modern browsers. Rating: "Best Browsers for Windows"

A browser is a piece of software that is essential in every computer. You can choose and download a browser for Windows 7, 8, 10 for free on our website.

We have collected the most popular latest Russian browser versions of 2018.

Why is it needed? Firstly, it is designed to work on the Internet (and this is necessary everywhere these days). It opens web pages and all kinds of web documents. Secondly, the browser also comes to the rescue in managing the machine, making it easy to view computer files and their directories. Regarding the management of web applications - also to the browser.

To date, browsers for Windows - a truly great variety. Download best browsers for Windows is available from our website. And they differ not only in the shortcut that you see on the desktop (although it’s a sin to complain here, the developers tried to make each one individual and not like the others). All sorts of additional features, built-in extensions that give the user all the new features and make life easier on the network. One gets the feeling that developers from different companies are just competing with each other. And, perhaps, somewhere it is. The competition among browsers is serious, so you have to puzzle over how to stand out so that users choose your product. You can download several browsers and try them out, leaving the most convenient for you.

Nevertheless, if we discard all the additional "goodies", the browsers look very similar. Even despite the fact that they were created using different engines. This is due to international standards that all developers follow. They do this not out of desperation (no one twists their arms and does not force them to work ONLY like that). However, uniform requirements make it possible to ensure that all information will be displayed correctly in the browser, and the user will not want to put the mixer in his eyes when he sees the open page.

Browsers are distributed for free, they don’t take up much space, they don’t conflict with each other (unless everyone wants to be the “Default Browser” without fail). So it is not uncommon for several such programs to be installed on one computer at once, according to the principle “each is good in something of his own.” This option is also convenient when several users work on the same machine at once - each has its own browser, and there are no problems with saving tabs, bookmarks and passwords.

So you can start downloading from our site right now as many browsers as you need, and those that you like. If it suddenly turns out that you made a mistake, and the browser of your dreams is not hidden behind the “beautiful label”, you can always replace it with another one.

18/09/2019 15:56

Each person has a unique taste, preferences, and requirements. If one thing gets to a hundred people for testing, then everyone will voice different result. Some opinions will be similar, others will differ, and this is natural. In the field of software, everything is exactly the same. A browser is a program that a person uses to surf the Internet. We launch it every day, so it is 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 the article, we will analyze 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

Advantages:

1. High speed. Chrome is significantly superior to competitors in terms of browser speed, as well as the processing of displayed resources. In addition, there is a handy page preloading feature, which 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 develop actively. The browser has a database of phishing and malicious resources, which is regularly updated. The browser works according to a unique scheme in such a way that not a single process is involved, but several at once, but with lower privileges. Downloading files with resolution .bat, .exe or .dll 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 at the same time leave no 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 where the ability to quickly access appeared. On the panel you can see the most visited resources. Another feature is the sharing of the address bar and the search engine. Later, this feature was implemented in other browsers.
5. Stable work. Recently, there have not been such cases when Google Chrome crashed or slowed down a lot. This can only happen if there are viruses in the system. In many ways, the security and stability of work is increased by using several processes that are separated from each other. If one of them stops its work, the rest continue to function.
6. There is a task manager menu "Additional Tools". Almost no one knows about this chip. Thanks to a handy tool, you can track how many resources are occupied by an entire tab or a separate plugin. 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 are free to download. There are also many plugins and themes. The browser can be configured depending on personal preferences, which is very convenient.
8. It is possible to automatically translate pages. For this, Google Translate is used.
9. The program is updated automatically without disturbing the user.
10. Search queries can be specified by voice; for this, the service " OK Google».

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

Yandex.Browser 2nd place

Advantages:


Flaws:

1. Not everyone will like the original interface.
2. Binding to various Yandex. Without them, the program is deprived of many opportunities.
3. Rarely, but still there are problems with transferring settings and history.

