively new browser that's already making waves in the world of online privacy. This browser is based on the Chromium engine, which means it's compatible with a wide range of devices and websites. Brave Browser has a variety of features that make it ideal for those who want to protect their privacy.

For starters, Brave blocks ads and trackers by default. This means that you won't have to worry about companies collecting your data. Additionally, Brave offers a "Private Window with Tor" feature. This allows you to browse the internet anonymously and keep your data safe from prying eyes.

Our favorite thing about Brave is that it provides simple, out-of-the-box privacy. It is ideal for those who do not have the time, patience, or know-how to customize and tweak their browsers. Additionally, Brave works with Chrome extensions, making it a viable alternative to Chrome.

A number of privacy-enhancing settings are available in Brave, including blocking third-party ads, upgrading unsecured connections to HTTPS, blocking cookies, and blocking fingerprinting. You can adjust them under Shields and Privacy and security in Settings.

Quick features of Brave browser:

2. Firefox - A nice combination of privacy and usability

Firefox has been around for a long time and is one of the most popular browsers. It's known for its security features, which make it a good choice for those who want to protect their privacy.

One of our favorite things about Firefox is that it offers a "Private Browsing" mode. This mode prevents your browsing history, cookies, and other data from being saved on your computer. Additionally, Firefox blocks third-party cookies by default. This means that companies won't be able to track you as you browse the web.

Firefox also offers a number of security features, including anti-phishing protection and malware blocking. These features make it more difficult for criminals to steal your personal information.

Mozilla Firefox isn't the best browser for privacy out of the box, but it can be customized and hardened. You must disable Firefox's telemetry feature, which collects "technical and interaction data" as well as "installing and running studies." (Which is not good for your privacy)

You can customize the level of privacy in the Privacy & Security settings area, which includes Standard, Strict, and Custom options.

The best thing about Firefox is you can install any browser extension to make your workflow easy and more effective.

Quick features of Firefox:

3. Tor browser-Ultimate anonymity and security

Tor Browser is a free and open-source browser that's designed for online privacy. It's based on the Firefox browser and uses the Tor network to anonymize your traffic.

The Tor network is a group of volunteer-operated servers that allows people to browse the internet anonymously. When you use Tor Browser, your traffic is routed through multiple servers before it reaches its destination. This makes it difficult to track your activity or identify your location.

Tor Browser also blocks third-party cookies and blocks fingerprinting. These features make it more difficult for companies to track you as you browse the internet. Blocking in the Tor browser is done by rejecting all the javascript codes which try to execute in your system on the browser level.

One downside of Tor Browser is that it's slow. This is because your traffic is routed through multiple servers, which can cause delays. Additionally, Tor Browser is not officially available for mobile devices. (but there are methods to do so)

The solution to this problem is to use the Tor browser by keeping the Tor network off; this way, you can use the Tor browser as a normal browser, and you will see a drastic increase in browsing speed. You can also use the Tor Browser on your mobile devices by downloading the Orbot app and configuring it to work with the Tor network.

Quick features of Tor browser:

4. Chromium browser

If you are a tech person, you may know that Chrome and Chromium are two different browsers. Both are open source, but Chromium is the base of Google Chrome; it's what Chrome is built on.

Chromium is a very lightweight browser; it doesn't have some of the features that come with Chrome, such as automatic updates, an integrated PDF viewer, and support for proprietary codecs. However, Chromium does have a built-in password manager and sync feature.

Chromium is not as secure as Firefox or Tor Browser, but it's more secure than most other browsers. This is because Chromium blocks third-party cookies by default and has a number of security features, such as sandboxing and address bar spoofing protection.

On top of all this, you can make this browser work with your Python scripts and open some new levels of customization and privacy; you can send flags like --incognito,--Profile, and --Headless to make sure you are not bombarded with UI-based ads.

One downside of Chromium is that it's not as privacy-friendly as Firefox or Tor Browser. This is because Chromium is based on the Blink engine, which was developed by Google. (Google is not known for respecting user privacy)

Quick features of Chromium:

5. Iridium Browser

Iridium is a Chromium-based browser that focuses on privacy and security. Iridium comes with all the features that you would expect from a modern browser, such as tabbed browsing, bookmarks, history, and support for extensions.

Although Iridium is based on Chromium, the developers have made sure that many Google-dependent features are not present in it. Iridium also has some unique privacy features, such as a built-in script blocking tool and an always “Do-Not-Track” header feature.

Site data (cookies, local storage, etc.) is only kept until exit, which means it does not matter if you are in incognito mode or not; your data will be deleted as soon as you close the browser.

One downside of Iridium is that it's not as well-known as some of the other browsers on this list. This means that there are fewer extensions and add-ons available for Iridium. This browser is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Quick features of Iridium browser:

6. Epic Privacy Browser

Epic Privacy Browser is a Chromium-based browser that comes with a number of built-in privacy features. Epic blocks ads, third-party cookies, and trackers by default. It also has a proxy feature that allows you to access blocked websites and block all the unnecessary trackers on the server level.

In terms of strengths, Epic stands out. As a first step, it hides your IP address and browsing history using an encrypted proxy server.

Additionally, Epic protects you from ad-tracker scripts, cookies, cryptocurrency mining scripts, and third-party widgets. Whenever you exit the browser, its cookies and browsing history are automatically cleared.

Despite using an encrypted proxy or a VPN, Epic also blocks certain types of real-time communications that may leak your IP address.

This browser is really a challenge for hackers because nobody can download the source code of this browser. As a result, it is impossible to find any vulnerabilities in the browser.

Quick features of Epic Privacy Browser:

7. GNU IceCat Browser

As free software, GNU IceCat includes a large number of privacy add-ons and tweaks by default, helping it to protect your privacy out of the box.

These include features such as SpyBlock, LibreJS (which blocks proprietary JavaScript code), and HTTPS-Everywhere. There are also some countermeasures against fingerprinting.

GNU IceCat blocks third-party cookies, tracks the number of ads and annoying popups you’ve seen on each website, and disables WebRTC — a protocol that can leak your IP address.

