Chrome is the world’s most popular browser by a long shot. It dominates the browser market with its 66.3% share. It’s fast, reliable and for billions of people it is THE browser. And it’s from Google. A tech giant that most people have been relying on for a lot of their internet activities. I mean, this is the company behind the most used search engine on the planet, the most watched video platform (which is also the second largest search engine), and a host of services that power pretty much everything from email to maps.
But Google isn’t giving away so many of its services for free, out of the goodness of its heart. It’s also the world’s largest ad business. And that’s a big deal. The same company that gives free tools to billions is also collecting user data and, in one way or another, selling it to advertisers.
So when you consider that Chrome is also made by Google, it’s a fair question: what does that mean for your privacy and security? We are going to break down where Chrome protects you, where it exposes you and what you can do if you’re not ready to give it up. But most importantly, we are going to answer the question: Is Chrome Safe?
Is Chrome Safe?
Yes. Chrome is Safe. However, this answer also depends on what you mean by “safe.”
If we’re talking about security, Chrome is one of the best most secure web browser on the market. It checks all the boxes, with features like site isolation, sandboxing, frequent security patches, phishing protection, and a built-in password manager. So, from a technical standpoint, Chrome does everything it needs to do to keep your safe from malware, malicious websites, and harmful downloads.
However, if privacy is a concern, then there are some conflicts on interests that might make you look elsewhere.
Google is an ad company, and Chrome is a tool in that ecosystem. It collects a ton of user data if you’re signed into your Google account and using Chrome sync. Even if you’re not signed in, some things are still tracked. And unlike Firefox or Brave, Chrome doesn’t have built in protections against things like fingerprinting or cross-site tracking. So yes, Chrome is secure. But it’s not private. And on today’s internet, privacy is a big part of being safe.
How Does Chrome Keep You Safe?
As we’ve already discussed, Chrome is safe, if your definition of safe means avoiding malware, dodging phishing traps, or keeping rogue websites from taking over your system. And it actually has a good reputation in this front.
Fast Security Updates
Chrome updates are fast and frequent. Google’s security team is relentless when it comes to patching vulnerabilities. They have a bug bounty program that helps them identify bugs and issues quickly. If there’s a zero-day exploit out there, Chrome’s one of the first browsers to squash it. This means users are almost never exposed to known threats.
Site Isolation
One of Chrome’s under-the-hood defences is site isolation. This feature separates each website you open into its own process. So if one site is malicious, it can’t access data from another open tab. It’s a smart way to limit the damage if something goes wrong.
Sandboxing
Speaking of isolation, Chrome runs each tab in a sandbox, essentially a locked container. The idea here is that even if malicious code tries to run, it’s stuck in its own little box and can’t interact with the rest of your system. It’s like putting an infected tab into a quarantine zone.
Safe Browsing
Chrome’s Safe Browsing feature warns you when you’re about to visit a sketchy website or download something dangerous. It checks sites against Google’s database of known threats and puts up a big red warning screen if it sees something off. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. And often better than what’s built into other browsers.
Password Manager & Alerts
Chrome has a decent built-in password manager that autofills your credentials and flags reused or breached passwords. It’ll even notify you if one of your saved logins shows up in a data breach, so you can act before things get out of hand.
So what’s the catch?
While Chrome is good on defence, it has one major asterisk: it’s closed source. That means you’re taking Google’s word for it when they say the browser does what they claim and nothing more. You can’t look under the hood. You can’t audit the code. That level of trust is fine for casual users, but in security circles it’s a red flag. Open-source browsers like Firefox or Chromium-based alternatives like Brave can be reviewed, verified, and held accountable.
And there’s the broader question of control. Chrome has a history of removing features that give users more control (like extension-level control over network requests) in favour of security, but sometimes at the cost of transparency and user agency. That’s a tough balance and one that doesn’t always go in the user’s favour.
Still, as far as technical security goes? Chrome’s good. However, security is only part of the safety equation.
Is Google Chrome Bad for Privacy?
It might be. Not in the obvious, alarm-bells-ringing way. But in the slow, data-creeping, baked-into-the-design kind of way. That’s where Chrome starts to feel less like a tool working for you and more like a tool working for someone else.
