What to look for

Speed

Slow browsing will turn the worldwide web into the worldwide wait. All the browsers we tested claim to render at lightning speed, but our testing shows Google Chrome and Apple Safari are streets ahead of the competition.

Expandability

Expandability is one reason browsers gain loyal users. The ability to personalise the look and feel of your browser and add extra abilities via themes or skins, add-ons and plug-ins can make it more attractive, easier to use and more functional. Note that loading up any browser with add-ons will probably slow it down, so exercise restraint and only use the ones you really want.

Security

Security is vital because browsers are big targets for malware. Most browsers have built-in security features ranging from ad blocking to anti-phishing but it’s important to check the security settings of each browser you use.

Some browsers have a privacy mode that clears your tracks from the PC you use, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re browsing anonymously. Without specially configured tools, browsing still leaves tracks on the internet. It’s important to exercise caution when browsing and to keep your browser up to date. Updates often include patches that fix security vulnerabilities.

While every browser has vulnerabilities, Chrome, Firefox and Opera have no known security issues at the time of writing.

Shortcuts

Shortcuts built into the browser can create significant time savings over the course of a web surfing session.

• One of the simplest is Tabs (included in all the browsers we tested) which let you open multiple sites in one browser window, reducing time and window clutter.
• Opera’s Speed Dial, Safari’s Top Sites and Chrome’s Thumbnails provide easily accessible thumbnails of websites you visit frequently.
• Both Opera and Chrome have a timesaving paste-and-go feature which helps navigate quickly to new links with a single click.
• Some browsers, including Chrome, Firefox and Opera, also give you the option to automatically open previously opened web pages when the browser launches.

Mobile compatibility

Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari are available for mobile phones.

• Internet Explorer Mobile is available on Windows Mobile and Windows CE platforms.
• Opera Mini is available for JAVA ME platforms and Opera Mobile can be used on Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms.
• Safari is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.