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Brave (web browser)

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Brave
Developer(s)Brave Software Inc.[1]
Repositoryhttps://github.com/brave/brave-browser
Written inC, JavaScript, C++
EnginesBlink, V8
Operating system
TypeWeb browser
License
[2]
Websitebrave.com

Brave is a free and open-source web browser developed by Brave Software Inc. based on the Chromium web browser.[3] The browser blocks ads and website trackers. In a future version of the browser, the company has proposed adopting a pay-to-surf business model.

As of 2018, Brave supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The current version features 20 search engines by default, including their partner DuckDuckGo.[4]

Business model

Brave Software has announced that it is developing a feature allowing users to opt in to receiving ads sold by the company in place of ads blocked by the browser.[5][6][7] Brave intends to pay content users and themselves 15% of the revenue, and 70% to the publishers. Users would be able to donate their revenue share to content publishers through micropayments.[8]

In a testing version of the browser, Brave targets web ads by analyzing users' anonymized browsing history.[9]

Brave Software's Basic Attention Token ad exchange platform received investment from Danhua Capital, Digital Currency Group, Foundation Capital, Founders Fund, Huiyin Blockchain Venture, Pantera Capital, and Propel Venture Partners.[10] Originally incorporated in Delaware as Hyperware Labs, Inc in 2015, they later changed their name to Brave Software, Inc. and registered in California, where the company is headquartered.[11]

History

Brave is developed by Brave Software, which was founded on May 28, 2015, by CEO Brendan Eich and CTO Brian Bondy. On January 20, 2016, Brave Software launched the first version of Brave with a partial ad blocking feature, and announced plans for an ad replacement feature and a revenue sharing program.[12]

In June 2018, Brave released a pay-to-surf testing version of the browser. This version of Brave is preloaded with approximately 250 ads, and sends a detailed log of the user's browsing activity to Brave for the short-term purpose of testing this functionality. Brave announced that expanded trials will follow.[13] Later that month, Brave added support for Tor in its desktop browser's private browsing mode.[14] In December, of the same year, Brave called to boycott Google regarding its advertising practices.[15]

Brave browser will be the default browser on the upcoming cryptocurrency-focused HTC Exodus 1 phone.[16]

Critical reception

In January 2016, in reaction to Brave Software's initial announcement, Sebastian Anthony of Ars Technica described Brave as a "cash-grab" and a "double dip". Anthony concluded, "Brave is an interesting idea, but generally it's rather frowned upon to stick your own ads in front of someone else's."[8] TechCrunch[17], Computerworld[18], and Engadget[19] termed Brave's ad replacement plans "controversial".

In February 2016, Andy Patrizio of Network World reviewed a pre-release version of Brave. Patrizio criticized the browser's feature set as "mighty primitive", but lauded its performance: "Pages load instantly. I can't really benchmark page loads since they happen faster than I can start/stop the stopwatch."[20]

In April 2016, the CEO of the Newspaper Association of America, David Chavern, said that Brave's proposed replacement of advertising "should be viewed as illegal and deceptive by the courts, consumers, and those who value the creation of content". Eich responded by emphasizing that the browser gives "the lion's share" of ad revenue to content publishers.[21]

In April 2017, TechWorld praised Brave's "great speeds and advanced ad-tracking controls", but said that its "extension functionality is still lacking".[22]

Basic Attention Token

Basic Attention Token Logo

The 'Basic Attention Token' (BAT) is an open-source, decentralized ad exchange platform based on Ethereum.[23] The platform is integrated with the Brave web browser; it is not possible to use or access the platform from any other browser. Brave Payments, which formerly used Bitcoin, allows users to tip websites and content creators (such as YouTubers and Twitch streamers)[24] with BAT tokens, akin to patronage services like Patreon.[25]

Integration of BAT into an application involves implementing BAT Ads, a system that displays ads to users based on locally stored data. Ad targeting is performed locally, removing the need for third-party tracking.[26]

In an initial coin offering on May 31, 2017, BAT sold 1,000,000,000 BAT for a total of 156,250 Ethereum (US$35M) in under 30 seconds.[23][27] An additional 500,000,000 BAT was retained by the team for developer and user growth pools, which is used to promote the adoption of the platform.[28]

The team additionally received at least US$7 million in angel investments from venture capital firms, including Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Propel Venture Partners, Pantera Capital, Foundation Capital and the Digital Currency Group.[29]

In early December 2017, the development team disbursed the first round of its user growth pool grants. A total of 300,000 BAT was distributed to new users on a first come first served basis.[30][31]

