UC Browser

UC Browser is a cross-platform web browser primarily targeted at mobile phones.{{cite news|title=A Browser You've Never Heard of Is Dethroning Google in Asia|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-browser-youve-never-heard-of-is-dethroning-google-in-asia-1514808002|work=Wall Street Journal|date=2 January 2018|last1=Purnell|first1=Newley}} It is known for its small app size and data compression technology, making it popular in emerging markets where people tend to have mobile phones with more limited device memory and internet bandwidth. In particular, the browser makes use of proxy servers, which run data through UCWeb servers before sending it to the user's device, enabling data compression but also posing privacy risks. Additional features of the browser include cloud acceleration, multi-file format downloading, HTML5 web app and cloud syncing features, and "fast download", a feature that downloads files in multiple parts simultaneously.

UC Browser is available as both an Android app and an iOS app, and is also available on several other older or discontinued mobile operating systems including BlackBerry OS, Symbian, and Windows Phone.{{Cite web|url=https://cellphonebeat.com/ucbrowser-surpasses-opera-mini-33-percent-more-downloads.html|title=UCBrowser surpasses Opera Mini with 33 percent more downloads|website=Cellphonebeat.com|date=21 May 2012|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-24}} While primarily a mobile app, UCWeb also offers a Microsoft Windows desktop version (there is no macOS version).

UC Browser uses proxy servers to compress web pages before sending them to users. This process requires less memory on the user's device and lowers data costs; however, it also poses privacy and security risks as all of the data accessed by the user through UC Browser first runs through a UCWeb server, rather than going directly to the user's device.

In July 2013, UCWeb announced the UC+ Open Platform. The platform consists of a WebApp store, an add-on platform and an Application Bookmark Platform. It went live with the launch of UC Browser v9.2 for Android.{{cite web |last=Xiang |first=Tracey |url=http://technode.com/2013/07/05/uc-web-launches-uc-open-platform-addressing-webapp-strategy/ |title=UC Web Launches UC+ Open Platform, Addressing WebApp Strategy |date=5 July 2013 |publisher=TechNode |access-date=16 May 2021}}

Developers can use a provided SDK to create programs that the browser runs in different scenarios. Users can download and install them from the browser's add-on panel. Examples include sharing to social media, webpage translation, augmented reality, and voice control. The Application Bookmark Platform allows partner websites to put up a QR code on UC Browser for users to scan, which adds the webpage to their bookmarks. This platform was among the first in China.

The browser supports simultaneous downloads and includes a download manager, including pages for offline reading. It supports pausing and resuming downloads.{{cite web |last=Yin |first=Sara |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400552,00.asp |title=UC Browser 8.0.5 (for Android) Review & Rating |work=PC Magazine |access-date=10 March 2014}} The current version of the download manager has features designed to solve common problems while downloading, such as an intermittent internet connection and mislabeled files.{{cite web |url=http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=116671 |title=UC Browser Releases Version 9.3 For Android Platform |publisher=Efytimes.com |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112143357/http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=116671 |archive-date=12 November 2013 }} The download process can continue after the app is closed, and can also automatically resume if the download is interrupted.{{cite web |url=http://www.fonearena.com/blog/87652/uc-browser-on-windows-phone-now-supports-background-downloads.html |title=UC Browser on Windows Phone now supports background downloads |publisher=Fonearena.com |date=12 November 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014}} The download manager sorts downloaded files by type and places them in respective folders.{{cite web |url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/09/chrome-firefox-safari-opera-edge-impressive-web-browser-alternatives/ |title=Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge? Impressive Web Browser Alternatives |work=Smashing Magazine |date=23 September 2015 |access-date=24 September 2015}}

UCWeb claims that the cloud system used by the browser tends to fetch data from the closest servers available, making the loading process quicker and smoother for users.{{cite web |url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/uc-web-launches-updated-version-of-uc-browser-for-android-java-and-ipad-358375 |title=UC Web launches updated version of UC Browser for Android, Java and iPad | NDTV Gadgets |publisher=Gadgets.ndtv.com |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014}}