It also has a Do Not Track feature that sends a “Do Not Track” request to every website you visit, telling them not to track your online activity.

IceCat is based on the Firefox browser and is fully compatible with all Firefox add-ons. It also comes with a few extra security features, such as HTTPS Everywhere and NoScript. Having the Firefox DNA, it’s quite easy to use.

Quick features of GNU IceCat Browser:

8. Bromite Browser (Android)

Bromite is an open-source browser for Android that comes with ad blocking and incognito mode enabled by default. Bromite is based on Chromium, so it has all of the features that you’d expect from a modern browser.

This browser mainly focuses on decluttering web pages by removing unwanted content such as adverts, buttons, and other elements. It also blocks third-party cookies and trackers.

Small UI changes enable you to quickly identify useful content quickly. Bromite also blocks mixed content and forces HTTPS whenever possible.

Quick features of Bromite Browser:

9.LibreWolf – A perfect Firefox fork

This project is mainly focused on two things, i.e., user privacy and security. LibreWolf is a community-driven project that aims to create a Firefox fork that prioritizes user privacy and security.

LibreWolf blocks any tracking attempts by default and also provides an easy way to block trackers on specific websites. It also comes with some other features that make it a great privacy browser, such as disabling WebRTC, Telemetry, and other data collection attempts.

This browser is available for desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Open BSD.

As far as updates are concerned, the LibreWolf team appears to be very diligent. However, it's important to keep in mind that updates are not automatic. As a result, you will need to manually update the browser, which is a disadvantage. If you are someone who doesn't like to manually update your software, this might not be the best privacy browser for you.

Quick features of LibreWolf Browser:

10.DuckDuckGo privacy browser:

This is one of the most popular privacy browsers out there. DuckDuckGo has a strong focus on protecting user privacy. It doesn't collect or share any personal information, including IP addresses and search history.

The browser blocks third-party trackers by default and provides a built-in tracker blocker that lets you block trackers on specific websites. It also comes with a Private Browsing mode that doesn't save your browsing history or cookies.

DuckDuckGo is available for all major desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The best thing about DuckDuckGo is its fast speed and minimalist design. It's also very easy to use, which makes it a great option for those who are not tech-savvy.

DuckDuckGo assures users that these trackers don't allow Microsoft to monitor individual users or link search activity to specific individuals. Although DuckDuckGo has close connections to large tech companies and advertisers, the lack of transparency surrounding this situation is concerning; end of the day, they have to make money in some way, and they usually make most of their money through paid advertisements and affiliate links.

Quick features of DuckDuckGo Browser:

  1. Doesn't collect or share any personal information
  2. Blocks third-party trackers by default
  3. Private Browsing mode doesn't save your browsing history or cookies
  4. Available for all major desktop and mobile platforms

11. Pale Moon

This is another open-source fork of Firefox that aims to provide efficiency and customization and user privacy. The Pale Moon browser offers different customization options, as well as support for older Firefox extensions and its own add-ons. Even though the design on this browser feels a bit outdated, however, it is lightweight, fast, and does not feel overly cluttered.

As of now, Pale Moon is available for Windows and Linux only. As opposed to other Firefox forks, Pale Moon runs on its own browser engine, which makes it incompatible with most Firefox add-ons. However, it does support a few WebExtensions.

As a small player in the browser industry, Pale Moon doesn't have much to offer in terms of bells and whistles. However, in terms of privacy, they did a great job with a very small development team.

Pale Moon also offers an "Off-Main-Thread Compositing" feature that speeds up page rendering on multi-core processors. This makes Pale Moon one of the fastest browsers out there, which is a huge advantage.

The developers of Pale Moon have also promised never to include any form of data collection or user profiling in the browser. This is a great commitment to user privacy and makes Pale Moon one of the best privacy browsers out there.

Quick features of Plate Moon browser:

Issues with other popular browsers

In spite of the fact that some browsers claim to be secure against vulnerabilities, they may not be the best choice from a privacy standpoint. Let's have a look at them.

1. Google Chrome

Google is surely a data company; they try to customize your experience by collecting as much data about you as possible. They use this data to show you targeted ads both inside and outside of their products.

While Chrome is a prevalent browser, it's not the most privacy-friendly option out there. Google uses a technique called "browser fingerprinting" to track users across the web. This means that even if you're using incognito mode, Google can still track you and collect data about your browsing habits.

2. Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is a popular open-source browser that's known for its privacy features. However, it's worth noting that Google and other tech giants fund Mozilla. As such, there's a possibility that Firefox is not as independent as it claims to be.

In addition, Mozilla has been criticized for its partnership with Cliqz, a German search engine that's known for its data collection practices. This partnership allows Cliqz to collect data about Firefox users and show them targeted ads.

3. Opera

Opera is a popular browser that's known for its data-saving features. However, it's worth mentioning that Opera is owned by a Chinese company called Kunlun Tech. As such, many fear that there's a possibility that Opera is being used as a tool for Chinese government surveillance.

4. Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows 10. While it's not as popular as Chrome or Firefox, it's worth paying attention that Microsoft has been criticized for its data collection practices in the past.

As such, there's a possibility that Edge is collecting data about your browsing habits and sending it back to Microsoft. In addition, Microsoft has been known to improve its services by using the data they collect from users.

5. Epic browser

The story of the Epic browser is very different; since 2014 company has been claiming to open source the code, but to date, the source code is not available to the public. The company behind Epic, Hidden reflex, has been contracted by the Indian Govt. for developing a secure browser for their armed forces personnel, which surely indicates that the browser can not be fully trusted.

6. Safari browser

Safari is the default browser on Apple devices. While it's not as popular as Chrome or Firefox, it's not the worst but not as safe as you might think.

Apple was accused of "Hoarding" safari browser history in order to sell it to data companies. In addition, Safari has been known to track users across the web and show them targeted ads.

Keeping all the above in mind, we can say that there is no perfect browser that fulfills all the needs, but you can choose the best browser as per your requirements.

Additional tips to stay protected from web threats

Using a secure browser is a great measure that you can do to protect your privacy online. However, it's worth mentioning that there are other steps that you can take to stay protected from web threats.

