
Contents
This is a re-release of my “world-renown” Web Browser Telemetry - 2021 edition article, updated for 2025.
Updated April 2025: added Floorp, Zen, Waterfox, Thorium and DuckDuckGo browser.
Later edited: The initial test for Ungoogled Chromium showed three connections being made, but that was a mistake on my side (due to the fact that Ungoogled Chromium is my default browser, I have a daemon that’s syncing my dotfiles, text editor and browser settings, etc), so the three connections were established because I had 2 extensions installed (uBlock Origin Lite and Chromium Web Store). The two google.com connections were established by the Chromium Web Store extension, and the raw.githubusercontent.com one was established by uBlock Origin Lite, to update its filters. To summarise, Ungoogled Chromium has no default connections whatsoever and I have updated the chart and its section with the actual data. I actually re-did all the browser tests just to make sure I didn’t taint any more results, but everything else was as expected.
This is not an article about which desktop web browser is the best (there is no such thing) but an article about which browser has the most connections after a fresh install. The results shouldn’t be a surprise, really.
Of course, not everything is telemetry per se, some of the connections are from the New Tab pages that include Youtube videos, or adblocker updates, but I strongly believe that is the same thing: the software leaks information about you and/or your computer without you actually accepting the data exchange (because you don’t have a way to accept or deny the connection since it’s the first time you’re running the browser).
There are better ways to do adblock blocklist management and not load everything on the first run without user consent. Yeah, I know what pgl.yoyo.org does today, but what will it do tomorrow? Or the day after?
All web browsers tested are the latest versions available today, test device is a MacBook M1 laptop (so macOS Sonoma, but the results should be similar regardless of the operating system) with a clean profile, all network connections blocked, application-level network connection whitelisting and only Little Snitch installed. So it’s actually Little Snitch that does all the heavy-lifting, I’m just the robot that is parsing the data.
All network traffic is routed through a VPN in Japan.
Charts
*number of connections for 2025 and 2021, for each browser tested; some of the web browsers weren’t tested in 2021 but they are now.
*desktop web browser market share, in percent, as of April 2025.
Web Browsers
Winners are obviously Ungoogled Chromium, Kagi Orion, Tor Browser and Pale Moon, neither of them is making any unsolicited network connections on start-up. The losers (or loosers, for my American friends)? Us.
I do believe that’s a huge amount of connections for some of the browsers since it’s actually the first start after installing. Huge. Also, Arc (and to a smaller extent, Vivaldi) really managed to talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk, reducing the number of connections massively. Well done!
Mozilla Firefox
Direct download URL
Version: 137.0.1
Engine: Gecko
Market share: 6%
Application size: 428MB
Network connections: 29
prod.classify-client.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443mc.prod.ads.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443prod.detectportal.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport80push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443prod.balrog.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport443telemetry-incoming.r53-2.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443safebrowsing.googleapis.comonTCPport443firefox.settings.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443ads.mozilla.orgonTCPport443aus5.mozilla.orgonTCPport443services.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443location.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443a1887.dscq.akamai.netonTCPport80push.services.mozilla.comonUDPport443detectportal.firefox.comonTCPport80incoming.telemetry.mozilla.orgonTCPport443r10.o.lencr.orgonTCPport80prod.content-signature-chains.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443e3913.cd.akamaiedge.netonTCPport80aus5.mozilla.orgonUDPport443content-signature-2.cdn.mozilla.netonTCPport443a19.dscg10.akamai.netonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443attachments.prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443pki-goog.l.google.comonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonUDPport443ocsp.digicert.comonTCPport80
Brave
Direct download URL
Version: 135.1.77.97
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 664MB
Network connections: 17
d17ndjuagurpsr.cloudfront.netonTCPport443star-randsrv.bsg.brave.comonTCPport443updates.bravesoftware.comonTCPport443go-updater-1830831421.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.comonTCPport443dualstack.o.sni.global.fastly.netonTCPport443usage-ping.brave.comonTCPport443go-updater.brave.comonTCPport443d1vbftvkf37ah3.cloudfront.netonTCPport443dualstack.k.sni.global.fastly.netonTCPport443brave-production-proxy-238320562.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.comonTCPport443c365508cba5e4c13b0de402838df76aa.pacloudflare.comonTCPport443safe-browsing-quorum.wdp-public.brave.comonTCPport443brave-core-ext.s3.brave.comonUDPport443d1bvmdanhrl7qk.cloudfront.netonTCPport443d1gtt36mgrexoi.cloudfront.netonTCPport443redirector.brave.comonUDPport443collector.bsg.brave.comonTCPport443
Ungoogled Chromium
The initial test for Ungoogled Chromium showed three connections being made, but that was a mistake on my side (due to the fact that Ungoogled Chromium is my default browser, I have a daemon that’s syncing my dotfiles, text editor and browser settings, etc), so the three connections were established because I had 2 extensions installed (uBlock Origin Lite and Chromium Web Store). The two google.com connections were established by the Chromium Web Store extension, and the raw.githubusercontent.com one was established by uBlock Origin Lite, to update its filters. To summarise, Ungoogled Chromium has no default connections whatsoever.
