Proton might be quietly working on a browser to rival Chrome

It looks like Proton, the Swiss company most people know for its encrypted email, is getting ready to enter the browser market too. The tip-off comes from a job listing that was recently spotted online.

The company put up a posting for a Software Engineer role based in Geneva or Zürich. The listing says the new hire would join Proton’s “browser product team, helping build a privacy-first internet browser used by millions around the world.” That’s pretty much a dead giveaway that the company is at least past the idea stage of a browser.

Dutch tech site Tweakers was among the first to put the spotlight on the posting. We’ve also seen the listing where Proton is asking for people who have built or maintained a Chromium-based browser before.

So whatever they’re cooking up would likely be based on the same open-source foundation that powers Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and plenty of others. Of course, many would’ve liked Proton to take the Gecko route, but you can’t ignore the fact that most modern websites are built around Chromium. So it’s a smart and safe bet.

Still, with Proton’s privacy-first stance, you can expect the browser to be packed with privacy-respecting features and tools. In fact, the listing also says the company wants candidates who have actually shipped “anti-fingerprinting measures, content blocking, or reducing telemetry and third-party dependencies.” 

We recently broke down everything you need to know about browser fingerprinting for those curious.

In plain terms, they want someone who knows how to stop websites from tracking you and how to keep the browser itself from phoning home. The company also says the role is about delivering a “fast, distraction-free user experience.” So let’s hope this means that Proton’s potential browser won’t be jam-packed with pop-ups for their own mail and VPN services either.

Plus, there’s a real appetite right now for tools that keep AI and tracking out of the way. We’ve seen Vivaldi double down on its anti-AI stance alongside DuckDuckGo, and the numbers back up the mood. Earlier this year, DuckDuckGo reported a 76% jump in US installs after Google leaned harder into AI search. Brave has been riding the same wave, recently crossing 51 million daily active users even during the slow summer months.

Keeping all this in mind, Proton clearly sees an opening. It already has Mail, VPN, Drive, Pass, and Calendar, so a browser would slot right into that lineup and keep users inside its walled garden of privacy tools.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, nothing about the browser plans is official. Proton hasn’t publicly confirmed that we’ll be seeing a browser from them anytime soon. Still, it’s hard to ignore the fact that they’re hiring engineers for a “browser product team.” 

We’ll keep a close eye on any developments here and will follow up with more details as and when they surface.

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