In May 2015, the American National Security Agency (NSA) documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden indicated that UC Browser leaks sensitive data like international mobile subscriber identities, international mobile station equipment identities, MSISDN's, Android ID's, MAC addresses, and geolocation and Wi-Fi-related data without any encryption.{{Cite news|last1=Hildebrandt|first1=Amber|last2=Seglins|first2=Dave|date=21 May 2015|title=Spy agenci es target mobile phones, app stores to implant spyware|work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/spy-agencies-target-mobile-phones-app-stores-to-implant-spyware-1.3076546}} These leaks are used by intelligence agencies to track users. The documents also revealed that the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) had identified UC Browser as a security weak point. Its widespread use in China, India and Indonesia made it particularly attractive to ASD's exploits. The Snowden documents revealed that in cooperation with its Five Eyes partners, ASD hacked the UC Browser and infected smartphones with spyware. The ASD declined to comment in relation to the revelations.{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/australia-a-leader-in-hacking-mobile-phones-snowden-document-reveals-20150521-gh761s.html |title=Australia a leader in hacking mobile phones, Snowden document reveals |last=Dorling |first=Philip |date=22 May 2015 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523111045if_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/australia-a-leader-in-hacking-mobile-phones-snowden-document-reveals-20150521-gh761s.html |archive-date=23 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}

Following the leaks, the Citizen Lab based at the University of Toronto published an independent report corroborating numerous privacy and security issues with both the English language and Chinese language editions of the Android version of UC Browser.{{cite journal|date=21 May 2015|title=Privacy and Security Issues with UC Browser|url=https://citizenlab.org/2015/05/a-chatty-squirrel-privacy-and-security-issues-with-uc-browser/|access-date=7 November 2016|website=citizenlab.org|quote=by Experts: Jakub Dalek (lead), Katie Kleemola (lead), Adam Senft (lead), Christopher Parsons, Andrew Hilts, Sarah McKune, Jason Q. Ng, Masashi Crete-Nishihata, John Scott-Railton, Ronald Deibert|last1=Dalek |first1=Jakub |last2=Kleemola |first2=Katie |last3=Senft |first3=Adam |last4=Parsons |first4=Christopher |last5=Hilts |first5=Andrew |last6=McKune |first6=Sarah |last7=Ng |first7=Jason Q. |last8=Crete-Nishihata |first8=Masashi |last9=Scott-Railton |first9=John |last10=Deibert |first10=Ron }}{{cite journal|date=7 August 2016|title=A Tough Nut to Crack: A Further Look at Privacy and Security Issues in UC Browser â€" The Citizen Lab|url=https://citizenlab.org/2016/08/a-tough-nut-to-crack-look-privacy-and-security-issues-with-uc-browser/|access-date=7 November 2016|website=citizenlab.org|last1=Knockel |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Senft |first2=Adam |last3=Deibert |first3=Ron }}{{cite journal|date=28 March 2016|title=WUP! There It Is: Privacy and Security Issues in QQ Browser â€" The Citizen Lab|url=https://citizenlab.org/2016/03/privacy-security-issues-qq-browser/|access-date=7 November 2016|website=citizenlab.org|last1=Knockel |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Senft |first2=Adam |last3=Deibert |first3=Ron }}{{cite journal|date=21 May 2015|title=Summary: Privacy and Security Issues with UC Browser|url=https://citizenlab.org/2015/05/summary-privacy-and-security-issues-with-uc-browser/|access-date=7 November 2016|website=citizenlab.org|last1=Lab |first1=Citizen }}{{cite news|title=Edward Snowden Archives â€" The Citizen Lab|url=https://citizenlab.org/tag/edward-snowden/|access-date=7 November 2016|work=citizenlab.org}} The report criticized the transmission of personally identifiable information to various commercial analytics tools and the transmission of user search queries without encryption. They also managed to bypass the encryption of UC Browser, leading them to accuse UCWeb of using non-effective encryption systems to transmit personally identifiable subscriber data, mobile device identifiers, and user geolocation data.{{cite web |url=https://citizenlab.org/2015/05/a-chatty-squirrel-privacy-and-security-issues-with-uc-browser/ |title=Privacy and Security Issues with UC Browser|date=21 May 2015|last1=Dalek |first1=Jakub |last2=Kleemola |first2=Katie |last3=Senft |first3=Adam |last4=Parsons |first4=Christopher |last5=Hilts |first5=Andrew |last6=McKune |first6=Sarah |last7=Ng |first7=Jason Q. |last8=Crete-Nishihata |first8=Masashi |last9=Scott-Railton |first9=John |last10=Deibert |first10=Ron }}