Direct download URL
Version: 135.0.7049.84
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 342MB
Network connections: 0
Vivaldi
Direct download URL
Version: 7.3.3635.9
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 637MB
Network connections: 11
clients.l.google.comonTCPport80vivaldi.map.fastly.netonTCPport443mimir2.vivaldi.comonTCPport443update.vivaldi.comonTCPport443weather.vivaldi.comonTCPport443downloads.vivaldi.comonTCPport443weather.vivaldi.comonUDPport443vivaldi.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport443vivaldi.comonUDPport443player.vimeo.com.cdn.cloudflare.netonTCPport443
Tor Browser
Direct download URL
Version: 14.0.9
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 451MB
Network connections: 0
Opera
Direct download URL
Version: 118.0.5461.41
Engine: Blink
Market share: 2%
Application size: 521MB
Network connections: 31
clients.l.google.comonTCPport80trn.lb.opera.technologyonTCPport443e125010.b.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443merchandise.opera-api2.comonTCPport443addons.opera.comonTCPport443na-autoupdate.opera.comonTCPport443ams-weather.opera-api2.comonTCPport443am4-speeddials.opera.comonTCPport443lati.lb.opera.technologyonTCPport443weather.opera-api2.comonTCPport443exchange.opera.comonTCPport443autoupdate.opera.comonTCPport443sd-images.operacdn.comonTCPport443extension-updates.opera.comonTCPport443sitecheck.opera.comonTCPport443submit-trn.osp.opera.softwareonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport80e9428.a.akamaiedge.netonTCPport80safebrowsing.googleapis.comonTCPport443www.facebook.comonTCPport443me-ycpi-cf-www.g06.yahoodns.netonTCPport80mdundo.comonTCPport443e6520.b.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443apex-football.comonTCPport443firebaseinstallations.googleapis.comonTCPport443download5.operacdn.comonTCPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport80firebaseremoteconfig.googleapis.comonTCPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport443us.get.opera.comonTCPport443
Google Chrome
Direct download URL
Version: 135.0.7049.85
Engine: Blink
Market share: 65.7%
Application size: 635MB
Network connections: 25
clients.l.google.comonTCPport443safebrowsingohttpgateway.googleapis.comonTCPport443accounts.google.comonTCPport443googlehosted.l.googleusercontent.comonTCPport443optimizationguide-pa.googleapis.comonTCPport443clients2.googleusercontent.comonTCPport443clients.l.google.comonTCPport80redirector.gvt1.comonTCPport80r3.sn-3pm7dned.gvt1.comonTCPport80update.googleapis.comonTCPport443r1.sn-3pm7dne6.gvt1.comonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport80clientservices.googleapis.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonUDPport443www.googleapis.comonTCPport443optimizationguide-pa.googleapis.comonUDPport443chromewebstore.googleapis.comonTCPport443www.google.comonTCPport443www.gstatic.comonTCPport443ogads-pa.clients6.google.comonTCPport443plus.l.google.comonTCPport443play.google.comonTCPport443chromewebstore.googleapis.comonUDPport443clientservices.googleapis.comonUDPport443www.google.comonUDPport443
Microsoft Edge
Direct download URL
Version: 135.0.3179.73
Engine: Blink
Market share: 13.37%
Application size: 900MB
Network connections: 48
ax-0002.ax-msedge.netonTCPport443clients.l.google.comonTCPport443e107108.dscx.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443clients2.google.comonTCPport443copilot.microsoft.comonTCPport443a2033.dscd.akamai.netonTCPport443ax-0002.ax-msedge.netonTCPport80googlehosted.l.googleusercontent.comonTCPport443clients2.googleusercontent.comonTCPport443s-part-0019.t-0009.t-msedge.netonTCPport443a1847.dscd.akamai.netonTCPport80l-0007.l-msedge.netonTCPport443a-0003.a-msedge.netonTCPport443prod-agic-je-2.japaneast.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443e86303.dscx.