Google is the world’s largest advertising company. And this goes beyond just syncing bookmarks or remembering your passwords. Chrome is part of a massive cross-service tracking network. If you’re logged into your Google account, your activity across Gmail, YouTube, Maps, Docs, and even some third-party sites can be linked together. Even if you’re not signed in, Google can use cookies, IP addresses, and other subtle methods to track your behaviour.
And unlike some other browsers, Chrome has no built-in fingerprinting prevention. That means it doesn’t try to make your browser look more like everyone else’s. Instead, it might actually help websites and ad tech companies uniquely identify you based on subtle signals like screen size, hardware, fonts, and more.
You can’t really harden Chrome. Not fully. Unlike Firefox, which allows for advanced privacy tweaks, or Brave, which ships with aggressive protections out of the box, Chrome doesn’t give you that kind of control. Even its more visible privacy settings tend to be opt-outs rather than defaults.
Then there’s Google Sync. A highly convenient feature, sure, but also a direct pipeline of your browsing activity to Google’s servers. You can encrypt your data, but most users don’t. And Google still has access to metadata around that sync.
Finally, Manifest V3. Google’s move to replace the existing extension system in Chrome has huge implications for privacy tools, particularly ad blockers. It limits the ability of extensions like uBlock Origin to inspect and block network requests. This makes it harder for users to shield themselves from trackers. Google says it’s for performance and security, but critics say it weakens user control.
So, is Google Chrome bad for privacy?
It depends on what privacy means to you. Compared to many other companies, Google has fewer data leaks, so your personal data might not be hijacked by miscreants. However, advertisers will use it to show you personalised ads. So if you’re trying to reduce your data exposure, limit corporate tracking, and use a browser that puts your privacy first, there are better options out there.
How to Make Chrome More Private?
Let’s get one thing out of the way. You can’t fully harden Chrome. It’s not built for that. You can tweak, limit, and lock down certain behaviours. But that’s about it. Chrome remains a browser made by a data-hungry ad company. It wasn’t designed with hardcore privacy in mind, and it shows. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. You can still make Chrome significantly more private and secure than its default experience.
Disable Google Sync
Start here. If you’re signed into Chrome with your Google account and have sync turned on, your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords, and more are being sent to Google’s servers. You can turn it off entirely or use a passphrase to encrypt the data. Not perfect, but better.
Review and Limit Site Permissions
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings. Block location access, camera, microphone, and notifications by default. Most websites don’t need them, and if they do, they’ll ask.
Turn Off “Make Searches and Browsing Better”
This one sounds helpful, but it sends URLs to Google to be checked in real-time. Switch to Enhanced Protection under Safe Browsing only if you’re okay with trading privacy for stronger phishing/malware detection. Otherwise, stick with Standard and keep your URLs to yourself.
Use Privacy-Respecting Search Engines
Google is the default, but you don’t have to use it. Switch to DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or even Brave Search. They don’t track you and are good enough for everyday use.
Install Trusted Privacy Extensions
Extensions are your best friends in Chrome’s locked-down environment. You’re going to need a few solid ones to patch up the gaps:
- Total AdBlock – the best Chrome extension for ad and tracker blocking
- Privacy Badger – learns and blocks trackers automatically
- ClearURLs – removes tracking elements from links
- Cookie AutoDelete – wipes cookies after you leave a site
If you want more options, check out the best ad blockers for Chrome in 2025.
Don’t Rely on Incognito Mode
Incognito hides your activity from other users on your device, not from Google, your ISP, or the websites you visit. It doesn’t block trackers or clear your fingerprint. Make sure your ad blocker and other privacy tools are enabled in incognito and invest in a good VPN like Surfshark VPN.
Google Chrome and Manifest V3
Manifest v3 is a silent update that made big differences in Chrome extensions and not in a good way. Google frames Manifest V3 as a performance and security update. And some of that is true. But it also happens to cripple some of the most powerful privacy extensions: ad blockers.
