Web browsers are used for accessing the World Wide Web or local websites. When a user requests a web page from a website, the web browser will then retrieve the content from a web server and display the page on the user’s device.
Users can choose from a variety of web browsers by easily downloading the web browser of their choice. On some devices, the web browser of the manufacturer will already be installed. For example, Apple devices pre-installed web browser is Safari and Microsoft is Microsoft Edge.
Before the emergence of web browsers, users had to install apps just to chat, watch videos, and listen to music, it’s important to understand the history of web browsers and their importance.
History of Web Browsers
In 1990, the first web browser, WorldWideWeb, was introduced. This was the only browser and the only way to access the web. WorldWideWeb was later named Nexus.
Between 1995 and 2015 top web browsers like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera Firefox, and Microsoft Edge were released. Now there are hundreds of web browsers to choose from, each offering different kinds of privacy, security, performance, and features.
Web Browser Forensics
The growing number of web browsers and their ever-changing features show the importance of investigators having the tools to investigate the web browsers being used by offenders.
With the use of our flagship product, Oxygen Forensic® Detective, investigators are able to extract the data they need from top web browsers.
The Top 7 Supported Web Browsers in Oxygen Forensic® Detective are:
Google Chrome
In 2022, 63.34% of users use Google Chrome as their web browser globally. Google Chrome is owned and operated by Google. Designed to be the fastest web browser, Google Chrome is a cross-platform browser, having the ability to work on different computers, mobile devices, and other operating systems.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Chrome data from Apps, PCs, and the Cloud.
App
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Accounts
- Autofill
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Credit card info
- Downloads
- Form data
- History cache
- Logs
- Passwords
- Search history
- Shortcuts
- Tabs
- Top sites
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Accounts
- Bookmarks
- Browser data
- Cache
- Cookies
- Credit cards
- Form data
- History
- Logs
- Saved addresses
- Saved logins
- Search history
- Top sites
- Website icons
PC
Data that can be extracted from Windows:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Linux:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from MacOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Cloud
Data that can be extracted:
- Account owner information
- Chrome browser history
- Saved passwords
- Autofill data and profiles
- Bookmarks
- Opened tabs
- Credit cards
Firefox
Firefox has a user share of 3.41% globally and gives users a cleaner interface and faster download speeds.It uses the Gecko rendering engine to display web pages, which implements current and anticipated web standards.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Firefox data from Apps, PCs, and the Cloud.
App
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Account
- Addons
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Collections
- Cookies
- Devices use history
- Downloads
- Form data
- Logins
- Page thumbnails
- Reading list
- Search history
- Tabs
- Top sites
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Activity history
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Home page
- Logins
- Logs
- Pinned sites
- Reading list
- Tabs
- Top sites
- Web history
PC
Data that can be extracted from Windows:
- Bookmarks
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- History
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Tokens
Data that can be extracted from Unix:
- Bookmarks
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- History
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Tokens
Data that can be extracted from MacOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- History
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Tokens
Cloud
Data that can be extracted:
- Information about the account owner
- Clients (browsers that the Mozilla account is connected to)
- Stored usernames and passwords
- History of visits to web pages
- Bookmarks
- Open tabs
- Installed add-ons
Safari
Safari has a user share of 19.16% globally and is owned and operated by Apple. Safari is the default browser for the iPhone, iPad, and macOS. Due to only being available on Apple devices, you are able to share tabs between an iPad, iPhone, or a Mac.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Safari data from Apple iOS and macOS.
App
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cached Facebook info
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Folders
- Reading list
- Search history
- Synchronized devices
- Tabs
- Tabs sessions
- Web history
PC
Data that can be extracted from macOS:
- Downloads
- Profiles
- Recently closed tabs
- Searches
- Web history
Cloud
Data that can be extracted:
- Bookmarks
- Browser history
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge has a user share of 4.05% globally and is a cross-platform web browser created and developed by Microsoft. Microsoft Edge is the default browser for all Windows 10 devices.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Edge data from Apps and PCs.
Apps
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Accounts
- Autofill
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Credit cards info
- Downloads
- Form data
- History cache
- Logs
- Passwords
- Reading list
- Search history
- Shortcuts
- Tabs
- Top sites
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Accounts
- Autofill
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Logins
- Logs
- Web history
PC
Data that can be extracted from Windows:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Unix:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from MacOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Opera
Opera is the choice of more than 300 million users worldwide, 2.07%, and offers speed, privacy, and an interface that offers better user experience.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Opera data from Apps and PCs.
App
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Express panel
- Recommendations
- Saved pages
- Sessions info
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cached pages
- History
- Logs
- Opened tabs
- Recommendations
PC
Data that can be extracted from Windows:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Unix:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from MacOS:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Passwords
- Profiles
- Search history
- Tokens
- Web history
Samsung Internet
Samsung Internet Browser is a mobile web browser for smartphones and tablets developed by Samsung Electronics. It has over 400 million users, which is 2.85% of the global market share. Pre-installed on all Samsung devices, it allows users to sync information between Android devices.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Samsung Internet data from Apps.
App
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Account
- Active pages
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Devices
- History
- Homepage tabs
- Logins
- Media history
- Most visited sites
- Reading list
Brave
Brave Browser is a privacy-focused browser and is based on Google’s open-source Chromium code. It is used by over 50 million people worldwide. Brave offers users higher security such as blocking of all ads, pop-ups, scripts, trackers, third-party cookies, and third-party storage.
Oxygen Forensic® Detective is able to extract users’ Brave data from Apps.
App
Data that can be extracted from Androids:
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Express panel
- Recommendations
- Saved pages
- Sessions info
- Web history
Data that can be extracted from Apple iOS:
- Accounts
- Bookmarks
- Cache
- Cookies
- Downloads
- Form data
- Logs
- Passwords
- Search history
- Tabs
- Top sites
- Web history
Conclusion
Users can choose from a variety of web browsers by easily downloading the web browser of their choice, with over 100 to choose from.
At Oxygen Forensics our flagship software, Oxygen Forensic® Detective, offers the ability to extract data from 30+ web browsers.
We only listed the top 7 browsers. If you are interested in taking a look at all the web browsers that we support, contact us for a free trial.