Here are a few tips:

1. Use a VPN

Even if you're using a secure browser, your traffic is still vulnerable to snooping and surveillance. This is where a VPN comes in.

A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in another country. This makes it impossible for anyone to spy on your traffic or track your location.

In addition, a VPN can also help you bypass censorship and access blocked websites.

If you're looking for a VPN to use with your secure browser, we recommend ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Both of the providers are fast, reliable, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Limit the amount of information you give online

When creating an account on a website, only give the bare minimum amount of information that's required. For example, if a website asks for your birthdate, only give the year.

The less information you give online, the less there is to be stolen in the event of a data breach.

3. Use strong passwords

One of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your accounts is by using brute-force attacks. This is where they try to guess your password using common words and phrases.

To prevent this from happening, make sure to use strong passwords that are at least 8 characters long and contain a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

In addition, it's a good idea to use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store strong passwords for you.

4. Don't click on suspicious links

Phishing is one of the most common ways that hackers try to steal your personal information. This is where they send you an email containing a malicious link.

If you click on the link, you'll be taken to a fake website that looks identical to the real thing. Once you enter your login details, the hackers will have access to your account.

To avoid falling for a phishing attack, make sure to only click on links from sources that you trust.

5. Keep your software up to date

One of the best ways to protect yourself from hacking attacks is to keep your software up to date. This includes your operating system, web browser, plugins, and any other software that you use.

Whenever a new security update is released, make sure to install it as soon as possible. This will help patch any vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.

6. Use Two-Factor Authentication

Whenever possible, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone whenever you try to log in.

Even if a hacker manages to guess your password, they won't be able to log in without also having your phone.

7. Back up your data

There's always a chance that your computer could get hacked, even if you take all the necessary precautions. This is why it's important to back up your data regularly.

This way, if your computer does get hacked, you won't lose all your important files. We recommend using a cloud-based backup service like Backblaze or Crashplan.

Conclusion:

Using a secure browser is a great way to protect your privacy online. However, it's important to remember that it's just one part of the puzzle. By following the tips above, you can help protect your privacy online. However, it's important to remember that no security measure is 100% effective. The best way to stay safe online is to stay vigilant and up-to-date on the latest security threats.

FAQs

Q: Is using TOR dangerous?

A: While using TOR can be a great way to protect your privacy, it's important to remember that it's not completely anonymous. In addition, TOR is often used by criminals to hide their tracks. So, while using TOR is not necessarily dangerous, you should use it with caution.

Another important thing about using TOR is that it can slow your computer. So, if you're using TOR for browsing the web, you may want to consider using a separate browser for other tasks.

Q: How do I prevent my IP address from being tracked?

A: The best way to prevent your IP address from being tracked is to use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through an intermediary server, which makes it much harder for anyone to track you. In addition, a VPN can also help you access websites that are blocked in your country.

Q: Does Incognito offer anonymity while using Google Chrome?

A: Incognito mode in Google Chrome offers some privacy protection, but it's important to remember that it's not entirely anonymous. In addition, your ISP can still track your activity while using Incognito mode. The main reason behind this privacy protection (Incognito mode) is to prevent your browsing history from being saved on your computer. So, if you're looking for complete anonymity, you should use a VPN.

Q: Should I be worried about my ISP tracking my activity?

A: While it's not necessarily something to worry about, it's essential to be aware of the fact that your ISP can track your activity. In addition, some ISPs have been known to sell their customers' data. So, if you're concerned about your privacy, you should use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through an intermediary server, which makes it much harder for anyone to track you. This way, your ISP won't be able to see what you're doing online.

Q: Does my Internet Service Provider know what I do online?

A: Unfortunately, it's a Yes; your Internet Service Provider(ISP) knows everything that you do online. As every request you make on the internet goes through your ISP, they can very well keep track of everything. Although they promise not to do so, some of them have been found breaking the trust by selling customer data to a third party.

Best VPN services of 2022 | Rated after thorough tests done regularly

September 2022

A VPN is a great way to protect your online security and privacy. However, all VPN services are not the same. Here are the most reliable and trustworthy VPNs to use in 2022.

When using the internet, entities like governments, corporations, hackers, and ISPs track everything you do online. Some will even collect your data and sell it to third parties like advertisers.

While there is no way to avoid problematic surveillance capitalism, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps restore your privacy. Also, it will enable you to bypass geo-blocks of sites like Netflix and avoid restrictions on schools, workplaces, and authoritarian countries like China.

The vast number of VPN services can make finding a suitable one challenging. We have done the hard work for you. Our team has thoroughly tested various VPNs over the last year, and here is a list of 2022's best VPNs.

Top VPNs available today

The factors we considered when choosing these VPN services are;

A comprehensive review of the best VPNs you can use in 2022.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our overall top-notch VPN in 2022. It boasts essential VPN features like robust encryption, kill switch, and leak protection. Also, the VPN supports almost all operating systems and allows five simultaneous connections.

Security

This is one of the safest VPN services available. It uses AES 256-bit encryption and AES 256-bit-bit cipher with SHA-512 authentication and 4096-bit RSA key. It means that your traffic will be almost impossible to intercept.

Moreover, the VPN has multiple protocols that allow you to customize your VPN connections. They include Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2.

WebRTC, DNS, and IP leaks can reveal your identity and location. However, ExpressVPN has inbuilt leak protection to maintain your privacy.

If a VPN stops working temporarily, third parties can access your data. Fortunately, ExpressVPN has a network lock (kill switch) that will cut your traffic if the VPN connection drops.

Privacy and logging practices

ExpressVPN is a privacy-conscious VPN that doesn't collect users' personal information. In fact, the provider abides by a strict no-logs policy that has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Moreover, it is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has friendlier privacy laws. Also, it doesn't belong to the 5/9/14 Eye Alliance. A group of countries that force companies to collect users’ data.

Server network and unblocking capability

ExpressVPN has an extensive worldwide network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. Thankfully, it has broad coverage within countries and servers in regions that VPNs often neglect, like Turkey and Hong Kong.