Mozilla Firefox 3rd place

Advantages:

1. A simple and very user-friendly interface, in which there are no unnecessary details.
2. A convenient settings system that allows you to radically change the browser, customizing it to your liking.
3. A large number of various plugins. You can choose them for 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 got into such situations when the user caught a banner that blocked the work of all browsers, but Firefox continued to function.
6. The maximum level of security and privacy of personal data.
7. Comfortable bookmarks bar.
8. The program may refuse to track information about you by various sites. You can set up private browsing. In addition, there is the Master Passwords feature, which additionally protects your records on certain resources.
9. Updates happen in the background without the need for user intervention.

1. Compared to Chrome, the interface slows down a bit and takes longer to respond to user manipulations.
2. Performance is average;
3. The lack of support for scripts on some resources, as a result of which the content may not function correctly.
4. The application requires a large amount of RAM to run.

Opera 4th place

Advantages:

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

1. A large amount of RAM is required for efficient operation. If you open several tabs at the same time, then Opera will start to slow down. Even the reliable Chrome engine does not improve the situation.
2. On many sites, incorrect work of scripts is observed and various forms. There are a lot of complaints when working with WML.
3. Stability is not a strong point of the browser. The company could not get rid of periodic failures and freezes.
   4. Own system of bookmarks, which was nicknamed "Piggy Bank". This is quite an interesting solution, but poorly implemented.

K-Meleon 5th place

Advantages:

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

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

internet explorer

Now there are many browsers that we did not mention in our review. We have presented our selection of the best browsers, but everyone may have a different opinion. The review presents only those browsers that I had to deal with. 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 worthy browsers that should be in the Top 5, then indicate your options in the comments.

Good day, friends! I'm sorry that there have not been updates on the blog for a long time, I promise to improve and delight you with articles more often. Today I have prepared for you ranking of the best browsers of 2018 for Windows 10. I use this particular operating system, so I will focus on it, but there will not be much difference for users of previous versions of Windows.

On the eve of last year, I did. Now the situation has changed a little, which I will tell you about in this article. I will be glad to your comments and remarks. Go!

Best browsers 2018: ranking for Windows

I don't think it will surprise anyone if I say that more than 90% of the population uses the Windows operating system on their computers. It remains the most popular version, which is quite understandable with a huge list of advantages (but more on that in another article). I just switched to a couple of months ago and therefore this article will be especially relevant for users of the "dozens".

1st place - Google Chrome

Google Chrome is back in the lead among browsers. It is quite powerful and efficient, just perfect for owners of modern computers. According to LiveInternet open statistics, you can see that almost 56% of users prefer Chrome. And the number of his fans is growing every month:

Percentage of Google Chrome usage among users

I don't know what you think, but I think almost 108 million visitors can't be wrong! And now let's look at the advantages of Chrome and reveal the secret of its truly wild popularity.

Tip: always download programs only from the official website of the manufacturer!

Advantages of Google Chrome

• Speed. This is perhaps the main reason why users give their preference to him. I found an interesting speed test of different browsers. Well done guys, they did quite a lot of work, but the results are quite expected: Google Chrome is the leader in speed among competitors. In addition, Chrome has the ability to preload the page, thereby increasing the speed of work even higher.
• Convenience. The interface is thought out "to the smallest detail." There is nothing superfluous, the principle is implemented: "open and work". Chrome was one of the first to implement the ability to quickly access. The address bar works in conjunction with the search engine selected in the settings, which saves a few more seconds for the user.
• Stability. In my memory, only a couple of times Chrome stopped working and reported a failure, and even then the cause was viruses on the computer. This reliability of operation is ensured by the separation of processes: if one of them is stopped, the others still work.
• Safety. Google Chome has its own regularly updated database of malicious resources, and the browser also requires additional confirmation to download executable files.
• Mode "Incognito". This is especially true for those who do not want to leave traces of visiting certain sites, and there is no time to clean the history and cookies.
• Task Manager. A very handy feature that I use regularly. It can be found under the More Tools menu. With the help of such a tool, you can track which of the tabs or which extension requires a lot of resources and complete the process in order to get rid of the "brakes".

• Extensions. For Google Chrome, there are a huge number of different free plugins, extensions and themes. Accordingly, you can literally make your browser assembly, which will meet exactly your needs. The list of available extensions can be found at this link.

