Mobility has now become the lot of not only geeks keen on newfangled gadgets, but also ordinary citizens who fully appreciate the convenience of smartphones, communicators, laptops, netbooks, tablets and other portable devices that provide freedom of movement and allow you to work anywhere. Even the notorious flash drives have become firmly established in the everyday life of computer users who are accustomed to having at hand not only copies of important files, but also a set of frequently used applications that run directly from a USB drive on any PC nearby (with a suitable operating system, of course) . The convenience of this kind of software products can hardly be overestimated: they are always at hand, do not require installation, do not litter the system, are in no way inferior to their stationary versions and, being configured once, always work the way the user wants.

The list of portable software available on the Internet is quite extensive. Armed with any search engine, you can quickly find dozens, or even hundreds of sites with software packages designed to work with compact flash memory-based drives. We don’t dare list them all - we’re not strong enough, and therefore we’ll concentrate only on Windows builds of portable browsers from different manufacturers. Web browsers are all the rage these days, and it's no surprise that we decided to look at them.

It’s worth starting the review by listing the three most popular browser software on the market - Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer 8. The first two programs with the Portable Edition nameplate can be found on the well-known profile site PortableApps.com, but with a search for a portable version of the Microsoft Internet browser You'll have to suffer a lot. In order not to waste time in vain, it would be logical to try to make a portable assembly of IE8 yourself, using the tools mentioned in the material “Portable software - I carry everything with me.” The latter can also be useful for transferring the Safari browser to a flash drive, “pocket” versions of which most often appear on dubious and untrustworthy online resources. It is pointless to talk about the benefits of each of the listed products, since they are known from roots to tips to almost all regulars of the World Wide Web.

The Opera browser is deservedly popular among domestic web surfers, portable versions of which are carefully posted by enthusiasts on the website Opera-USB.com. All editions of Opera adapted to flash drives are presented in ZIP archives, the contents of which just need to be unpacked and copied to a flash drive. The Norwegian program includes: an RSS feed aggregator, a BitTorrent client, an Opera Link user data synchronization module, a component for controlling the browser using mouse gestures and other tools, including an application for working with electronic correspondence. An important feature of the tenth version of the browser is support for proprietary data compression technology Opera Turbo, which ensures economical traffic consumption and speeds up loading sites when using a slow Internet connection. Netbook users who often dive into the depths of the World Wide Web via cumbersome GPRS/EDGE connections should definitely bookmark the above link.

Fans of Firefox may like the browser, which uses the Gecko engine borrowed from the Mozilla Foundation to process web pages. After a little fine-tuning, this browser can also be taught the skills of working from a USB drive. K-Meleon boasts a highly customizable interface, support for tabs, various bookmarking systems, mouse gestures, a macro mechanism, built-in tools for editing configuration files, as well as the ability to clear browsing history, cookies and other private data. Some may like the function of changing the themes of the interface, which has been translated into many languages, including Russian.

Fans of Google Chrome will definitely be pleased with the browser SRWare Iron, developed by the German company SRWare based on the source code of the Chromium project, a portable assembly of which is presented on the developer’s website. Externally, SRWare Iron is no different from Chrome, also built on the Chromium code base - the same interface, the same menu lists with controls. The differences, according to the authors of the product, lie in the internal filling of the application, which lacks functionality related to tracking user actions. Chrome has often been criticized by security experts for sending information about user activity to Google and creating a unique identifier that makes each copy of the browser easier to identify. SRWare Iron does not have such problems and allows the user to maintain their privacy when browsing the Internet, which is greatly facilitated by the ability to adjust the User-Agent field and the built-in ad blocker, configured using a configuration file.

When considering portable browsers, one cannot fail to mention the Avant Browser, built on the Internet Explorer core and fully compatible with its progenitor. The program provides an RSS reader, a filter that filters out advertising banners, and mechanisms for quick access to application settings that are responsible for blocking pictures, flash animation, video, JavaScript and other elements on the web pages being viewed. In addition, the browser can automatically update tabs specified by the user at a specified time interval, allows you to create screenshots of the screen or individual areas of it, and also allows you to protect autofill data with a password. Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a function that saves open tabs when closing and ensures quick resumption of work when the browser is reopened. In terms of functionality, the application largely duplicates Opera Software's browser and makes you wonder where the creators of Avant Browser got their inspiration from.

