With a promise to "Fix the Web," the former co-founder of Mozilla and inventor of JavaScript, has come up with a new browser that block ads and third-party trackers while speeding up browsing.
In a blog entry that came with the release of a test version of the Brave browser last week, founder Brendan Eich argues that online ads are required to support much that the "free" web offers. Yet the growing popularity of ad blocking software threatens the "free web" model by forcing free online service providers to charge for subscriptions.
On the other hand, the tracking of browsing habits that enables customized ads has led to "several races to the bottom" with the arrival of intrusive ads as well as privacy concerns.
With Brave, advertisers pay the browser-maker instead of paying publishers or advertising networks.
"The big idea is to block advertisements and tracking scripts that pillage your personal data and replace them with ads supplied by the browser — ads that respect your privacy and don't slow your computer to a crawl or tax your phone's battery," wrote Klint Finley for Wired.
Brave plans to pay publishers 55 percent of ad revenues and its own advertisers earn 15 percent. Brave itself and users split the remaining 30 percent.
Seeing everything the user does, Brave promises to make more-informed decisions about what the user may be interested in, with all data it shares being anonymous. Wrote Mr. Eich, "We keep user data out of our cloud Brave Vault by default. It's better for you and us that we don't store any of your data without your permission."
Eventually, Brave hopes to let some users make donations to opt out of ads altogether while others can continue to support sites by viewing ads that are more relevant and less intrusive.
Brave faces challenges convincing consumers to switch browsers and publishers to support the startup, but the launch drew heavy coverage with ad-blocking software becoming particularly popular with mobile users.
- How to Fix the Web - Brave
- Brave browser promises faster Web by banishing intrusive ads - CNET
- Brave is the name, ad-blocking the game of new browser - Computer World
- 'Brave' browser promises up to 60% faster speed by blocking ads - Mashable
- The Creator of JavaScript Is Out to Upend the Ad Industry - Wired