• Built-in page translator. An extremely useful feature for those who like to surf the Internet in a foreign language, but do not know foreign languages ​​at all. Pages are translated automatically using Google Translate.
• Regular updates. Google carefully monitors the quality of its products, so the browser is updated automatically without you even noticing it (unlike updates in Firefox, for example).
• ok, google. Voice search is available in Google Chrome.
• Synchronization. You decide, for example, to reinstall Windows or buy a new computer, but you have already forgotten half of the passwords. Google Chrome gives you the option not to think about it at all: when you sign in to your account, all your settings and passwords will be imported to your new device.
• Ad blocking. I wrote about this separately.

Disadvantages of Google Chrome

But everything can not be so rosy and beautiful, you ask? Of course, there is also a fly in the ointment. The main disadvantage of Google Chrome can be called it "the weight". If you have an old computer with very modest performance resources, it is better to stop using Chrome and consider other browser options. The minimum amount of RAM for Chrome to work correctly must be 2 GB. There are other negative features of this browser, but they are unlikely to be of interest to the average user.

2nd place - Opera

One of the oldest browsers that has recently begun to revive. The heyday of his popularity was during the limited and slow internet(remember Opera Mini on Simbian devices?). But even now the Opera has its own "chip", which none of the competitors has. But we will talk about this below.

Advantages of Opera

• Speed. There is a magical feature of Opera Turbo, which allows you to significantly increase the speed of loading sites. In addition, Opera is perfectly optimized to work on slow computers with weak technical characteristics, thus becoming an excellent alternative to Google Chrome.
• Saving. It is very important for Internet owners with restrictions on the amount of traffic. Opera not only increases the speed of loading pages, but also significantly reduces the amount of traffic received and transmitted.
• informative. Opera may warn you that the site you want to visit is unsafe. Various icons will help you understand what is happening and what the browser is currently using:

• Express panel of bookmarks. Not an innovation, of course, but still a very handy feature of this browser. Hotkeys are also provided for instant access to browser control directly from the keyboard.
• Built-in ad blocker. In other browsers, the blocking of endless ad units and intrusive pop-ups is implemented using third-party plugins. The developers of Opera have foreseen this moment and built an ad blocker into the browser itself. At the same time, the speed of work increases by 3 times! If necessary, this feature can be disabled in the settings.
• Energy saving mode. Opera allows you to save up to 50% of the battery charge of your tablet or laptop.

• Built-in VPN . In the era of the Yarovaya law and the heyday of Roskomnadzor, there is nothing better than a browser with a free built-in VPN server. With it, you can easily access prohibited sites, or you can watch movies that are blocked in your country at the request of the copyright holder. It is because of this incredibly useful feature that I use Opera all the time.
• Extensions. Like Google Chrome, Opera boasts a large number (more than 1000+) of various extensions and themes.

Disadvantages of Opera

• Safety. According to the results of some tests and studies, the Opera browser is not safe, it often does not see a potentially dangerous site and does not save you from scammers. Therefore, you use it at your own risk.
• Might not work on older computers, high system requirements.

3rd place - Mozilla Firefox

A rather strange, but still popular choice for many users is the Mozilla Firefox browser (known as "The Fox"). In Russia, it is in third place in popularity among PC browsers. I will not judge anyone's choice, I myself used it for quite a long time, until I switched to Google Chrome.

Any product has its fans and haters, Firefox is no exception. Objectively, it certainly has its advantages, I will consider them in more detail.

Pros of Mozilla Firefox

• Speed. Quite a controversial indicator for the Fox. This browser is quite nimble until that great moment until you install a few plugins. After that, the desire to use Firefox will disappear for a certain period of time.
• Side panel. Many fans note that the sidebar (shortcut Ctrl + B) is an incredibly handy thing. Almost instant access to bookmarks with the ability to edit them.
• Fine tuning. The ability to make the browser absolutely unique, to “sharpen” it to suit your needs. Access to them is about:config in the address bar.
• Extensions. A huge number of different plugins and add-ons. But, as I already wrote above, the more of them are installed, the stronger the browser becomes stupid.

