"Yandex Browser" even analyzes private messages. Here's what data browsers collect and why it matters

Illustrative image created by Google Gemini

Surfshark experts analyzed the privacy policies of 15 popular mobile browsers in the Google Play Store.

The top three "anti-leaders" in data collection were Yandex Browser (collects 25 types of data out of 38 possible), Microsoft Edge (20), and Google Chrome (19). They track search history, location, financial information, photos, and even audio.

Yandex stood out for collecting in-browser messages, although the company claims it's exclusively about chats with customer support. In Belarus, Yandex Browser's market share is about 15%.

On the other side are less popular browsers focused on user privacy. According to information from the Play Store, Brave, Tor, and Mi Browser do not collect any user data at all. DuckDuckGo, Samsung Internet, and Ecosia collect a minimal amount of information, such as only app interaction data or crash reports.

But collecting data is only half the battle, as some browsers also transmit it to third parties for analytics and targeted advertising. For example, Microsoft Edge shares the user's precise and approximate location, while Yandex transmits payment information. Phoenix, Opera, and Aloha also made the list of those who share your data.

How does this affect ordinary users? When you consent to data collection, you de facto lose control over your own digital life. Your daily habits can reveal extremely sensitive information: hidden health problems, financial status, political views, or even personal difficulties.

Based on this massive amount of data, corporations create a detailed digital profile to predict your behavior. This allows them to directly manipulate you: for example, showing different prices for the same products depending on your profile, or offering specific content that can influence your decisions and opinions.

In addition to psychological and financial impact, uncontrolled sharing of personal data also poses direct threats to your security. If a company that stores your "digital portrait" faces a hacker attack, your secrets will become the property of criminals. According to an IBM report, personal user data was the most frequent type of information leaked during breaches in 2025.

New "smart" browsers with built-in artificial intelligence, which are now gaining popularity, such as Perplexity’s Comet or the ChatGPT chatbot program, do not solve the privacy problem. They collect browsing history and precise location, and also share device identifiers with third parties.

To protect yourself and minimize your digital footprint, experts advise a radical rethinking of your habits: give browsers the minimum necessary information and regularly check app permissions in your phone settings. Disable access to geolocation, microphone, camera, and contacts if it's not critically important for functionality. They also advise using unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and not forgetting to update your browser in a timely manner.

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