Under the old system, extensions like uBlock Origin could intercept and block requests in real time, filter scripts, and manage multiple blocklists dynamically. Manifest V3 changes that. It limits what extensions can do in the background, caps the number of filtering rules, and forces developers to pre-define everything they want to block. This isn’t how the internet works. Ads are messy, sneaky, and always changing.
This has been criticised for good reason. Google owns a huge chunk of the online advertising ecosystem. Chrome is their browser. YouTube is their video platform. And now they’re dictating what kind of ad-blocking is allowed inside that ecosystem. That’s a conflict of interest.
Some browsers, like Firefox, are unaffected because they don’t use Chromium. Opera will support older extension systems for as long as possible. Microsoft Edge is playing it safe and delaying the full Manifest V3 rollout. But Chrome? They’re full steam ahead.
So what’s your move?
If you’re still using Chrome, your best bet is AdGuard, a Manifest V3-compliant blocker that still works. It’s not perfect (no blocker is under V3), but it’s one of the few that still blocks banners, video ads, popups and trackers without breaking your browser. AdGuard combines native filtering with a well-maintained engine that adapts fast to new ad techniques. It’s as good as it gets if you’re sticking with Chrome.
Safer Alternatives to Chrome
If Chrome isn’t cutting it for you on privacy, you’re not out of options. Some browsers out there take a very different approach. Ones that don’t revolve around ad revenue or user tracking. Here are three alternatives worth considering:
Safari
Best for Apple users. To read the full comparison, read Chrome vs Safari.
Safari is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. It’s fast, efficient and privacy focused. Features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) make it harder for advertisers to follow you around. Apple isn’t an ad company, and that shows.
Firefox
Best all-rounder for privacy and customisation. To read the full comparison, read Chrome vs Firefox.
Developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, Firefox is open-source, transparent and loaded with privacy controls. You can customise it to your heart’s content or install hardened versions like LibreWolf. It also supports powerful ad-blocking and anti-tracking extensions.
Brave
Best Chromium-based alternative. To read the full comparison, read Chrome vs Brave.
If you like Chrome’s look and feel but hate the tracking, Brave is your middle ground. Built on Chromium, it has native ad and tracker blocking, anti-fingerprinting and an optional private advertising model that pays users in crypto. It’s a privacy-first browser out of the box.
Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Chrome | Safari | Firefox | Brave |
| Open Source | Nope | No | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Ad Blocker | No | No | No | Yes |
| Fingerprinting Protection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-Tracking by Default | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customisation & Extensions | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Manifest V3 Restrictions | Yes | N/A | N/A | Not Yet |
| Sync Without Data Collection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Each of these browsers has its own philosophy and trade-offs. But they all offer more transparency and control than Chrome. If privacy matters to you, switching to one of them is a solid step in the right direction.
Wrapping Up
We’ve discussed a lot about privacy and security here, but the bottom line is that Chrome is safe for most users. It works for most people and it’s compatible with most websites. Chrome is the most popular web browser, and if we count Chromium-based browsers, that number goes even higher. This means most websites are specifically optimised to work better on Chrome. So if you’re just a regular user, there’s no need to switch.
However, if you really care about your privacy, Chrome isn’t it. It’s a polished frontend for one of the largest data collection operations on the internet. That doesn’t make it evil. It makes it complicated. But good news for you is that you’ve got options. So try out different browsers and see what sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the safest browser?
Safari is the safest browser if you’re on a Mac. Tor is a great browser if you want to be truly anonymous. But Brave is probably the most recommendable to most people. It’s fast, private, and cross-platform.
Is Firefox safer than Chrome?
Yes. Firefox has better privacy controls and is open source.
Is Edge safer than Chrome?
A little. It has better sandboxing and some extra Windows integration, but still sends data to Microsoft.
Can I use Chrome without a Google account?
Yes, but it still tracks you using other identifiers like cookies and IP addresses.
Does Incognito Mode protect my privacy?
Not really. It hides activity from others using your device, but websites and Google can still track you.
Which browser blocks the most ads?
Brave has ad-blocking built in. However, on Chrome, you can use a strong extension like AdGuard.
Is using a VPN enough with Chrome?
A VPN hides your IP but Chrome can still collect data via your account and browser fingerprint.