Firefox Disadvantages

• Thor-mo-za . This is exactly why a huge number of users have abandoned the use of Lisa and preferred any other browser (most often Google Chrome). It slows down terribly, it got to the point that I had to wait for a new empty tab to open.

4th place - Yandex.Browser

A fairly young and modern browser from the Russian search engine Yandex. In February 2017, this PC browser ranked second in popularity after Chrome. Personally, I use it very rarely, it is difficult for me to trust a program that is trying to deceive me at any cost and almost force me to install itself on my computer. Plus, sometimes it replaces other browsers when downloading not from official ones.

Nevertheless, it is quite a worthy product, which is trusted by 8% of users (according to LiveInternet statistics). And according to Wikipedia - 21% of users. Consider the main advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Yandex.Browser

• Close integration with other Yandex products. If you regularly use Yandex.Mail or, then Yandex.Browser will be a real find for you. In fact, you will receive a complete analogue of Google Chrome, only ideally tailored for another search engine - the Russian Yandex.
• Turbo mode. Like many other Russian developers, Yandex likes to peep ideas from competitors. I wrote about the magical function of Opera Turbo above, here it is essentially the same, I will not repeat it.
• Yandex.Zen. Your personal recommendations: various articles, news, reviews, videos and more right on the start page. We opened a new tab and ... woke up after 2 hours :) In principle, the same thing is available with the Visual Bookmarks extension from Yandex for other browsers.

• Synchronization. There is nothing surprising in this function - when you reinstall Windows, all your settings and bookmarks will be saved in the browser.
• smart line. A really useful tool - answers to questions right in the search bar, without having to go to the search results and search through other pages.

• Safety. Yandex has its own technology - Protect, which warns the user about visiting a potentially dangerous resource. Protect includes several independent modes of protection against various network threats: encryption of data transmitted over a WiFi channel, password protection and anti-virus technologies.
• Setting appearance . Choose from a huge number of ready-made backgrounds or the ability to upload your own picture.
• Quick mouse gestures. Managing the browser has become even easier: just hold down the right mouse button and perform a specific action to get the desired operation:

• Yandex.Tablo. Also a very convenient tool - on the start page there will be 20 bookmarks of the sites you most visit. The tile panel for these sites can be customized to your liking.

As you can see, this is a really complete modern web browsing tool. I think that its share in the browser market will constantly grow, and the product itself will develop in the future.

Disadvantages of Yandex.Browser

• obsession. Whatever program I try to install, what service I don’t get into - here it is right there: Yandex.Browser. Walks right on the heels and whines: "Install me." Constantly wants to change the start page. And he wants a lot more. He looks like my wife :) At some point, it starts to piss me off.
• Speed. Many users complain about the speed of opening new tabs, which even overshadows the infamous Mozilla Firefox. Especially true for weak computers.
• No flexible settings. Unlike the same Google Chrome or Opera, Yandex.Browser does not have wide possibilities for adapting to your own individual needs.

5th place - Microsoft Edge

The youngest of modern browsers, was launched by Microsoft in March 2015. This browser has replaced Internet Explorer, which is hated by many (which is rather strange, since IE is statistically the most secure browser!). I started using Edge from the moment I installed the "dozens", that is, quite recently, but I have already made up my mind about it.

Microsoft Edge is rapidly breaking into the browser market and its share is growing every day

Pros of Microsoft Edge

• Full integration with Windows 10. This is perhaps Edge's strongest trait. It works like a complete application and uses all the features of the most modern operating system.
• Safety. Edge took over from its "big brother" IE the most strengths, including safe web surfing.
• Speed. In terms of speed, I can put it in third place after Google Chrome and Opera, but still its performance is very good. The browser does not bother, the pages open quickly and load in a couple of seconds.
• Reading mode. I use this function most often on mobile devices, but maybe it will be useful for someone in the PC version.
• Cortana voice assistant. To be honest, I haven't used it yet, but it's rumored to be way behind OK Google and Siri.
• Notes. Microsoft Edge introduces handwriting and note-taking functionality. An interesting thing, I must tell you. Here's what it actually looks like:

Create a note in Microsoft Edge. Step 1.