The VPN has an impressive unblocking capability. We managed to bypass geo-restriction of popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, etc. Furthermore, it updates its IP addresses regularly, so your connections will unlikely get flagged.

Pros

Cons

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is increasingly becoming popular because of its affordable pricing and unlimited simultaneous connections. Additionally, it offers user-friendly apps, thousands of servers worldwide, and solid encryption.

Security

This is a highly secure VPN service. First, it uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption that is almost impenetrable. Second, the VPN has RAM-based servers that automatically delete your data.

It allows you to choose from four protocols to protect your online activity. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are pretty standard, but Surfshark also offers WireGuard protocol. It is the latest VPN protocol known for improving security and speed. Also, the VPN has Shadowsocks, an encrypted proxy that will help people in high-censorship countries bypass internet restrictions.

Our leak tests on several servers didn't detect any WebRTC, IP, or DNS leaks. Also, it has an effective kill switch that cuts your traffic in case the VPN stops working unexpectedly.

Additional security features include GPS spoofing on Android, two-factor authentication, NoBorders Mode, camouflage mode, and multihop servers (double-VPN). Also, it offers a Cleanweb suite that prevents ads and blocks malware.

Privacy and logging practices

According to Surfshark’s privacy policy, the provider does not collect identifiable information like browsing history, IP address, or session information.

The company that owns Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands, an ideal location for privacy as it has friendly data retention laws. In addition, a warrant canary is available on the website that shows any court orders the VPN has received.

Server network and unblocking capability

Surfshark has a decent network of more than 3,500 servers in over 65 countries. The US has the majority of the servers spread across 25 cities. This is great to bypass regional blocks to access the US-blocked content. It even operates servers in countries with strict censorship, like Turkey and Russia.

Most servers unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. The VPN offers fast and consistent speeds to stream in high definition.

Pros

Cons

3. NordVPN

NordVPN is another trustworthy VPN service. It provides high security and privacy level along with access to geo-restricted content.

Security

The VPN uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to protect your connections. This encryption is uncrackable even with brute force attacks. In addition, it employs perfect forward secrecy that changes the encryption key after every session.

In terms of security protocols, NordVPN offers several options. First, it has NordLynx protocol, a proprietary protocol based on WireGuard. Second, there is the standard OpenVPN with TCP and UDP versions. Third, it has IKEv2/IPSec protocol, is an excellent choice for mobile devices, and is known for boosting security and privacy.

A VPN re-directs your traffic through an encrypted tunnel and removes your identifiers like IP addresses to keep you private. However, sometimes bits of your information can leak and reveal your identity and your online activities. NordVPN didn't leak our DNS, IP addresses, or WebRTC during our tests.

This VPN has two kill switches to protect your data even if the VPN connection is interrupted. First, the internet kill switch will cut off your internet access when the VPN connection drops. Second, it has an app kill switch that allows you to choose the apps to shut off if the VPN connection fails. So, for example, you can close Chrome while other apps remain open.

Privacy and logging practices

We reviewed NordVPN’s privacy policy and concluded that it doesn’t keep logs. The provider will not record your IP address, browsing history, or other sensitive data. PwC, a reputable auditing firm, has audited these no-logs claims.

NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eye Alliance. Also, according to the privacy policy, the company is not obligated to court orders outside Panama.

Server network

NordVPN has over 5,507 servers in 60 countries. Most of them are located in the UK and the US, but you can also find reliable options across Europe, South America, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

Some countries ban VPN usage. However, you can bypass the restrictions with obfuscated servers that hide your VPN traffic. It will make you look like you are not using a VPN.

Extra security is needed when accessing the dark web. That is because your ISP can flag your traffic as suspicious or alert the authorities. However, NordVPN offers onion over VPN servers to help use the dark web safely.

Pros

Cons

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a major player in the VPN industry. It works well with Android, Chrome, Firefox, macOS, iOS, Windows, and Amazon fire tv. In addition, the VPN allows you to connect up to 7 simultaneous connections.

Security

Like most VPNs on this list, CyberGhost uses AES 256-bit encryption and a wealth of other security features. They include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. Also, it allows you to connect to random ports, which will come in handy with networks that reject VPN traffic.

Privacy and logging practices

The VPN has a strict zero-logs policy, meaning it doesn't track your activities or collect your data. Unfortunately, the provider is based in Romania, which falls under the 14 Eyes Alliance.

Server network

It has more than 7,000 servers in over 90 countries worldwide. With such an extensive network, getting a speedy and low-latency connection is easy. Thankfully, it has labeled its servers for streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc.

Pros

Cons

5. UltraVPN

UltraVPN is the best VPN for beginners as it offers user-friendly apps for all major devices. Additionally, it is affordable premium VPNs on the market.

Security

The VPN will keep safe with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. Also, the kill switch will ensure your information doesn't leak in case the VPN malfunctions.

Privacy and logging practices

UltraVPN claims that it has a strict no-logs policy. However, we discovered that the company collects personal data, including account info, identity verification data, usage information, location information, etc. Also, the company is based in the US, which isn’t privacy-friendly.

Server network

This is a small-scale VPN provider with only 100 servers in 55 countries. However, they are well distributed in Europe, South and North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Most of the servers are virtual and offer stable connections. However, the small server network can get overcrowded easily, causing slow speed.

Pros

Cons

6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN belongs to the same company that owns ProtonMail. It is compatible with Windows, Android, Linux, iOS, and macOS devices. In addition, the VPN allows you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Security

This VPN is as secure as it gets. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. Also, an extra security layer known as perfect forward secrecy continuously changes the encryption key.

Our leak test did not reveal any WebRTC, IP, or DNS leaks, which shows ProtonVPN strives to keep you safe.

The secure core servers add an extra security layer by routing traffic through two servers. This feature is what other VPNs call multi-hopping. However, the difference is that the final destination is the secure core servers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden.

ProtonVPN also offers a kill switch, split tunneling, and multiple security protocols. Moreover, the Netshield feature will block ads and protect you from trackers and malware.

