How to eliminate chrome?

[Fatwa]

Anyone know how I can completely eliminate my device from using chrome? 

I'm not talking about the chrome app. I'm talking about the use of Chrome when opening web link from other app. 

Not sure if it's just me, but the use of the chrome mini browser seems to be occurring more often. 

It's inhibiting the use of the AI summary that I'm trying to use more often on the Samsung browser. 

[Day_Walker]

Indeed!

Im reviewing thia again ans HOPING @samsung gets wind of just how this is going to be a HUGE issue for privacy for the end user in the not too distant future! Especially with the atrengthened partnership of Google Gemini's AI services.

@Samsung reworking a connection API is not enough to keep your users' data secure and private from 3rd parties!

Is this NOT the entire reason for creating the Samsung Browser?!!!!?

Google's Chrome wasn't always an Android system app , and it should NOT be as it's very monopolistic!

I appreciate the AndroidOS and some of Google's services, but many of them I loathe and want no *** part of, and i WANT the option to remove or never have woeking period!

[Fatwa]

Okay, so here is an example from Twitter

-Samsung Browser selected default
-Chome app disabled
-When hitting the link, it open in what appears to be a light version of chrome
-the third shot shows that I have to open the mini browser setting and request to open it in my default browser

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-02-13/russian-president-vladimir-putin-seeks-revenge-on...

[RedDogRabbit]

For me your screen shot looks like it wants you to use Samsung Internet, not Chrome? 

When I click on the link, it opens Samsung Internet. 

 

 

[Fatwa]

The picture is the Chrome webview browser. I have to toggle a menu setting (shown in picture) and then direct it to open in the browser. After doing so, it works fine. You have to do this every time.

It's overreach.

[RedDogRabbit]

You should have the option to Disable Android Webview, but some apps may not work properly.

 

[Fatwa]

That just breaks everything and an impressive percentage of apps (Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc). By some estimates, 70% of apps are using Android Webview.

There is only one workaround for seamless integration into the browser of your choosing. That is, ditch the app and log in using your web browser.

I've already been doing this with some companies that have demonstrated overreach (eg, Linken-in). But this was more for privacy reasons, and not browser autonomy reasons.

I'll just ditch the apps. The experience in the browser is pretty much the same anyway.

The apps imbue extra stalky tracking as compared to the browser.

[RobertZ]

Give this a try. Go into Settings-Apps and scroll down to Android System Webview and disable it. Then see if that helps, and if so, that doesn't cause issues in apps that might use it.

[Fatwa]

Winner winner chicken dinner. The culprit is Android System Webview.

Unfortunately , it appears there's nothing we can do about it. It's Googles' naughty little way of getting around browser autonomy so they can collect data.

There is a radio button option, but it doesn't matter if it's enabled or disabled, it still uses chrome webview.

If you disable, then things break.

Terrible!

[RobertZ]

Hmmm.

I use Brave. It has a setting to use it's own version of Webview so that Google's isn't used. I don't use the Samsung browser, but maybe it has the same option.

[Day_Walker]

Seems to work with FireFox when swt as default browser on OneUI 6.1 too as it as a built in web view.

Brave state life after FireFox. I trust Firefox & it's features more ad a secure browser. Done functions lately in Brave can be enabled in settings within FF.

Plus FF is default across a LOT of Linux distros due to its fully open source code.