A good choice when looking for a portable "web page eater" might be the little-known QtWeb browser, the key features of which are the WebKit engine, an integrated torrent client, the ability to adapt to competitors by modifying the User-Agent variable and tools for blocking various content on the fly. Some useful little things include Internet developer tools, a function for quickly clearing data saved by the browser, a mechanism for exporting pages to PDF format, an AdBlock advertising filter, support for mouse gestures and a virtual keyboard that protects information entered by the user into web forms from interception by attackers. QtWeb is distributed as open source and consists of just one executable file. In general, we recommend it.

Those who prefer serious tools for hiding network activity should pay attention to the xB Browser software product, adapted for installation on USB drives that are widely in demand today. This solution is attractive for its internal filling, which allows, through the Tor network (The Onion Router) and a chain of distributed routers, to establish an anonymous network connection that is protected from eavesdropping. A real godsend for spies accustomed to privacy and users who want to remain incognito when surfing the Internet. xB Browser is based on the beloved Firefox, the settings of which are configured in such a way as not to leave any traces on the computer, and even more so on the flash drive.

By the way, about flash drives. It is well known that the number of rewrite cycles for solid-state memory, whatever one may say, is limited, which means that sooner or later intensive use of the storage medium can lead to the appearance of exhausted memory cells and a reduction in the life of the portable drive. As a result, in order to avoid losing important data, you should occasionally think about backing up the files stored on the flash drive and make backups.

The second point on which we would like to draw the reader’s attention is related to the miniature nature of information carriers: firstly, they are easy to lose, and secondly, they often become a tasty morsel for comrades who trade in theft and other shady individuals who are drawn to anything, which is bad. To avoid becoming a victim of random circumstances, it makes sense to think in advance about protecting critical data from prying eyes. You can use software encryption or hardware encryption, using flash drives with biometric protection. Although the latter are somewhat more expensive than usual, they provide reliable protection of files from scammers. Security, you know, is never superfluous, and saving on it is sometimes very expensive.

Mozilla Firefox is the most popular browser, taking top places in its category thanks to its well-coordinated operation, protection and excellent speed. “Fire Fox” - it’s not for nothing that the developers called their product that way: flexibility, speed and caution like a fox.

The web browser has enormous popularity abroad, and expert analysis has shown that the browser shows a minimal percentage of failures compared to its competitors. The official version is released for macOS, GNU/Linux and Android, Windows, and unofficial versions for FreeBSD, UNIX-like operating systems, as well as BeOS.

Atom is the latest high-speed Chromium-based browser with a focus on privacy and security.

Mail.ru has created the fastest possible web navigator with optimized loading of popular resources for high-speed opening even with a weak Internet connection and increased security of the user’s personal data.

Google Chrome is a popular browser in RuNet and beyond, whose developers are trying to bring it to a leading position thanks to constant updates. The name Google speaks for itself - employees are focused on perfect browser performance and satisfied users.

Convenient navigation, fast loading of pages, an easy interface and high-speed display of queries in a minibox are rightfully considered the main requirements necessary for the user to work smoothly on the network. The difference from its analogues is the creation of Google Drive - a “cloud storage” of your files, which you can share with other users. The privacy of the Internet browser is also not inferior to competitors - cyber attacks, phishing and virus penetration are reduced to a minimum.

Comodo Dragon is a free web browser based on the well-known Chromium core with optimized protection of confidential data.

All browsers developed on the above core have a similar interface, but have improvements and additions. If you download Comodo Dragon for free to your computer, you will receive a web navigator that will create powerful protection for your personal information when surfing the web. Before opening a website, the program carefully scans it for threats.

Opera is one of the most popular web browsers, earning this status due to its reliable performance and ease of use. The simple interface, which does not distract from work, can be modified and supplemented at will.