Privacy and logging practices

This VPN has a long-standing reputation for keeping users private. Its privacy policy is transparent and straightforward, and the company does not store identifiable information. ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which has one of the best data protection laws.

Server network

It doesn't have the most extensive network compared to other VPNs. There are over 1,746 servers in 64 countries in regions like North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. The free plan allows you to use 23 servers in 3 countries, including Japan, the US, and the Netherlands.

Pros

Cons

7. Windscribe

Windscribe is another reliable freemium VPN option. Like ProtonVPN above, it offers subscription packages and a free version. Also, it allows you to connect as many devices as you can.

Security

The VPN will keep you safe with military-grade AES 256-bt encryption that makes your data unreadable. This is further fortified with a 4096-bit RSA key and SHA512 algorithm. On top of that, it also uses perfect forward secrecy that creates a new encryption key every time you start a new session.

Windscribe comes with a dedicated kill switch that will disable your internet traffic if the VPN connection drops to prevent data leakage. It has three modes; Manual, Automatic, and Always On.

The split tunneling feature lets you choose the websites or apps whose traffic will route through the VPN. This leaves the other applications on your device outside the encrypted tunnel.

Privacy and logging practices

Windscribe follows a strict no-logs policy, which won't store your private information. This includes your IP address, time stamps, or browsing history.

Server network

The VPN has a small network with around 170 servers in 69 countries. This is relatively small compared to other premium VPN options.

Navigating the server map is easy as you only need to click on any server you want to connect to in whatever country. Its free version allows you to connect to servers in Hong Kong alongside the US and 8 European countries.

Pros

Cons

8. Private Internet Access (PIA)

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best VPN for streaming. It offers unlimited bandwidth, and its servers have fast-speed connections.

Security

The provider is secure with plenty of customizable security options. The default encryption for the OpenVPN protocol is AES 128-bit encryption. However, you can upgrade it to AES 256-bit encryption to improve security.

The VPN has robust leak protection and doesn’t have DNS, WebRTC, and IP leaks, as we confirmed during our tests. Leakage of this information can reveal your identity and location.

Additional security features include a reliable kill switch, split tunneling, and multiple protocols. Also, it has a MACE feature that will block ads, trackers, and malware.

Privacy and logging practices

PIA does not retain any information that can be used to reveal your identity. The only information it collects is your email address, state and zip code, payment details, and anonymized data to improve your experience with the service. However, for maximum privacy, you can use a fake email address and purchase a subscription with cryptocurrency.

In fact, its no-logs claims have been verified in a court of law. This was in 2016 when the FBI requested the company to provide user data but couldn’t because it didn’t have any. Also, the no-logs policy has been audited by Deloitte, one of the big four auditing firms.

Server network

This is perhaps the most extensive network in the VPN industry, with over 28,000 servers in 84 countries. Like other premium VPNs such as ExpressVPN and Surfshark, PIA uses RAM-based servers, which is good for privacy.

Europe and North America have the most servers, but PIA has solid worldwide coverage. In addition, having many servers prevents overcrowding, which can cause slow speed.

PIA also offers dedicated IP addresses at an extra fee. This is an IP address that you can only use alone and helps to prevent getting flagged when accessing safe sites.

Pros

Cons

9. AtlasVPN

Atlas VPN is the best VPN for Android devices. It also offers apps for other platforms like iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Security

The VPN will keep you safe with AES 256-bit encryption, preventing unauthorized data access. It also applies multiple protocols, including WireGuard, a new protocol offering superfast connections and high security.

Atlas VPN’s SafeBrowse feature will protect you from malware. Also, it will block your connection if you try to access a website that contains malware. Unfortunately, it is not available on the Windows client.

Privacy and logging practices

The VPN does not collect logs, and its privacy policy is very clear. But it stores basic analytics data to improve your experience with the service. However, if you are concerned with data retention, you can request the company to delete any of your data.

Server network

Unfortunately, the network is relatively small, with only 750 servers in 44 countries. However, the servers are reliable at bypassing geo-restrictions of popular streaming services like Amazon Prime Video.

Pros

Cons

10. StrongVPN

StrongVPN is a relatively less popular VPN but is better than most services in the industry. It is compatible with popular operating systems and connects up to 12 devices simultaneously.

Security

The VPN combines AES 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy to secure your online connections and data. Also, it allows you to choose from several security protocols, including OpenVPN, SSTP, IPSec, IKEv2, and WireGuard.

Furthermore, it employs a kill switch that automatically disconnects your traffic if the VPN malfunctions, preventing your information from leaking. Also, there is split tunneling on the Android device, letting you choose the apps to encrypt and the ones not to.

Privacy and logging practices

Sadly, Strong VPN is headquartered in the US, which is unsuitable for privacy. In addition, it is the founding member of the 5 Eyes Alliance and has laws that force companies to collect users' data. Thankfully, Strong VPN provider follows a strict no-logs policy. This means it doesn't collect private information, including your IP address, the servers you use, the sites you visit, timestamps, etc.

Server network

Strong VPN operates around 950 servers in 30 countries across 59 locations. Also, it has an extensive database of updated IP addresses, so you will unlikely get flagged by streaming services.

Pros

Cons

11. IPVanish

IPVanish is an excellent VPN service with an impressive list of security features and budget-friendly subscription packages. We have thoroughly tested its security features, speed, unblocking capability, and more.

Security

This is a secure VPN with world-class security features. They include AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, DNS/IP/WebRTC leak protection, kill switch, and advanced protocols.

Privacy and logging practices

IPVanish’s privacy policy clearly states that the company does not keep logs. This includes your private data like IP address, the websites you visit, connection timestamps, or DNS queries. The only information it collects is the email you provide while registering and payment details.

A significant concern is that IPVanish is based in the US, part of the 14 Eye Alliance. However, since the provider doesn’t record any logs, there won’t be any data to hand over if compelled by authorities.

Server network

IPVanish has a decently-sized network of over 2,000 servers in 75 countries, with the most extensive coverage in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, and Australia. It even has servers in regions other VPN providers neglect, like South America and Africa.