In May 2016, Alibaba Group provided Citizen Lab with updated versions of UC Browser in order to verify their security fixes to these issues. The subsequent update published by Citizen Lab indicated that not all of the previously identified data leaks and privacy breaches had been fixed in UC Browser.{{Cite news|date=21 May 2015|title=Research group says UC Browser, owned by Alibaba, found to leak data|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/alibaba-ucweb-security/research-group-says-uc-browser-owned-by-alibaba-found-to-leak-data-idUSL3N0YC3Q620150521}}{{cite web |url=https://citizenlab.org/2016/08/a-tough-nut-to-crack-look-privacy-and-security-issues-with-uc-browser/#update |title=Update: Analysis of updated Android and Windows versions of UC Browser|date=8 August 2016|last1=Knockel |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Senft |first2=Adam |last3=Deibert |first3=Ron }}

In 2017, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a scientific research unit within India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), began a technical investigation into the "several major privacy and security vulnerabilities that would seriously expose users of UC Browser to surveillance and other privacy violations" alleged in the report.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/alibabas-uc-web-browser-may-face-ban-in-india-over-data-theft/articleshow/60180582.cms|title=Alibaba's UC Web Browser may face ban in India over data theft - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=23 August 2017 }} C-DAC found that the browser (which was the second-most-used browser in India) had been sending user data to Chinese servers and that it retains control over a user's device DNS even after the browser is deleted.{{cite web|url=http://www.digit.in/internet/uc-browser-under-government-lens-for-leaking-user-data-to-servers-in-china-36704.html|title=UC Browser under government lens for leaking user data to servers in China - Digit.in|date=25 August 2017|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905220642/https://www.digit.in/internet/uc-browser-under-government-lens-for-leaking-user-data-to-servers-in-china-36704.html|url-status=dead}}

In March 2019, analysts at the anti-malware firm Doctor Web publicly disclosed that UC Browser and UC Browser Mini for Android were downloading and installing extra modules from the company's own servers via an unprotected HTTP channel.{{Cite web|date=26 March 2019|title=Hundreds of millions of UC Browser users for Android are threatened|url=https://news.drweb.com/show/?i=13176&c=38&lng=en&p=0|website=Dr. Web}} This exposed browser users to potential arbitrary remote code execution if an attacker was able to perform a man-in-the-middle attack to deliver malicious module (but no cases of exploitation were publicly disclosed). Furthermore, this violates Google Play policies that forbid Google Play apps from downloading any executable code from any sources outside of Google Play. In June 2020, a new version of its UC browser was added to the Google Play store with updated settings that comply with the store's security guidelines.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-04|title=UC Browser in line with Google's data security policy now on Play Store|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/uc-browser-in-line-with-googles-data-security-policy-now-on-play-store-4949481/|access-date=2021-07-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}

In May 2019, Indian security researcher Arif Khan reported that the URL address bars on the UC Browser and UC Browser Mini apps were susceptible to URL spoofing.{{Cite web|title=UC Browser for Android Vulnerable to URL Spoofing Attacks|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/uc-browser-for-android-vulnerable-to-url-spoofing-attacks/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=BleepingComputer|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|date=2019-05-10|title=Sử dụng UC Browser có thể khiến bạn bị tấn công|url=https://kynguyenso.plo.vn/ky-nguyen-so/nhip-cong-nghe/su-dung-uc-browser-co-the-khien-ban-bi-tan-cong-832874.html|access-date=2020-11-28|website=PLO}}