Create a note in Microsoft Edge. Step 2

Disadvantages of Microsoft Edge

• Windows 10 only. This browser is available only to owners of the latest version of the Windows operating system - "dozens".
• Sometimes stupid. For me it happens like this: you enter the page url (or make a transition), a tab opens and the user sees White screen until the page is fully loaded. Personally, it annoys me.
• Incorrect display. The browser is quite new and some old sites “float” in it.
• Poor context menu. It looks like this:

• Lack of personalization. Unlike other browsers, Edge will be difficult to customize for specific needs and tasks.

What browser do you use? I look forward to your suggestions in the comments. If you have any questions - ask, I will answer as soon as possible!

A browser (as it is also called a web navigator, web browser) is a special program designed to display information from the Internet on a computer or smartphone screen. This application software allows you to browse various websites, search for necessary information, open web documents and process requests.

In the era of active competitiveness in the field of browsers, it is quite difficult to surprise the demanding user and satisfy his requests. Therefore, versions of web navigators are constantly updated, optimizing already implemented functions and creating new ones. There are many worthy and convenient programs in the browser category for every taste and user needs, and our article will help you choose the best one.

Browser usage statistics

Stable, reliable and fast web browser. The interface does not "press" the user, it can be modified depending on the user's desires. Optimized Turbo and Speed ​​Dial tools allow you to increase the speed of your browser and quickly access popular pages. Privacy, spelling, downloader, password manager and spam blocker are the main advantages of the web browser.

A world-famous web browser that creates a comfortable and secure environment for the user to stay on the Internet. The software allows you to create your own file storage database - Google Drive. The possibility of various kinds of cyber-attacks and the penetration of "pests" is minimized. Smart omnibox, personalization, saving web surfing activity, translator, synchronization with mobile devices are the main, but not all, features of the utility.

World famous web browser, winner of various ratings and tests, "favorite" of many millions of users. The probability of failures is reduced to a minimum percentage, and the flexibility and speed of work in the utility is amazing. The wide functionality of the software will surprise even the most demanding user, since the Fire Fox not only optimized the work of tabs, spelling, history saving, but also made it possible to view PDF files, parents control visits to "forbidden" sites by children, 3D support and spam blocking.

A popular web browser, which deservedly takes the fourth place among the software of this category in terms of the number of fans. A convenient search engine allows you to use various search services, the “remembering” function opens previously closed sites, convenient work with tabs and an RSS feed are one of the main advantages of the browser.

Experimental development of the Opera company, amazing realism of work in the browser and “revival” of tabs when the cursor is touched. The developers have introduced a split-screen function, in which you can work in several tabs at the same time. The video pop-up window can be moved around the screen home page, doing work and viewing multimedia in parallel. The tab splash screen visually looks like a website, which makes it easier to find the desired web page. The screenshot taken from the screen can be instantly sent to a social network or by mail to a friend.

It combines the best "chips" of Opera and Chrome and is popular and in demand among users. Loading pages on a weak network, automatic page translator, Turbo mode are some of the main features of a web navigator. Web surfing through this utility is protected by the work of Kaspersky Lab, and the creators of the software have synchronized its work with Yandex services and work with Yandex disk.

An easy-to-use browser that works even on older computers. It can accept the interface of popular web browsers Chrome, Opera, Mozilla, Internet Explorer and Yandex.Browser. Cyber ​​attacks through the utility are minimized, since they are not registered in the system due to their “age” of the browser.

Reliable web browser with powerful privacy protection from the well-known company Komodo. The "portability" function reproduces all settings, saved tabs and history on other computers, and the "invisible" mode will hide your web surfing from prying eyes.

Interface copy of Google Chrome. It has its own search engine of the same name, the ability to restore an interrupted session, its own file uploader and work with several social network accounts at the same time.

Compact browser with data loading speed and stability. Built-in useful plugins and a translator will make visiting web pages much easier and save time. A powerful built-in downloader and annoying spam blocker are other advantages of this web navigator.