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443edge.microsoft.comonTCPport443self.events.data.microsoft.comonTCPport443onedscolprdwus01.westus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443www.googleapis.comonTCPport443onedscolprdwus21.westus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443www.bing.comonTCPport443nav-edge.smartscreen.microsoft.comonTCPport443config.edge.skype.comonTCPport443ntp.msn.comonTCPport443bx-0002.bx-msedge.netonTCPport80onedscolprdeus00.eastus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443e11290.dspg.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443onedscolprdcus01.centralus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443www.bing.comonUDPport443e13678.dscb.akamaiedge.netonTCPport443www.microsoft.comonTCPport443prod-agic-jw-3.japanwest.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443e86303.dscx.akamaiedge.netonUDPport443a233.dscd.akamai.netonTCPport443ax-0001.ax-msedge.netonTCPport443sb.scorecardresearch.comonTCPport443a1834.dscg2.akamai.netonTCPport443c-msn-pme.trafficmanager.netonTCPport443prod-agic-jw-2.japanwest.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443edgecdn-embza6g8cacagcbn.z01.azurefd.netonTCPport443a233.dscd.akamai.netonUDPport443img-s-msn-com.akamaized.netonTCPport443onedscolprdeus09.eastus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443a-0016.a-msedge.netonTCPport443browser.events.data.msn.comonTCPport443a1834.dscg2.akamai.netonUDPport443onedscolprdcus21.centralus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443onedscolprdcus09.centralus.cloudapp.azure.comonTCPport443
Apple Safari
Direct download URL (good joke, heh?)
Version: 18.3
Engine: WebKit
Market share: 8.23%
Network connections: 6
Note: Safari does some tricks by delegating connections to additional daemons, like parsecd or com.apple.safari.safebrowsing.service.
token.safebrowsing.appleonTCPport443www.apple.comonTCPport443securemetrics.apple.comonTCPport443securemvt.apple.comonTCPport443gateway.icloud.comonTCPport443api-glb-euc1b.smoot.apple.comonTCPport443
Yandex Browser
Direct download URL
Version: 25.2.5.940.75827
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 505MB
Network connections: 24
api.browser.yandex.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport443browser.yandex.comonTCPport443sba.yandex.netonTCPport443300.ya.ruonTCPport443neuro.translate.yandex.ruonTCPport443s3.yandex.netonTCPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport80ya.ruonTCPport443yandex.ruonTCPport443browser.yandex.ruonTCPport443yastatic.netonTCPport443api.browser.yandex.ruonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443mail.yandex.ruonTCPport443dr.yandex.netonTCPport443brontp-pre.yandex.ruonTCPport443dr2.yandex.netonTCPport443cloud.cdn.yandex.netonTCPport443dzen.ruonTCPport443suggest.dzen.ruonTCPport443mc.yandex.ruonTCPport443suggest.sso.dzen.ruonTCPport443cloudcdn-ams19.cdn.yandex.netonTCPport443
Mullvad Browser
Direct download URL
Version: 14.0.9
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 370MB
Network connections: 15
dns.mullvad.netonTCPport443a1887.dscq.akamai.netonTCPport80publicsuffix.orgonTCPport443versioncheck-bg.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443cdn.mullvad.netonTCPport443ublockorigin.pages.devonTCPport443e3913.cd.akamaiedge.netonTCPport80versioncheck-bg.addons.mozilla.orgonUDPport443secure.fanboy.co.nzonTCPport443filters.adtidy.orgonTCPport443pgl.yoyo.orgonTCPport443ublockorigin.pages.devonUDPport443secure.fanboy.co.nzonUDPport443cdn.jsdelivr.netonTCPport443ublockorigin.github.ioonTCPport443
Librewolf
Direct download URL
Version: 137.0.1
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 369MB
Network connections: 24
addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443services.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443gitlab.comonTCPport443a1887.dscq.akamai.netonTCPport80firefox.settings.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443versioncheck-bg.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443publicsuffix.orgonTCPport443prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443ublockorigin.pages.devonTCPport443prod.content-signature-chains.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443ublockorigin.pages.devonUDPport443raw.githubusercontent.comonTCPport443malware-filter.gitlab.ioonTCPport4431278313086.rsc.cdn77.orgonTCPport443prod.globalsign.map.fastly.netonTCPport80curbengh.github.ioonTCPport443pgl.yoyo.orgonTCPport443cdn.jsdelivr.net.cdn.cloudflare.netonTCPport443cdn.jsdelivr.netonUDPport443filters.adtidy.orgonTCPport443dualstack.n.sni.global.fastly.netonTCPport443cdn.statically.ioonUDPport443ublockorigin.github.ioonTCPport443
