Chrome for Android doesn't have extensions, but Edge now has a whole store
Microsoft edge's latest build version 134.0.3124.57, just added a whole new web-store for Android user unlike google.
Extensions are great for adding a tiny bit of functionality to a browsing experience without dedicating an entire app to run in the background. For instance, some users like to use VPNs securely tied in from the browser itself rather than running the full-scale app.
Additionally, Firefox has the recommended extensions program where they take the most popular/functional subset of extensios in a given category and manually vet the code for security and privacy issues.
I recently found out that on Firefox Android you can install an extension from file by activating developer options. This allows you to install Bypass Paywalls Clean even though Mozilla sadly pulled it from the extension store.
Seems less sketchy to use uBlock Origin with bypass-paywalls-clean-filters... at least then you're not directly adding executable code, though I'm not sure if uBO filter lists can be exploited.
> Extensions are great for adding a tiny bit of functionality to a browsing experience without dedicating an entire app to run in the background.
And a great way to give permission to read and modify all websites you visit to something that should really better be an isolated application.
I would really not consider web extensions an alternative to standalone apps. In my security model, they inhabit the opposite corner.
> some users like to use VPNs securely tied in from the browser itself rather than running the full-scale app
This might be a mistake, for example. A VPN app runs sandboxed on mobile OSes (and many VPN types are supported by OSes natively so there's no need for an app in the first place), so it can't get access to website data (if HTTPS is used), whereas a web extension usually can.
Manifest V2 doesn't even support fine-grained permissions like that (they have to statically declare all sites they ever want to access at build time, and users have to accept all of them at install time).
Manifest V3 is better and offers a dynamic API to request more permissions on a per-site basis, but it's still not perfect – for example, Chrome presents the "proxy" permission as "read and change data on all websites", so as a user, I have no idea if a VPN extension just wants the proxy permission, or write permissions to every site I visit.
Technically Mozilla is advertising company, they made a few acquisitions and have usual mission statement on website: "Mozilla is redefining digital advertising..."
But you could argue they can make more money by selling information you upload through Firefox. They have permission to sell EVERYTHING!!!
I am using Edge. I don't see any discount coupons. I must have clicked a "no ads pls" buttons somewhere, but now it's good.
Speaking of adware and spyware, doesn't Firefox still have Google as its default search website? They are not Google, but literally selling you to Google, that's like even worse?
It takes more than one click just to get to the right settings page, and there are numerous anti-features scattered across several settings pages. Cleaning up Edge is way more than one click.
Holy hell. I just opened one because I got a bug report about a page I maintain, and it was absolutely staggering.
Had I not needed to specifically test Edge on Windows 11, I'd have just pressed and held the power button, then wiped the disk and installed something else if I'd encountered that experience on something I purchased to use for some non-browser-testing productive purpose.
The funny thing is Chrome is actually made by an advertising company, and it's significantly less aggravating, somehow.
Fair enough, but only ~5% of Microsoft revenue comes from ad dollars. It's not clear to me why I should switch to a browser which is funded primarily with ad money vs. just turning off the Edge features I don't like. (FWIW, I used Firefox for many years, and my daily driver is currently Chrome.)
Thought it would be good to reply to all the subs-comments from the least useful comment.
I find it ironic that most of those defending edge's default ad infested config as ok because you can turn it off are likely the same people who'd lambast Firefox for having a lot less stuff turned on my default. I control everything in Firefox, no way anyone can say the say for edge, chrome or even safari.
It's like being an unwitting member of a death cult, but your moment of clarity comes when the refreshments table doesn't have blueberry-flavored punch. So you flee... right into the welcoming tentacles of the more appealing death cult next door.
No adblockers though. Edge for mobile does have a built-in adblocker, but there is no customizable blocklists or transparency on what is being blocked, so Microsoft could give blocklist exemptions to their own ad service while blocking Google's, for example.
But Firefox Nightly (has tabbed interface on tablet) + ublock origin is the best experience on an Android phone/tablet IMO. Not as fast as Chromium based browsers, but it is worth it for adblocking, block autoplay, extensions for youtube etc.
Personally I’ve used a Magsafe Pop Socket style grip for the last 5 years so my thumb naturally hovers over the center of the screen. Ergonomics of phones sucked in general for me as screens got bigger and bigger until I started using it.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recommended-extensions-...
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/please-at-me/
It works perfectly on Firefox for Android and desktop Android.
Firefox is so awesome, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
It’s very hard given the constraints, but apparently not impossible, since Orion manages to run at least some web extensions.
And a great way to give permission to read and modify all websites you visit to something that should really better be an isolated application.
I would really not consider web extensions an alternative to standalone apps. In my security model, they inhabit the opposite corner.
> some users like to use VPNs securely tied in from the browser itself rather than running the full-scale app
This might be a mistake, for example. A VPN app runs sandboxed on mobile OSes (and many VPN types are supported by OSes natively so there's no need for an app in the first place), so it can't get access to website data (if HTTPS is used), whereas a web extension usually can.
Then don't do that. Give them permission to only read specific sites, or even no access if they don't need it.
Manifest V2 doesn't even support fine-grained permissions like that (they have to statically declare all sites they ever want to access at build time, and users have to accept all of them at install time).
Manifest V3 is better and offers a dynamic API to request more permissions on a per-site basis, but it's still not perfect – for example, Chrome presents the "proxy" permission as "read and change data on all websites", so as a user, I have no idea if a VPN extension just wants the proxy permission, or write permissions to every site I visit.
But you could argue they can make more money by selling information you upload through Firefox. They have permission to sell EVERYTHING!!!
Speaking of adware and spyware, doesn't Firefox still have Google as its default search website? They are not Google, but literally selling you to Google, that's like even worse?
Yes you can turn all this off, but in default mode it is maddening.
Had I not needed to specifically test Edge on Windows 11, I'd have just pressed and held the power button, then wiped the disk and installed something else if I'd encountered that experience on something I purchased to use for some non-browser-testing productive purpose.
The funny thing is Chrome is actually made by an advertising company, and it's significantly less aggravating, somehow.
I find it ironic that most of those defending edge's default ad infested config as ok because you can turn it off are likely the same people who'd lambast Firefox for having a lot less stuff turned on my default. I control everything in Firefox, no way anyone can say the say for edge, chrome or even safari.
That would require a submission of all of the source code, so I assume this will never happen.
I would consider Edge if it showed up in FFUpdater. I don't see it there either.
When Firefox misbehaves and claims it owns data from users, Firefox can be forked.
Unless Microsoft intends to similarly abuse its users, Edge could be completely opened.
I would only ride a fork of Edge should this not prove true.
But Firefox Nightly (has tabbed interface on tablet) + ublock origin is the best experience on an Android phone/tablet IMO. Not as fast as Chromium based browsers, but it is worth it for adblocking, block autoplay, extensions for youtube etc.
https://old.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1i86ybn/kiwi_brows...
on Desktop as well