In June 2021, it was discovered that the app was recording user data and sending IP addresses to Alibaba servers.{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/02/psa-chinese-uc-browser-on-ios-harvests-your-data-even-in-incognito-mode/|title = PSA: Chinese UC Browser on iOS harvests your data even in incognito mode|date = 2 June 2021}}

{{Further|Usage share of web browsers}}

UC Browser gained significant popularity in China, India, and Indonesia in 2012 through 2017 and still retains some popularity in China. In October 2012, UC Browser topped Opera in Google Play's free Android app download category in India for the first time.{{cite web |url=http://www.techinasia.com/ucweb-boasts-dominance-opera-india-mobile-browser-market/ |title=UCWeb Boasts Dominance over Opera in India's Mobile Browser Market |publisher=Techinasia.com |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014}} Google Zeitgeist 2013 showed that the "Most Searched Mobile Apps" in India were dominated by messaging and browsing apps, with WhatsApp and UC Browser topping the rankings for the most searches on mobile in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.medianama.com/2013/12/223-google-zeitgeist-2013-trends/ |title=Google Zeitgeist 2013: WhatsApp Top Searched Mobile App, Chennai Express, Temple Run, Sunny Leone |publisher=MediaNama |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014}} As of March 2014, UC Browser had over 500 million users, largely in China, India, and Indonesia,{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/asia/2014/03/21/mobile-browser-maker-ucweb-another-global-tech-firm-under-the-radar-crosses-500m-users/#!BqYW5 |title=Chinese Browser-Maker UCWeb Cross 500 Million Users |author=Jon Russell |date=21 March 2014 |work=The Next Web}} and as of 2016 it had more than 100 million monthly active users.{{Cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/181116/uc-browser-crosses-100-million-monthly-active-users-in-india.html?fromNewsdog=1 |title=UC Browser crosses 100 Million Monthly Active Users in India |date=18 November 2016 |work=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=23 January 2018}} According to the app analytics firm App Annie, UC Browser was the 8th most downloaded mobile app of the 2010–2019 decade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/10-most-downloaded-apps-of-the-decade-facebook-dominated-2010-2019/|title=Facebook was the most-downloaded app of the decade|last=Rayome|first=Alison DeNisco|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}}

However, according to independent web analytics firm StatCounter, UC Browser had never been the leading browser in China and had never exceeded 20% browser share there. As of March 2021, Google Chrome had 43% browser share, while UC Browser had 18%.{{cite web |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/all/china/#monthly-200901-202103 |title=Browser Market Share in China - March 2021 |publisher=Statcounter GlobalStats |date=3 April 2021 |access-date=3 April 2021}}

In India UC Browser was the leading browser from October 2013 through June 2017, peaking at 46% browser share. As of March 2021, Google Chrome had 85% browser share, while UC Browser had 4.3% share.{{cite web |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/all/india/#monthly-200901-202104 |title=Browser Market Share in India - March 2021 |publisher=Statcounter GlobalStats |date=3 April 2021 |access-date=3 April 2021}}

In Indonesia UC Browser was the leading browser from July 2015 much of the time until March 2017, peaking at 51% browser share. As of March 2021, Google Chrome had 81% browser share, while UC Browser had 1.9% share.{{cite web |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/all/indonesia#monthly-200901-202104 |title=Browser Market Share in Indonesia - March 2021 |publisher=Statcounter GlobalStats |date=3 April 2021 |access-date=3 April 2021}}

In May 2020 India's National Security Council recommended that UC Browser and other Chinese-owned apps be blocked due to cyber-security concerns following the 2020 China–India skirmishes .{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=2020-06-17|title=Intel agencies red-flag use of 53 mobile apps with links to China: Complete list|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/intel-agencies-red-flag-use-of-52-mobile-apps-with-links-to-china-complete-list/story-B50Slf39aSnVOrCcS92l1N.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}

UC Browser was initially launched in April 2004 as a J2ME-only application.