An analogue of Internet Explorer, but with additional and optimized work and data protection. Form autocomplete and pop-up blocker make web browsing much easier for the user. With the "G" button, you can set up certain commands for quick access to them.

It is an analogue of Mozilla, but with reduced functionality and increased performance. Improved the ability to transfer all data from the Fire Fox to the Pale Moon. The start page is full of popular web services, and the bookmark of visited sites allows you to quickly navigate to them.

A browser specially designed for a 64-bit system. It is a copy of Firefox, but with improved functionality and fast web surfing speed. Built-in players and downloaders allow you to listen and download your favorite content.

A browser that has its own "cloud" storage and was created on two engines Webkit and Trident. The "isolated window" option allows the user to log into the site under different accounts. The ability to create a screenshot of the entire web browser window or a selected area, create your own “cloud” and various modes for high-quality surfing in the browser are the main features of the utility.

The browser, developed by Mail.Ru, allows you to synchronize with social networks and perform continuous work on the Internet. The built-in player allows you to create your own playlist of your favorite songs, search and play multimedia content from social networks.

Interface similar to Internet Explorer and functionally Opera. An important feature browser is a blocking from annoying spam and flash animations that interfere with normal networking. Work in the web navigator can be completely switched to the mouse, having previously configured its gestures with the necessary buttons. "Protected View", "smart" address bar and screen capture are important advantages of this software.

It will become indispensable for the work of children on the Internet and for parents to control their safe web surfing. Tools "Stalker" and "Advertisement" recognize malicious content and block all kinds of spam. The browser has its own search of the same name and can open previously viewed sites in the absence of the Internet.

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

If you do not 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 exist? 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 talk about all these "characters" now in more detail.

internet explorer

This is a real legend. Deservedly or not - everyone decides for himself, but no one will dispute the fact that the vast majority of experienced users started with him. In 2001, when the Internet in our country was almost in its infancy, and even in large cities Dial Up dominated, the sixth "donkey" was the only association with the word "browser".

Of course, someone knew about the Opera project, very rare geeks in the vastness of our country used Netscape, but the palm clearly 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 "chromium" was perceived only as the name of a chemical element until 2008! Yes, the Google Chrome browser has appeared relatively recently!

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

It is not surprising that due to its wide distribution and its presence by default in the Windows family of operating systems, it is the “donkey” that has become the de facto standard for almost all public institutions in our country. To this day, normal work with the websites of state institutions, Sberbank, as well as all similar structures is possible only from under this browser. In many ways, this is also due to the use of ActiveX structures in it, which greatly simplify the creation of software components for such resources.

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. Up until 2006, when Vista and IE7 arrived on the scene, there were no updates at all.

Competitors did not doze off, 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 of the situation did not save, since IE7 was in many ways the same sixth "donkey". Of the visible changes, one could only notice a slightly "refreshed" interface, and support for tabs, which in the same "Opera" were already in the seventh version (2005).

Add to this the terrible compatibility with HTML standards, the terrible rendering of pages and the terribly slow page loading speed. Not surprisingly, only IE 9 finally "became like a browser," as many publications wrote about it. Currently, the latest is the eleventh version, which is really not bad.

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

Alas, when working with state and municipal sites, you will not have special alternatives. However, there are exceptions: a few years ago, the German government officially urged municipal employees to use Firefox, as IE "does not meet modern security requirements." So what other browsers are out 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 did not have much popularity. Everything changed in 2006, when Opera 9 was released. At that time, it was the ideal. Judge for yourself:

• great work with tabs;
• built-in mail client;
• bit-torrent client, also built into the browser;
• work with most HTML standards;
• support for mouse gestures;
• the widest possibilities of customization;
• the ability to block ads without the use of third-party utilities.

And all this in a 2006 browser! In addition, we forgot to mention one more “killer feature” of Opera. This is the Turbo mode. What is the purpose of this option? Everything is simple. When it was activated, all traffic to the user's computer passed through the servers of Opera Software 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 older phones. By the way, the phrase “free browsers” for modern users can only cause a smile, while “Opera” for smartphones has been paid for a long time, and for desktops (up to Opera 5) this browser was distributed on a reimbursable 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 development product of Google Corporation, as well as linking Opera to the Chromium project.