The most impressive thing is that IPVanish owns its server fleet and doesn’t rent from third parties. That is good for your security as your data is unlikely to fall into the wrong hands. Also, the VPN has a quick connect feature that makes it easy to connect to the fastest server available.

Pros

Cons

12. TunnelBear VPN

TunnelBear is one of the best-branded VPNs on the market. It offers affordable subscription packages and also a free version.

Security

The VPN ticks all the boxes in terms of security. It uses AES 256-bit encryption together with SHA -256 authentication and DH key exchange. Also, it supports perfect forward secrecy that changes your encryption key frequently to ensure protection against hackers.

Its kill switch is dubbed VigilantBear and is available on macOS, Android, and Windows but not iOS. This feature will protect your information if the VPN stops working, which is very helpful when using unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Privacy and logging practices

TunnelBear’s zero-logs policy will help to maintain your online anonymity. But unfortunately, it is based in Canada, which has unfriendly privacy laws.

Server network

The VPN has over 2,600 servers in 48 countries across Western Europe, North America, and Asia countries. Although the server network may seem small compared to other services on this list, it is very secure and completely owned by TunnelBear.

Pros

Cons

13. Zenmate VPN

Zenmate is a simple-to-use VPN service that supports various devices like Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, macOS, Linux, etc. Thankfully, it allows you to connect unlimited simultaneous devices.

Security

The mobile and desktop clients use AES 256-bit encryption, while the browser extensions have AES 128-bit encryption. Both encryptions are reliable; AES 128 is lightweight and faster, while AES 256 adds extra security.

Zenmate also has an effective kill switch. However, it lacks essential security features like double VPN, obfuscation tools, and split tunneling.

Privacy and logging practices

This VPN's privacy policy is questionable. It is vague and states that the VPN can share users' data with third parties. However, it was recently purchased by Kape Technologies, the same company that owns Private Internet Access and CyberGhost. We hope it will update the privacy policy and make it more transparent.

Server network

Surprisingly, the VPN has 4,800 servers in 81 countries. These are more servers than popular VPN services like ExpressVPN and Surfshark. Additionally, the free version allows you to connect to 4 servers in Romania, the US, Singapore, and Germany.

Pros

Cons

14. Hide.me VPN

Hide.me is a Malaysian-based with advanced features. Apart from the paid subscriptions, it also offers a free version.

Security

The VPN will protect your connections with AES 256-bit encryption, which is pretty strong. It further strengthens the encryption with 8,192-bit RSA keys. You will also get multiple protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, SoftEther, and WireGuard.

Other security features include a kill switch, stealth guard, split tunneling, and multihop servers. The combination of these features will ensure you remain secure.

Privacy and logging practices

Hide.me is very serious about user privacy. The provider does not store identifiable information or sell your data to third parties. In addition, it regularly releases independent audits and transparency reports to keep you updated.

Server network

According to its website, Hide.me has over 100 servers in 30 countries. This is even smaller than what Surfshark has in the US alone. Nonetheless, the servers perform pretty well.

Unfortunately, the VPN didn't unblock Netflix on the servers we tested. So, if you want a reliable streaming VPN, you should opt for another option, like ExpressVPN.

Pros

Cons

15. Mullvad VPN

Mullvad is a relatively minor player in the VPN industry but has earned the reputation of maintaining users’ privacy. When signing up, it doesn't require you to provide an email address or any other personal information.

Security

The VPN will protect your online connections with the AES 256-bit encryption, one of the most robust encryption algorithms available. That is together with perfect forward secrecy, 4096-bit RSA certificates, and 4096-bit Diffie-Hellman parameters. Also, it does re-keying after every 1 hour.

Moreover, offers OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, two of the most advanced options. The default protocol for Android, macOS, Linux, and iOS apps is WireGuard, while for Windows apps, it will depend on your connection.

This VPN provides more security features, including a kill switch, split tunneling, tor compatibility, and double VPN.

Privacy and logging practices

The privacy policy on its website states that the VPN does not retain any activity logs. That will keep you as anonymous as possible, which is one reason for using a VPN. But unfortunately, it is based in Sweden, part of the 14 Eyes Alliance.

Server network

Mullvad has a small infrastructure of 885 servers in 39 countries. While this is smaller than most top VPNs, the servers are spread worldwide in regions like North America, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

Pros

Cons

Conclusion

With the world becoming increasingly hyperconnected, people are becoming increasingly concerned about their online security and privacy. These days, we are transmitting more data online than ever before. Some of the data is confidential, and you wouldn't want to expose it to malicious actors like hackers and advertisers. Therefore, you should use a virtual private network to stay safe online.

Best VPNs in 2022 frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What else can a VPN do?

A VPN can do much more than protect your data. For example, you can use it to access the internet in countries with heavy surveillance and censorship. Also, it can help you to bypass geo-restrictions, use public hotspots securely, and prevent ISP throttling and torrenting anonymously.

Is there a reliable free VPN service?

No. Although free VPNs don't require you to pay anything, you should avoid them. This is because they have poor security measures and will slow internet connection. Also, most have a reputation for collecting and selling users' data to third parties.

Should I pay for a VPN?

Yes. Paying for a VPN is worth it, as you will get access to advanced features that aren’t available on free VPNs. For example, premium VPNs have more servers, unlimited data, fast speeds, etc.

Can I be tracked online when using a VPN?

Yes. A VPN will not prevent anyone from tracking you. However, you can employ some measures to make monitoring your connections more difficult. For instance, you can use a throwaway email address and anonymous payment methods when creating a VPN account. Also, you should choose a VPN that doesn’t keep logs.

Can a VPN improve my gaming experience?

Yes, some VPNs are suitable for gaming. Key features you should consider are improved ping, dodging IP bans, and DDoS attack protection. Also, it should have a good balance between security, privacy, and performance.

Are VPNs legal?

More than 97% of countries worldwide allow VPN usage. However, some countries either restrict or completely ban VPNs. They include Iran, China, Russia, Turkey, United Arabs Emirates (UAE and Oman.