In mid January 2018, the team issued US$1M worth of BAT tokens to users in a promotional giveaway. These grants were claimed within ten days.[32]

On March 1, 2018, the company expanded Brave Payments support to streamers on the Twitch.tv platform, and increased referral program grants by US$1M worth of BAT.[33]

Notable publishers who accept BAT tokens include the Washington Post, The Guardian, Vimeo, MarketWatch, Barron's, and Vice.[34]

In a future update, Brave says that it plans to implement BAT Ads, a program designed to pay users with BAT for viewing advertisements as compensation for their attention.[35]

References

  1. ^ "Learn About Brave and Our Team". Brave Browser. Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  2. ^ "browser-laptop/LICENSE.txt at master". GitHub. 29 Jun 2017. Retrieved 26 Jul 2018.
  3. ^ Cimpanu, Catalin. "Brave browser moves to Chromium codebase, now supports Chrome extensions". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  4. ^ "Brave's browser offers you a bit more privacy when searching online", CNET, CBS Interactive, 14 Dec 2017, retrieved 16 Jul 2018
  5. ^ "Brave browser promises faster Web by banishing intrusive ads". cnet.com. 20 January 2016.
  6. ^ Patrizio, Andy. "Benchmark tests: Brave browser vs. Chrome, Firefox, and IE 11". Network World. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Brave Browser. Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  8. ^ a b Anthony, Sebastian (2016-01-21). "Mozilla co-founder unveils Brave, a browser that blocks ads by default". Ars Technica.
  9. ^ "Brave Ads History Collection Privacy Policy". Brave Browser. 20 Jun 2018. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
  10. ^ "Basic Attention Token". Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  11. ^ California Secretary of State Business Search: Brave Software, Inc.
  12. ^ Ha, Anthony (20 Jan 2016). "With Brave Software, JavaScript's Creator Is Building A Browser For The Ad-Blocked Future". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  13. ^ Lomas, Natasha (20 Jun 2018). "Blockchain browser Brave starts opt-in testing of on-device ad targeting". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  14. ^ Shankland, Stephen. "Brave advances browser privacy with Tor-powered tabs". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Brave boycotts Google and complains about its advertising practices". www.logitheque.com. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  16. ^ Shankland, Stephen. "Ad-blocking Brave is now the default web browser on HTC's niche cryptocurrency phone". CNET. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  17. ^ Perez, Sarah (1 Aug 2016). "Brave, the ad-blocking browser from former Mozilla CEO, grabs $4.5 million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
  18. ^ Keizer, Gregg (25 Jun 2018). "Brave browser begins controversial ad repeal-and-replace tests". Computerworld. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
  19. ^ England, Rachel (20 Jun 2018). "Privacy browser Brave pays 'crypto tokens' for watching its ads". Engadget. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
  20. ^ Patrizio, Andy (2016-02-04). "Benchmark tests: How the Brave browser compares with Chrome, Firefox, and IE 11". Network World. IDG. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
  21. ^ Murphy, David (April 8, 2016). "Newspapers: Ad-Blocking Brave Browser Is Illegal, Deceptive". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  22. ^ Mercer, Christina; Dunn, John E (26 Apr 2018). "The most secure browsers 2018". Techworld. IDG. Retrieved 16 Jul 2018.
  23. ^ a b Russell, Jon. "Former Mozilla CEO raises $35M in under 30 seconds for his browser startup Brave". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  24. ^ "Brave browser lets you pay your favorite YouTube stars". CNET. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  25. ^ Russell, Jon. "Blockchain browser Brave makes push to reward content makers and YouTubers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  26. ^ "Google and Facebook Too Can Be Disrupted". Bloomberg.com. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  27. ^ "Javascript creator's browser raises $35 million in 30 seconds". Engadget. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  28. ^ Russell, Jon. "Former Mozilla CEO raises $35M in under 30 seconds for his browser startup Brave". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  29. ^ Perez, Sarah. "Brave, the ad-blocking browser from former Mozilla CEO, grabs $4.5 million". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  30. ^ "Ad-blocking browser Brave courts new users with free crypto tokens | VentureBeat". venturebeat.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  31. ^ "This ad-blocking browser has some cryptocurrency for you". CNET. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  32. ^ "You can get some Brave crypto tokens free to fund website publishers and YouTube stars". CNET. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  33. ^ "If you're streaming videogames on Twitch, the Brave browser offers a new way to get paid". CNET. 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  34. ^ "A deal with Brave's ad-blocking browser and publisher Dow Jones shows how online ads might get less invasive". CNET. 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  35. ^ Keizer, Gregg. "Brave browser bets on BATs to the web". Computerworld. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
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