It is not difficult to guess what emotions all this aroused among users. They said that almost all new browsers are already Chrome clones, 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, in fact, only the name remained from the old Opera.

No mouse gestures, no usual customization options ... and even bookmarks in new version did not have! The developers swear that everything will be fixed “in the near future”, but this has been going on for the second year, and there is no particular progress. The company lost a huge number of users who partly went to Chrome, and someone 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 will not be possible to “fasten” everything due to the features of the new engine), the entire program creation cycle will be tied to Chromium and Google itself. By the way, what are the browsers based on the Google product? We will talk about this below.

Google Chrome and its derivatives

The history of this browser, as we 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. Someone rejoiced, some experts were more cautious in their forecasts, but the fact remains that the event was clearly outstanding. To date, the Chrome browser claims to be the "No. 1 browser", displacing not only IE, but even Firefox in this post. How did it happen?

When the new Internet browser just came out, everyone liked its tremendous speed. Many 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 absence of useful plug-ins, due to which the browser could not resist ads in any way, and poor integration with third-party applications (antiviruses, download managers, and others).

The beginning of success

For someone else, this could be a failure, but not for Google! The company's incredible capabilities and aggressive marketing policy have done their job: at first, when using a proprietary search engine, an offer was issued to “try a new browser”, and today Chrome checkboxes are available in almost every second shareware application (in the installation kit).

Soon, this particular browser was on the computer of almost every second user, and professionals increasingly began to use it. Again, the punchy policy of Google played its 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, Docs, and more.

To be fair, Google (the browser) is a very safe product: the process separation policy is paying off. It is difficult for malicious code to break out of a virtual sandbox into a production system. Among other things, Chrome has plugins for blocking ads and Flash content, integration systems with the most popular downloaders, and more. In 2014, the official x64 version appeared, which became even safer and faster.

Flaws

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

Secondly, there are serious claims to the confidentiality of user information. In general, Google has never hidden that all your data can be viewed for the presence of child pornography and information that can be classified as a “terrorist threat”, but this does not make it easier for suspicious individuals. The browser abundantly collects information about your search preferences and frequently visited pages, forming targeted advertising based on this data. However, all modern free browsers often sin with 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 they directly prohibit employees 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 "transcendental" speed, today it is no longer possible to call the Google Chrome browser fast. With plugins installed and connected account user application (especially on older machines) does not start quickly.

Chromium

After the Chromium license agreement scandal, in which the developers allowed themselves rather frivolous clauses about user privacy (they were later removed or changed), the Chromium project appeared. Unlike its "big brother", this browser is based on open source code, which anyone can change at their own discretion. In terms of features, it is not much different from the parent application, except for the ease of creating your own plug-ins.

It was on its basis that a huge mass of “chromium-like” programs appeared, which we will now talk about. In general, almost all new browsers that appear recently are exactly 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 lie on the shoulders of Google programmers.

"Yandex browser)

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

"Amigo"

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

There is nothing more special about him. In addition, there are also such varieties of "Chrome":

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

And many, many similar products. And 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, constantly hung and terribly slowed down. Of course, the collapse of the program was the most common occurrence. Time passed. In 2006, there was already Firefox 2, which was distinguished by good qualities, and the third version was included in the Guinness record holders at all (several million people downloaded it in the first day).

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

In addition, numerous plug-ins have become the reason for success. With the help of them, you can turn the browser into a multifunctional "combine", in terms of capabilities, almost surpassing 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 you can’t wait for from the same Chrome.

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

Flaws

These include not too high security of the native (without installed extensions) application. However, without extensions installed, Firefox is generally a very average browser without any special features. Beginners do not always know which plugin and for what purposes they need to install. In addition, such add-ons are not always good programmatically, 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 have given the most common varieties of such programs. Of course, we didn't talk about Safari (which is used in Apple's OS), as well as many other browsers, many of which are leaders 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.