Is a VPN helpful for streaming online content?

A VPN will enable you to bypass geographic restrictions to access content on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, etc. In addition, some VPNs like ExpressVPN have thousands of IP addresses recycled regularly, so you won't get flagged when accessing the content in other countries.

Improved Detection, Testing, Documentation and Customization

August 2020

The last months brought many small improvements to the detection code and more translations.

Especially changes in the User-Agent strings of the new Edge browser and the version jump was adressed. Another fixed issue is that Safari on iPadOS pretends to be the desktop user agent, which caused some errors.

Furthermore, a lot of work has been put into improving the way to test the detection script: This brought also a site to test it and improved documentation

Detection details:

New Options / Features:

Custom text and various other improvements

September 2019

A custom text for the update message can can now be specified for each browser separately. See documentation for details.

In the last year a lot of work was put into improvements, new features and fixing edge-case bugs.

Some of the fixes:

As always, we also worked on improving the detection, reduce false positive notifications and are whitelisting small niche browsers.

Permanently hide the message

June 2018

A goal of browser-update.org as always been to notify users about the need to update their browser without annoying the user or making the site inaccessible.

Now we added a new feature to annoy users less: The notification can now be permanently hidden to be more friendly to users that can for some reason not update their browser.

This can be done with the button "Never show again".

When pressing it, the user is reminded how important it is to update the browser, but afterwards will not see a message on this site again.

The message is hidden just on the site is appeared, not on all sites. The reason is that of course sites want to point out problems when not using up-to-date browsers.

Rebuilt with python

May 2018

Since translating into some languages did magically not work and we hunted the bug for hours to days in php and gettext we finally took the step we wanted to do for a long time: rewrite the site in python. It is now built using python with flask and much more cleaner and easier to maintain.

Along this major effort hundreds of small improvements were made to the browser-update.org site and the build toolchain.

Debug mode for notification bar

April 2018

For testing purposes, it was already possible to force to show the outdated browser notification bar. Either by adding "#bu-test" to the url in the browser or by adding test: true to the options passed to the script.

Now, if you pass this, the bar is not only shown always, but it enters debug mode, showing additional information:

See the test mode in action

Browser Notification Debug-Mode (v3.3.3)
Browser would normally be notified: false
Browser info
is_latest:true, is_insecure:false, other:false, no_device_update:false, cookie set:true

Notifying insecure browsers

April 2018

The option has been available for a while now: "Also notify all browsers with severe security vulnerabilities". However, it was not yet activated in the script.

Now, if the option is set, we also notify browsers that have servery security issues, such as remote code execution, and if they are being actively exploited.

We hope we can help with this to make the web a safer place and protect users that do not know that their browser is vulnerable.

Edge and IE separately, notify minor versions

April 2018

It is now possible to configure the notification for Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Internet Explorer separately.

Before, Edge was treated as the direct successor of IE (what it actually is). But some users wanted to notify outdated Edge versions but keep supporting Internet Explorer 11.

Now you can pass for example required:{'e':15,'i':11} to require Internet Explorer >=11 and Edge >=15 on your site.

By default, passing only one of "i" or "e" options falls back to the old mode and treats both the same.

It is also now possible to notify minor, patch and build version numbers of browsers. This means you can now pass a string, e.g. c:"64.0.3282.16817" to require at least Chrome Version 64.0.3282.16817 which uses version numbers like MAJOR.MINOR.BUILD.PATCH. And this is also useful for Microsoft Edge which uses MAJOR.BUILD as the version number pattern, for example 15.15254, 14.14332 or 12.10136, to address versions between major releases.

Detailed documentation of notification options

Faster server

November 2017

We moved to a new server to have better response times for the more than 1 000 000 users who are updating their browser through browser-update.org each month.

Added more browsers to detection and choices

October 2017

Additionally to the main browsers Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera and Safari we are now detecting and offering UC Browser(Android), Vivaldi (Windows, MacOS, Linux) and Samsung Internet Browser (Android).

We continue to whitelist a lot small niche browsers in order not to annoy people who choose to use a special browser for whatever reason.

Notification formats

September 2017

We now offer different formats of notification. Additionally to the default style, showing the notification bar at the top, you can also show it at the top bottom or in the corner of your page.

Of course you can still customize the complete bar to your needs.

NPM installable version

April 2017

Browser-update can now available as an npm package. You can now install it easily using your browserify or webpack toolchain.

New notification bar design with "ignore" button

January 2017

The new notification bar design now offers an Ignore button istead of the "closing cross" to improve the usability and giving the explicit choice betwwen taking action and ignoring the message.

You can hide the ignore button if you like urge the user a bit more to take action.

Shrinked script size, now only 2 kB

January 2017

We've split the oudated browser detection script into two parts: 1) the detection if the browser is outdated and 2) the showing of the message to users with outdated browser.

The detection part is what you embed into your site (update.js). This is what all users will have to download. And this is is now only 2.2 kB in size gzipped, five times smaller than before (>10kB).

Then, if the browser is outdated and needs to be notified, the message file (update.show.js) will be loaded, but this will only happen for about 1% of the users.

Fine-tuned detecion of operating system and adapted choice

October 2016

We improved the detection of browsers in combination with the Operatin System a User has (Android, Windows, MacOS, Linux) and the Version of the Operating System.

We keep track which browsers are available for which Operating system.

If there is now browser available anymore for the system we hint the user to update their system and link to a site explaining this.

Also some browsers (Safari, Microsoft Edge) can only be updated together with the system. Here we tell the user to choose another browser or update their system.

Collecting Feedback on Browser-Updates

October 2016

We implemented a small feedback form on the browser update page where people can report why they can't or don't want to update. We are collecting now some data and already got some valuable feedback. With this we can improve our notification and the selection of browsers we offer.

For now this only on the english language version of the browser update page.

Improved notification and more options

September 2016

We now check for more browsers if they are up-to-date: Yandex Browser, Pale Moon Browser, and Vivaldi Browser.

The detection script was slimmed down more and we improved detection of Microsoft Edge.