Opera features two unique tools: Turbo mode, which ensures good loading of web pages even with a slow Internet connection, and Speed ​​Dial, which provides quick access to frequently visited pages and browser functions.

Yandex Browser is a high-quality free web browser that combines all the best features of Chrome and Opera: “turbo mode” that saves traffic, a “Chrome” translator and the ability to quickly load pages even with a weak Internet connection.

Elements Browser is a free new browser with convenient search and quick access to web resources. Works with all search engines and has all the necessary tools for safe and convenient web surfing.

The web navigator is based on Chromium, and therefore has similar functionality. The software’s functions allow you to quickly and safely “travel” across the Internet, bypass access blocks, save traffic, set up privacy and “incognito”, and block access to unverified sites.

10/17/2016 at 12:14 pm · Pavlofox · 39 750

The fastest browsers for Windows 7

The readers are presented with the best and fastest browsers forWWindows 7.

10.

SlimBrowser reveals the top ten best and fastest browsers for Windows. The program has a built-in pop-up window blocker that works according to specified profiles (there is the ability to restore incorrectly closed windows), there is support for “lightweight” search in the main search services, auto-filling of forms, automatic entry of logins and passwords, there is the ability to correct errors “on the fly” scripts, its own download manager, supports changing skins and many more useful functions. The Windows 9x family is not supported starting from version 6.0, only version 7.0 is available.

9.

Fast browser for Windows 7 from German developers. The main reason for its appearance is the fact that the Google Chrome browser tracks user actions. SRWare Iron does no such thing. Iron uses the latest versions of WebKit and V8, while Google Chrome uses stable versions of these engines. You can also note that Iron has an ad blocking function.

8.

It is one of the best browsers for Windows 7. A modified version of the famous fox Firefox has become the most reliable and confidential browser of our time. The new “onion browser” allows you to hide the IP address and other personal data of the user from prying eyes. Previously, in order to install Tor, it was necessary to have special knowledge that ordinary PC and laptop users were unable to handle. The installation process has now been simplified. However, installing an “onion browser” is still different from the usual Opera, Yandex, etc. Tor allows you to hide user data, but it spends a lot of effort on this, as a result of which its performance is somewhat reduced. Compared to other browsers, it has slower page loading and data transfer. The principle of Tor's operation is not to encrypt data, but to redirect it through virtual networks. This allows you to hide your data from various services and unscrupulous advertisers.

7. Amigo

Amigo- Russian browser, one of the fastest, designed for Windows. Amigo was created from the open source Chromium browser, which Google released much earlier. The difference between this product and the original is its close integration with social networks, mainly from Mail.Ru Group, and automatic installation as a virus. There is currently only one (current) version of "Amigo". The browser is under active development by Mail.Ru.Group.

6.

It ranks sixth in the list of the fastest browsers for Windows 7. Thanks to its architecture, K-Meleon is very undemanding of computer resources. In terms of RAM consumption, it is considered one of the “lightest” of the current modern browsers. The heart of the Russian Chameleon is the Gecko 1.7.12 engine, which is used in Mozilla Suite 1.7.12. It follows from this that our animal adopted the basic properties of page display from its eminent brother. K-Meleon strictly follows W3C standards, being a very “correct” browser. In light of the fact that the level of skill of Web designers is growing every year, and sites that display correctly only in IE are gradually disappearing into oblivion, we can say that K-Meleon has amazing omnivorousness. It is not afraid of sites that make extensive use of CSS and CSS2.

5.

One of the most powerful and fastest free browsers for Windows 7. It was developed in China by Maxthon Ltd. Maxthon won the CNET WebWare 100 Awards in 2008 and 2009 and was named one of PCWorld's Best Products of 2011. Maxthon Ltd follows three main principles: high productivity and adherence to quality standards; advanced browser capabilities that significantly enrich the user experience, especially in comparison with other browsers; continuity of user experience. When logging into your free Maxthon account, each user has the opportunity to synchronize their data with other devices in the Cloud, and then continue to work with the browser on any of these devices.

4.

