Today's battle of the most popular browsers involves Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and these browsers seem to constantly keep up with each other's look and feel, security features, and cutting edge technologies. Here's a summary of their similarities and differences:
Google Chrome's minimalist interface is more glorified the Firefox's detailed look. The Firefox menus include File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools, and Help, while Chrome only displays two icons on the upper right part of the page: a 3-lined icon for customizing the settings and options and the bookmark sign. Internet explorer could have been Chrome's tough rival when it comes to interface as it features cleaner page with its three icons on the upper right portion of the page: Home, Favorites, and Tools.
When it comes to the comparison of their address bars or URL boxes, Chrome features its Omnibox, also known as the box for all browsing needs. Although Firefox has this feature as well, majority of users find Chrome's URL box more convenient to use. As the user types into the address bar, suggestions for searches will be automatically displayed. It also has the autocomplete feature which helps users find out the trending news related to a particular topic. Microsoft also has this feature called the "One Box", where users can start typing a web address and AutoComplete also anticipates what they're looking for.
With regards to the browser home page, Firefox allows the user to open a blank page, a homepage, or a set of URLs during startup. Chrome on the other hand, shows user thumbnails for the 9 most visited pages by the user which is closer to Opera's approach. Explorer also has this new tab page where one can view websites the user often visits and puts them one click away.
Invisible mode settings
To keep everything off the record, Google Chrome has an "incognito" mode, while Firefox offers the "Start Private Browsing" option under the tools tab. Explorer has the InPrivate Browsing which can be activated in the Safety menu by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P.
Security features
Both browsers have an anti-malware tool that notifies users whenever they try to enter a site known for installing viruses, spyware, and other malicious code. However, Mozilla Firefox takes on the security aspect as it supports the "Master Password" feature, while Google Chrome does not. The absence of this feature allows anyone who uses the browser to have access to accounts with stored passwords. Internet Explorer has SmartScreen Filter, which verifies URLs against Microsoft's blacklist and blocks known malicious sites.
Installation
Whenever a new update is available, Chrome automatically updates itself. With Firefox, you just have to restart the program to update to the latest version. Firefox is up again in this aspect as it uses the more conventional way of installing the program; it utilizes a service instead of a standard program process. Chrome installs in a non-program folder which is considered a security risk. IE on the other hand, requires repeating the installation process to install the latest version.
Cutting-edge technologies
As per PC Mag, Google Chrome surpasses other browsers with its voice response option and instant page loading due to the JavaScript engine called V8. Google claims that V8 is proven faster than Firefox and even Safari.
On the other hand, Firefox is known for its extensions that let users customize the browser beyond what possible in the others.
Lastly, Microsoft IE excels at graphic hardware acceleration. It is the only browser with 64-bit program, and the only one that includes powerful Tracking Protection against site code that tracks your browsing activity, as per PC Mag.
Which one stands out for you? Sound off in the comments section below!
