It uses the Android webview to render websites
So, Chrome-based.
this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Is android webview literally using chromes engine?
Yes. It is called blink
Damn so OP lied
That's harsh. I think there is a meaningful distinction between lying and being ignorant or misinformed.
I put a warning in the post. I am disapponted too. Sorry. 8 months. Fuck.
Yes.
Not necessarily, it uses whichever engine you choose, but most of the time it means Chrome.
It uses Android Web view which is essentially just Chrome without the interface, and is entirely proprietary. It suffers from all the drawbacks of Chrome based browsers with the added problem of being an Android component so out of much, if any, control of the developers.
This app should not be a serious consideration for anyone who is privacy or security focused. The very first thing a secure browser should be providing is it's own rendering engine. Even providing it's own chrome based rendering engine would be more secure than this.
Also in terms of extensions, as it is Chrome based it's extensions such as uBlock will have the same privacy breaking restrictions as the rest of the chrome ecosystem with manifest v3 which favours Google's advertising business over user security and privacy.
Holy crap. This is disappointing. I should consider editing the post so people know.
I think it's possible for a Chrome-based browser to have better ad-blocking than Google Chrome
https://www.spacebar.news/stop-using-brave-browser/ is something I agree with, but Brave does have better ad-blocking features than Google Chrome, despite using the same core engine
"Not chrome" ... uses blink engine...
Now I know why nobody talks about it. I am just figuring out if it is still bad or do I need to make a switch immediately. I have tried as hard ad I can to get away from Google. They are like cancer.
The only thing I find bad about using blink is that it gives google more power over the consortium. Things are added as a standard when they are widely used, so if google disables jxl functionality, they kill any chance of that becoming the new standard. The bigger the market share of blink is, the more power google has over what other browsers prioritize also.
Uses AdBlock not Ublock Origin...
Ty but I am fine with IronFox
I use NextDNS so none of that shows up anyway. Or at least I can not recall it.
I tend to turn off JavaScript for most sites and I found enabling and disabling it on this browser to be a pain. Has that changed?
Also, it is webview, so you cannot harden it unless you root and download a hardened webview.
Not for me, but since I have discovered it is based on Android View and therefore Chrome, I feel dumb and am trying to find something else.
FOSS browser, FREE browser, Privacy browser and monocles browser are all pretty similar to me.
For basic browsing I am sure they are all OK.
monocles browser will switch to a custom WebView called Privacy Webview.
https://www.stoutner.com/privacy-browser-android/core-privacy-principles/
I use the monocles browser (rebranding of Privacy browser) for quick searches with javascript and cookies turned off as default.
For instance, if I am searching git for something and I see what I want, I enable javascript with the button, to see the latest releases and download sections.
I like the turn on javascript button. and the selection of EasyList , easy privacy, fanboys annoyances list, Ultra list and Ultra privacy list for adblocking and tracking.
From what I remember they all have the Delete browser data on exit. Monocles Browser makes it easier to "clear and exit" for me.
To clear, history, cookies etc. The "CLEAR AND EXIT" button is at the top of the left side drop down menu, so it is easier to find. unlike the others where it is at the bottom of the drop down menu.
I suppose its all about choice and personal preference.
So if I switch to Monacles, I will not be using Android Webview, which I just learned the Foss browser uses? I want to switch immediately.
Edit: I guess the question is how much info is still sent since Monacle is based off android webview.
Hey ScoffingLizard
I am always the sceptic, but I have read that the monocles browser uses the monocles webview.
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.monocles.browser/
It says here: In the defaults, the monocles browser uses the monocles webview
here it is more in depth:
basically they are saying that unless you are using an up to date custom rom, currently android 15 on my lineage phone, there maybe security issues with webview
https://docs.monocles.eu/apps/browser.app/
Limitations and Known Issues#
Security Issues#
As monocles Browser is based upon the WebView component, it is dependant of the underlying Android ROM and it's updates.#
We thus recommend to use the latest available Version of Android for your device and - if necessary - upgrade to an aftermarket ROM like:
DivestOS
/e/
LineageOS
If a device has no modern firmware updates anymore and Aftermarket - Firmware is just not available, then please consider a different Browser like Fennec, which is privacy-enhanced version of Firefox for Android nee Firefox Mobile or Tor Browser which you can also get via F-Droid by adding or enabling the Guardian Project repository.
I think my carrier will not tolerate any of that. Maybe I can just put Lineage on this thing and switch to Mint, but I think Samsung might have messed up the boot loader for 25 Ultra phones. I could check.
I must say you guys in the USA do have a hard time with your shit carriers.
I would never root any phone, there really is no need. I have bricked many rooted phones and it is totally unsafe and insecure. I think its the equivalent of using windows XP.
Here is a guide; It might give you an idea. Its quite a simple process to follow.
https://droidwin.com/unlock-bootloader-and-root-samsung-galaxy-s25-plus-ultra/
the "Unlock Bootloader on Samsung Galaxy S25/Plus/Ultra" section.
Ha ha. Now I am definitely too scared to do it.
~~Can you use ublock?~~ built in. Im going to give it a go.
Since it's actually chrome based in most cases, I guess unlock won't work