It ranks fourth in the list of the fastest browsers for Windows 7. It is ideal for those who actively use Yandex services. The program is perfectly integrated with them, and the use of Yandex.Browser in this case is very justified. The software is written on the Chromium engine, which means that almost all extensions written for Google Chrome are suitable for it. Try downloading the fast and very convenient Yandex Browser for Windows 7 for free. If you actively use Yandex services, you will definitely like this browser.

3.

Unveils the top three most popular and fastest browsers for Windows 7. Instead of providing all the features out of the box, Firefox provides an extension mechanism that allows users to modify the browser to suit their requirements. Almost from the very beginning of its existence, Firefox has been a fairly flexible browser with extensive customization options: the user can install additional themes that change the appearance of the program, plugins and extensions that add new functionality. The Mozilla Firefox browser has received many awards from various organizations.

2.Opera

Opera- one of the fastest browsers for Windows 7. The Opera browser provides controls for people with visual impairments or limited mobility: there is voice control and the ability to connect “screen speakers”. Using various settings, the user can customize the interface to their liking. Opera has several security settings available to the user. One of them is the ability to quickly delete information about visited pages: clearing cookies, history and cache. During its existence, the version of Opera for personal computers has received a number of awards from print publications and web resources.

1.

The most powerful and fastest browser for Windows 7 today. It was developed by Google based on the free Chromium browser and the Blink engine. According to statistics, Chrome is used by about 300 million Internet users, making it the most popular browser in the world. All versions of Chrome support Windows. Google Chrome aims to improve security, speed, and stability. Chrome periodically downloads updates from two blacklists and warns the user when they try to visit a malicious site. Google Chrome uses the high-performance V8 JavaScript processing engine. Google Chrome can also use DNS forward reading to speed up page loading.

Readers' Choice:

As part of my job, I have to maintain several very advanced computers in working order. In terms of hardware, this is not difficult - fortunately, cars produced 10 years ago are often assembled (soldered) to a higher quality than modern consumer goods. But in terms of software, the task is more difficult. The biggest headache for me is antiviruses and browsers. Both of them are very hungry for RAM, which, alas, is in short supply (for the last 1.5 years, the budget for upgrading computers at school has been approaching zero, and a small upgrade can only be done if the old hardware completely fails). Meanwhile, it is highly advisable to update both the antivirus and the browser periodically. We'll talk about choosing an antivirus some other time, but today I'll try to find the fastest browser for old computers.

First, a little background. Until recently, I installed the old Opera 12 on all old computers. But, alas, one fine day, this once wonderful browser began to display crookedly a vital site - an electronic magazine. Well, I had to say goodbye to the old Opera and look for alternatives.

First of all, of course, I checked how the fresh Opera would behave on old machines. Alas, as expected, Opera 30 (this version was current at the time of my experiment) behaved like a typical Chromium browser: it consumed a lot of memory, forcing the computer to swap heavily (IDE disk, heh...). Things were a little better with other standard chrome clones (Yandex.Browser, Chrome itself). The latest Firefox 40 behaves relatively well, but it has obvious problems with interface rendering (it slows down) and memory consumption is still quite high (especially when opening 2-3 tabs). Well, since the browsers known to everyone cannot cope with the task, let’s try different exotic ones.

Part 1. Looking for a fast browser in the Chromium camp

I was pleasantly surprised in terms of speed. Being an add-on to Internet Explorer, it works very quickly and does not eat up too much memory. But, alas, all this happiness is available only on Windows 7, and my weakest machines run Windows XP. No, the mentioned SlimBrowser works great under Windows XP, but the IE8 engine, alas, is hopelessly outdated and is not much different in rendering quality from the same Opera 12-.

Next, I decided to try out “unusual” variations on the Chromium theme. There were as many as three candidates. The first of them is . It is positioned by the developers as a light and fast browser. In general, this statement is true - for a chromo clone, Midori is really quite light and fast. But, unfortunately, on computers with 1 gigabyte of RAM (and even more so with 512 megabytes) it is not light enough.
The second candidate is Chinese. The younger brother of the well-known Maxthon was born about a year ago. In essence, it is Chromium stripped to the limit. It really works quite quickly, but it still consumes a lot of memory. I would recommend it rather as an addition to the main browser on normal machines (when you need to quickly read something without waiting for the main browser to load - Nitro loads almost instantly). But this browser is not suitable for older computers.