When creating your update-notification code for your site you have now a few new options:

Testing update notification for mobile Browsers, Stock Android Browser

September 2016

For a long time we have ignored mobile Browsers here at browser-update.org on purpose. They are in particular complicated to detect and on many platforms there is no way to update the browser without updating the system or even an operating system update is not possible at all.

Now we started to notify users that are using the outdated stock Android browser if they have an upgrade path to another newer browser on their system. We offer a selection of up-to-date browsers for Android to them, currently consisting of Chrome, Firefox and Opera.

We investigate including more browsers as choices to update and to notify other mobile platforms like Windows Phone and maybe iOS in the future.

New translation tool

August 2016

This site can now be translated using a convenient online tool. Now it should be much easier to create, update and review translations.

Over the last weeks we added new translations for norwegian, latvian, serbian and irish.

Also, we now added a thai translation of browser-update.

We passed 10 000 000 browser updates

March 2016

As of today we convinced a total of 10 million people to update their browser. With this we may have protected tens of thousands of people from attacks through security holes in their old outdated browser. And we have improved the browsing experience of all of them with a new, speedy, more functional browser.

Minified browser update notification script

May 2015

We minified the update notification script and tweaked it more to make it smaller and load faster.

More user-friendly notifications

February 2015

We improved the procedure when to show the notification to be even more user-friendly: When the user closes or clicks the notification bar, we know that they noticed the notification. After this we do not show it again for a week, because this means the user has seen the bar but has some reason not to update their browser right now. Knowing this, we do not want to bother the users, but only remind them some longer time later.

The time interval to the next notification can be changed using the reminderClosed option. It defaults to about a week.

IE9, Fixes

November 2014

Internet Explorer 9 was released in March 2011, almost four ago. We will now start to notify users of this browser (in the default configuration).

We changed the code you have to include in your site. It is a little bit smaller and faster.

In our continuing quest to inform the majority of relevant browser and not to erroneously bother users of small browsers we whitelisted a few small browsers (CoolNovo,Blackberry 10,PaleMoon, QupZilla), which will not get the notification.

More translations

June 2014

The browser upgrade page is now available in suomi (Finnish) Türkçe (Turkish) Română (Romanian) Also it was updated for español (Spanish).

Detection improvements

April 2014

Several improvements were made to the browser detection code: We improved the detection of Firefox ESR releases (which are supported by Mozilla for one year) and do not ask them to update. Although almost all the chrome users use the latest version of chrome because of the built-in auto-update mechanism, it may not work on some of the users. To keep these users up to date (and safe) we now also notify users that use out of date versions of chrome. Furthermore we improved the detection of other browsers we do not want to notify erroneously (e.g. Maxthon and Dolphin).

SSL Support finally arrived

April 2014

Finally, browser-update.org can be used on SSL sites (https://)! Just grab the new code and it will automatically work as expected!

IE8 users will be notified

January 2014

Internet Explorer 8 was released almost five years ago in March 2009. We start now notifying users of this browser. Furthermore we notify users of these outdated browsers, which are not supported with security updates anymore: Firefox 10 or older (released Jan 2012, ≈< 0.5%), Opera 12 or older (released Jun 2012, ≈< 0.1%), Safari 5.0 or older (released Jun 2010, ≈<1%), Chrome 10 or older. BrowsersToNotify.

title: New Translations date: 2014-01-26 comment: trans3

The update page is now available in Norsk bokmål (norwegian) and 中文 (simplified chinese). Also it was updated for polish, russian and italian.

New and easier update page

January 2014

We simplified the update page a lot. The goal was to focus more on the next step the user has to take to choose an up-to-date browser.

This is why the browsers to choose are now on top. With a simple, short message telling the user what to do. Furthermore, we removed as many distractions as possible (removed the logo, we simplified the header, smaller menu, less text). The details why to update can still be found, but are a but further down the page.

The new page is already available in english, Deutsch, français, Nederlands, Čeština, shqipe, עברית and español. For other languages we need your help for translating a few sentences.

Along with these changes also the design of the rest page got a refresh.

Small improvements

January 2014

1 000 000 Users updated their browser

August 2013

More than 1 000 000 Users updated their browser so far thanks to this service!

IE7 moved to outdated browsers

June 2012

Many webdesigners using browser-update.org have told us that we should move Internet Explorer 7 to the outdated Browsers since the release of IE9 last year.

Users now get warnings when they still use Internet Explorer 7 which was released more than 5 years ago in October 2006.

IE 7 currently approximately holds a global market share of less than 3%.

The default outdated browser list is now:

IE7 is after IE6 the browser webdesigners are struggling the most with when creating their sites. It supports almost none of the HTML5/CSS3 features and speed improvements of current browsers. An interesting approach to get users to update their browser was chosen by an Australian online shop: They added an additional tax for users of IE7 to pay their webdevelopers for optimizing the site for this ancient browser.

Additional information on when we moved browsers to the outdated list and discussion about it can be found on the wiki page "BrowsersToNotify".

French translation and Drupal module

July 2011

Finally we can add French to the supported languages list. Now we have four of the five top languages by native and secondary speakers. Thanks to Médéric for the translation!

Furthermore, there is now a module for the Drupal Content management system available. Thanks to Peter.

Microsoft is "Moving the world off Internet Explorer 6"

April 2011

Microsoft has also realized the problem about outdated browsers - at least regarding their fossil, Internet Explorer 6. They created the site "The Internet Explorer 6 Countdown" with the subtitle "Moving the world off Internet Explorer 6". Nice to see them join us in the fight. We, browser-update.org, already have convinced about 300 000 users to move off Internet Explorer 6!

IE9 released

March 2011

Internet Explorer 9 has been released today. But it is not available for Windows XP, which has still a significant market share. Since IE9 is only available for Windows Vista and Windows 7, we have introduced a message for people using other Systems that they need to choose another browser.

"Internet Explorer 9 - Not available for your System. Only for Windows Vista or 7. Please choose another browser."

News from Browser-update.org

January 2010

Its been a long time since the last update here and it may seem like this project is not improving. But we have plenty of updates, changes and achievements to talk about.