The Problem With Browser Home Pages
By
Staten Island, NY Posted: 5/20/2017 1:00:00 AM
It's time we got rid of Browser Home Pages.
If you're reading this from a desktop computer, chances are there's a little "Home" icon somewhere in your browser that takes you to your default "Home Page". Just about every desktop browser has one, and they've been there since the first browsers were developed in the early 90s. Meanwhile, have you ever noticed that the browsers on your mobile devices don't have one? There's a good reason for this. They suck.
For what its worth, there's absolutely no reason for todays browsers to have a Home Page anymore. Desktop browsers should do exactly what mobile browsers do... take you to the last page you opened, nothing more, nothing less.
The problem with Home Pages is that web sites and software programs often exploit browser Home Pages by changing them to something that either earns them money from advertising, or that can actually harm your computer or invade your privacy.
For example, if you install a free game, there's a good chance the person who wrote the game expects to earn money in some other way, so they often change your Home Page to something that can earn them money. Sometimes it's something harmless like a page that simply earns them money from search advertising, or in some cases it can do things like steal credit card numbers, and install viruses.
For what it's worth, there are so many ways Home Pages are exploited that browser makers should consider eliminating the feature completely and simply open up whatever pages you used last, just like mobile browsers. If nothing else, they need to eliminate the ability for programs and web sites to change the Home Page.
Joe Crescenzi, Founder
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