Finally, the last Chrome in my experiment is the OpenSource project. The developer positions it as the successor to the good old Opera, but on a modern engine (guess which one?). True, from a technical point of view, this browser is built a little differently - it does not create a separate process for each sneeze. This feature allows Otter (and this is how the name of the browser is translated from English) to save memory quite well. In terms of speed and functionality, Otter is also doing pretty well. But, alas, it is still very crude and not stable enough for everyday use. And the interface, to be honest, leaves much to be desired... Besides, Otter is essentially a one-man show (in the sense of a developer) and, alas, there is almost no hope for quickly bringing the project to a digestible state.

Otter Browser. In the depths of the tundra Otter in spats...

Part 2. Looking for a fast browser in the Gecko camp

Well, since the Chrome community can’t please us with anything in terms of speed, let’s try to turn to the second opposing side and look at browsers based on the Gecko engine. This engine is no less popular among developers, although it has its own specifics. While browsers based on Chromium (and Blink) are mainly built by various commercial companies (Otter is a rare exception), Gecko is more popular among the OpenSource community. Unfortunately, this community, for the most part, is busy changing the basic functionality of Firefox, as a result of which clones of Ognelis (or Firepanda - as you prefer) with different sets of functions are born. Against this background, several projects stand out that make optimized assemblies for certain platforms. Among them, only two focus their efforts on improving the speed of Firefox. The first project is . Within its framework, they make assemblies that work (according to the developers) 25% faster than the original FF. Until recently, the PaleMoon project even had a separate assembly optimized for Windows XP, but due to the cessation of official support for this OS, its release was discontinued. However, to this day there is a separate build for weak Atom-based machines, which can be used on any old computers.
In terms of speed, I was very pleased with PaleMoon - the subjective speed of launching the browser and loading pages on a computer with 1 GB of RAM is even higher than when working with Opera 12 (although it uses a little more memory). The interface, by the way, is rendered noticeably faster than that of its ancestor in the face of FF (the cut Australis has an effect). True, for greater ease of use, the “lunar” browser will have to be modified a little (in particular, and turned on in the settings). In general, the impressions from this browser are the most pleasant. Among other things, PaleMoon supports extensions from FireFox, which means expanding its functionality will be quite simple.

Finally, the last contender for the title of “fastest browser for older computers” is the . This project, which appeared at the dawn of the popularity of Firefox, was in hibernation for many years and only recently began to be revived. Essentially, this is a very distant relative of Firefox, taking only the Gecko engine from its ancestor. Due to its close relationship, K-Meleon does not support extensions from the original Firefox and does not inherit all its problems (working speed in particular). As a result, we have a very fast and quite functional browser. In terms of operating speed today, K-Meleon is the leader. The only thing that prevents us from definitely recommending it for use is the clumsy interface and the fact that it is overloaded with not all the necessary functions.

K-Meleon 74. The fastest browser…

As a conclusion. Based on the results of many days of testing (including on real users), I personally chose PaleMoon (more precisely, its assembly for Atom). In conditions of severe lack of RAM, it works noticeably faster than all other browsers. On computers with 512 megabytes of RAM, K-Meleon showed the best results in terms of memory consumption, but users in almost 100% of cases complain about its inconvenient interface (read: unusual appearance and non-standard arrangement of controls). In theory, all this can be solved by fine-tuning the interface (fortunately, K-Meleon provides such an opportunity), but in practice the difference in the speed of working with PaleMoon is not so great. The final decision, however, is yours.

Updated March 18, 2016
I tested a couple more programs that claim to be the “fastest browser for an old computer.” My impressions are in .

Updated February 19, 2019
It turns out that enthusiasts continue to make PaleMoon builds that work on older computers. Here, in particular, (you need to download the file mypal-28.3.1.win32.installer.exe).