Arc browser
Direct download URL
Version: 1.90.1
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 811MB
Network connections: 16
mobile.launchdarkly.comonTCPport443clientstream.launchdarkly.comonTCPport443cdn-settings.segment.comonTCPport443securetoken.googleapis.comonTCPport443o298668.ingest.sentry.ioonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport4430.datadog.pool.ntp.orgonUDPport123content.arc.netonTCPport443releases.arc.netonTCPport443firestore.googleapis.comonTCPport443api.segment.ioonTCPport443safebrowsing.googleapis.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport80update.googleapis.comonUDPport443www.googleapis.comonTCPport443
Kagi Orion
Direct download URL
Version: 0.99
Engine: WebKit
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 612MB
Network connections: 0
Pale Moon
Direct download URL
Version: 33.7.0
Engine: Goanna
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 85MB
Network connections: 0
Floorp
Direct download URL
Version: 11.25
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 447MB
Network connections: 42
prod.classify-client.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443www.google.comonTCPport443docs.ablaze.oneonTCPport443prod.detectportal.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport80m33.coreserver.jponTCPport443mc.prod.ads.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443floorp-update.ablaze.oneonTCPport443raw.githubusercontent.comonTCPport443shavar.prod.mozaws.netonTCPport443a1887.dscq.akamai.netonTCPport80prod.content-signature-chains.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443pki-goog.l.google.comonTCPport80www.google.comonUDPport443t0.gstatic.comonTCPport443t2.gstatic.comonTCPport443location.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443services.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443safebrowsing.googleapis.comonTCPport443r10.o.lencr.orgonTCPport80js.hcaptcha.comonTCPport443detectportal.firefox.comonTCPport80push.services.mozilla.comonUDPport443o.pki.googonTCPport80docs.ablaze.oneonUDPport443static.cloudflareinsights.comonTCPport443cdn.jsdelivr.net.cdn.cloudflare.netonTCPport443floorp-update.ablaze.oneonUDPport443content-signature-2.cdn.mozilla.netonTCPport443attachments.prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443support.ablaze.oneonTCPport443www3.l.google.comonTCPport443docs.floorp.apponTCPport443prod.balrog.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport443a19.dscg10.akamai.netonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443firefox-settings-attachments.cdn.mozilla.netonTCPport443translate.google.comonTCPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonUDPport443support.ablaze.oneonUDPport443
Zen browser
Direct download URL
Version: 1.11.4b
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 1%
Application size: 462MB
Network connections: 82
prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443prod.classify-client.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443zen-browser.apponTCPport443prod.detectportal.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport80merino.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443updates.zen-browser.apponTCPport443a1887.dscq.akamai.netonTCPport80attachments.prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443pki-goog.l.google.comonTCPport80zen-browser.apponUDPport443static.cloudflareinsights.comonTCPport443bunnyfonts.b-cdn.netonTCPport443services.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443location.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443prod.content-signature-chains.