Is it safe to use Chrome browser on iMac

The salesperson is mostly correct, in the sense that installing Chrome on a Mac installs the entirety of Google's full time information-harvesting and -uploading processes that run whether or not you are actually using their Chrome browser. It's hard to imagine Chrome as anything other than an open door — to Google that is.

https://contrachrome.com/ illustrates those reasons in extensive detail.

There is never any reason to use Chrome on a Mac. The salesman's recommendation to use Firefox and the reasons for it is spot on. Although the FF version that still runs on High Sierra is "old" it is much newer than Safari and nearly every website should work with it.

A worthy alternative is Brave, but they ended support for High Sierra several months ago. Like Firefox, it's much newer than that Mac's version of Safari and also works with all websites. I'm using it now on a Mac even older than yours. It's been my experience High Sierra's version of Safari has had a hard time coping with Apple Support Communities (for example), but Firefox and Brave both work fine.

Plenty of people like Chrome, but Brave is Chrome without the Google.

https://brave.com/

I agree with John Galt wholeheartedly. Here are some articles about dChrome and Google and the problems it brings:

Google is known to "phone home" with users data as was found out with this new Google Photos service:  Google Photos may be free — but there's still a cost.

Also consider the following:

Chrome is Bad

Video demonstrating above

Google Chrome Listening In To Your Room Shows The Importance Of Privacy Defense In Depth.

Unseen Burdens in Chrome That Can Lead a Mac to Lag

How to Manage the Secret Software That Google Chrome Installs on Your Mac\

Google Chrome's Sham 'Do Not Track' Feature

Just some food for thought. I used Firefox for a while when Safari wouldn't work.

Look, man. Chrome is fine on any computer, including your 2013 iMac. If you are worried about privacy/security I'd recommend Brave (all the benefits and style of Chrome, but better). Like the salesperson said, Firefox is also a great option. Yes, Chrome can be an open door but if you are running a malware monitoring tool, you should be right.

In conclusion, you can use Chrome, but a browser like Firefox or Brave is better. Follow the advice of your tech guy if anything.

Regards, Jai

John Galt wrote

There is never any reason to use Chrome on a Mac.

Plenty of people like Chrome, but Brave is Chrome without the Google.

There is never a reason to use Chrome on a Mac........apart from the sites that only work properly - or even at all - with Chrome. I mostly use Firefox (best shields and addons for me) with a bit of Safari and I've lost count of the number of sites that have responded to my requests for help along the lines of "we only test it on Chrome so use Chrome". My share trading platform, local library and swimming pool need Chrome to work at all. I'm a fan of Brave for mobile browsing, but it's a pain for everyday use that's more than browsinge. The sites I have most trouble with don't work on Brave without turning shields off and the swimming pool site doesn't function on Brave.

Devs are up against it and browsers have changed so much from the html navigators they started as that many organizations can't afford to test on minority browsers like FF, Brave and even Safari (18% market share according to Wikipedia).

..lynnefrombc..

Perhaps unless you've gotten a download installer for Mojave 10.14.6, from Apple servers

And if it still works for you, as some suggest otherwise- or you can get & try Brave version

'chromium-based' browser, for your present High Sierra 10.13.6, from Brave archive pages.

I've been using Brave Version 1.57.64 Chromium: 116.0.5845.188 (Official Build) (x86_64)

in High Sierra 10.13.6, with two Profiles; mostly still using Firefox ESR last build daily. Link

seems to go only to their Latest Build page. An 'archived page' of downloads is in hiding.

Kinda tried to blaze path, but this might not be fully correct; same version noted above

will work in Catalina 10.15.7, too. Could be useful. Found in a search; no guarantees!

https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/sections/360003286112-Installing-Brave (not useful)

https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/categories/360001053032-Desktop-Browser (kinda)

"The last supported version for users on macOS 10.13 High Sierra and 10.14 Mojave is Brave version 1.57.64 (find the Brave-Browser-universal.dmg file in the list) and Chromium 116."

See list of Assets below the more recent version Changelog details..

So you may have to barehand fish for it. Somewhere I've correct link. Now use Brave in my

older Early 2009 iMac 24-inch high-end model; Safari sorta works in there too. Go figure.

[It can view youtube content in Safari / El Capitan in the 2009 iMac. Daily user is MacMini

Late 2012; Server, 4-core 2.3GHz w/ dual 'stock' rotational 1-TB HDDs and 4 partitions.]

..lynnfromBC..

Perhaps after awhile looking here, there, and in between:

light at the entrance of train tunnel, not just another train!

https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/download/v1.57.64/Brave-Browser-universal.dmg

Found this'n in discussion of Brave install help files..

And indications more than suggest this likely a match.

Last tested Feb 2024 as stated in brave help pages.

So now nominated as a definite fishhook!

..And will test it now to be sure..

I use the Opera Browser on my Old Late 2013 iMac, running Catalina!

Look, if your thinking about the safety of your iMac, you can surely use the built-in browser,

Safari.