The logo of UC Browser was redesigned in 2012, from a cartoon squirrel to a more abstract and stylized squirrel that's more in line with American designs.{{cite news |last=Mott |first=Nathaniel |url=http://pandodaily.com/2012/10/18/ucweb-opens-us-office-americanizes-its-logo/ |title=UCWeb opens US office, Americanizes its logo |work=PandoDaily |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014 |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001021437/http://pandodaily.com/2012/10/18/ucweb-opens-us-office-americanizes-its-logo/ |url-status=dead }}

In May 2013, UCWeb customized its browser for Vodafone's Indian customers.{{cite web |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news/39256349_1_vodafone-india-ucweb-india-yu-yongfu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528214334/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news/39256349_1_vodafone-india-ucweb-india-yu-yongfu |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2013 |title=UCWeb customises mobile internet browser for Vodafone customers in India |work=timesofindia-economictimes}}

In August 2013, UC Browser provided distribution channels of companies like AppURL Initiative{{cite news |url=http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/global-consortium-mobile-thought-leaders-154400006.html |title=Global Consortium of Mobile Thought Leaders Support AppURL Initiative â€" Yahoo Finance Canada |work=Yahoo! Finance |date=2 August 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209062441/http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/global-consortium-mobile-thought-leaders-154400006.html |archive-date=9 December 2013 }} and partnered with distributor Gameloft to sell its products.{{cite web |url=http://www.techinasia.com/gameloft-china-country-manager-eric-xu/ |title=Gameloft China: partners important for navigating China |publisher=Techinasia.com |access-date=10 March 2014}}

In 2013 also it announced a partnership with Trend Micro, under which both companies worked to provide mobile web safety assessments in the browser.{{cite web |url=http://www.fonearena.com/blog/68743/uc-web-announces-partnership-with-trend-micro-for-in-browser-mobile-web-safety-assessment.html |title=UC Web announces partnership with Trend Micro for in-browser mobile web safety assessment |publisher=Fonearena.com |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=10 March 2014}}

On 26 June 2020, the Government of India banned UC Browser, along with 58 other Chinese apps such as TikTok and WeChat, citing data and privacy issues and claiming that it is a "threat to the sovereignty and integrity" of the country.{{Cite news|last=Iyengar|first=Rishi|date=29 June 2020|title=India bans TikTok as tensions with China escalate|work=CNN Business|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/29/tech/tiktok-india-chinese-apps-ban/index.html}} Many experts{{Who|date=June 2021}} believe that the move was a retaliation to the 2020 China–India skirmishes between India and China.{{Cite news|last=Abi-Habib|first=Maria|date=29 June 2020|title=India Bans Nearly 60 Chinese Apps, Including TikTok and WeChat|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/world/asia/tik-tok-banned-india-china.html|quote=The move is part of the tit-for-tat retaliation after the Indian and Chinese militaries clashed earlier this month.}}

In March 2021 the browser was removed from several Chinese app stores over a complaint that it was selling misleading medical adverts when searching for hospitals in the browser.[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/16/alibabas-uc-browser-deleted-from-android-app-stores-in-china.html Alibaba's UC Browser deleted from Android app stores in China] It was still available on Apple Inc's Chinese app store.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Alibaba's browser removed from Chinese Android app stores|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/alibabas-uc-browser-removed-chinese-android-app-stores-2021-03-16/|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Reuters}}

{{Portal|Internet}}

• CM Browser
• QQ browser
• Opera (web browser)
• Opera Mini, a server-based compressing browsing system
• Bolt (web browser), a discontinued server-based compressing browsing system
• List of web browsers

{{Reflist}}

{{Web browsers}}

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