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443merino.services.mozilla.comonUDPport443r10.o.lencr.orgonTCPport80push.services.mozilla.comonUDPport443detectportal.firefox.comonTCPport80content-signature-chains.prod.autograph.services.mozaws.netonTCPport443fonts.bunny.netonTCPport443prod.balrog.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport443a19.dscg10.akamai.netonTCPport80edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443r11.o.lencr.orgonTCPport80firefox-settings-attachments.cdn.mozilla.netonTCPport443firefox.settings.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443fonts.bunny.netonUDPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonUDPport443github.githubassets.comonTCPport443mmx-ds.cdn.whatsapp.netonTCPport443www.google.comonTCPport443calendar.google.comonTCPport443www.notion.soonTCPport443www.youtube.comonTCPport443youtube-ui.l.google.comonTCPport443trello.comonTCPport443twimg.twitter.map.fastly.netonTCPport443d29id7n8587nnz.cloudfront.netonTCPport443discord.comonTCPport443push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443x.comonTCPport443reddit.comonTCPport443notion.comonTCPport443o.pki.googonTCPport80accounts.google.comonTCPport443discord.comonUDPport443fonts.googleapis.comonTCPport443fonts.gstatic.comonTCPport443ajax.googleapis.comonTCPport443cdn.prod.website-files.comonTCPport443cdn.localizeapi.comonTCPport443d3e54v103j8qbb.cloudfront.netonTCPport443abs-zero.twimg.comonTCPport443cf.x.comonTCPport443api.x.comonTCPport443accounts.google.comonUDPport443workspace.google.comonTCPport443play.google.comonTCPport443fonts.gstatic.comonUDPport443ajax.googleapis.comonUDPport443cdn.prod.website-files.comonUDPport443cdn.localizeapi.comonUDPport443cdn.discordapp.comonTCPport443www.googletagmanager.comonTCPport443geolocation.onetrust.comonTCPport443www.youtube.comonUDPport443www.gstatic.comonTCPport443fonts.googleapis.comonUDPport443cdn.discordapp.comonUDPport443www.googletagmanager.comonUDPport443lh3.googleusercontent.comonTCPport443storage.googleapis.comonTCPport443ssl.google-analytics.comonTCPport443www.google-analytics.comonTCPport443region1.google-analytics.comonTCPport443www.google-analytics.comonUDPport443lh3.googleusercontent.comonUDPport443storage.googleapis.comonUDPport443ssl.google-analytics.comonUDPport443region1.google-analytics.comonUDPport443
Waterfox
Direct download URL
Version: 6.5.6
Engine: Gecko
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 440MB
Network connections: 21
dooh.cloudflare-dns.comonTCPport443prod.classify-client.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443prod.remote-settings.prod.webservices.mozgcp.netonTCPport443www.waterfox.netonTCPport443prod.detectportal.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport80aus1.waterfox.netonTCPport443accounts.firefox.comonTCPport443push.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443shavar.prod.mozaws.netonTCPport443firefox.settings.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443location.services.mozilla.comonTCPport443services.addons.mozilla.orgonTCPport443waterfox-ohttp-relay.fastly-edge.comonTCPport443aus1.waterfox.netonUDPport443accounts.firefox.comonUDPport443push.services.mozilla.comonUDPport443detectportal.firefox.comonTCPport80dooh.waterfox.netonTCPport443prod.balrog.prod.cloudops.mozgcp.netonTCPport443edgedl.me.gvt1.comonTCPport443www.google.comonTCPport443
Thorium
Direct download URL
Version: M130.0.6723.174
Engine: Blink
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 310.9MB
Network connections: 10
accounts.google.comonTCPport443www.google.comonTCPport443www.gstatic.comonTCPport443ogads-pa.clients6.google.comonTCPport443plus.l.google.comonTCPport443play.google.comonTCPport443ogads-pa.clients6.google.comonUDPport443apis.google.comonTCPport443update.googleapis.comonTCPport443www.google.comonUDPport443
DuckDuckGo browser
Direct download URL
Version: 1.134.0
Engine: Blink/WebKit
Market share: < 0.1%
Application size: 341.8MB
Network connections: 3
improving.duckduckgo.comonTCPport443duckduckgo.comonTCPport443staticcdn.duckduckgo.comonTCPport443