From Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 to Brave

Web browsers have come a long way since the late 90s, evolving from simple tools that loaded web pages to complex ecosystems that shape how we experience the internet. For me, that evolution has been deeply personal. Every browser I’ve used tells part of my story—how my needs changed, how the web matured, and how I learned to value privacy, performance, and usability. I started with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and eventually ended up with Brave, passing through a few memorable stops along the way. Each transition taught me something new about technology, trust, and how much control we really have online. This is a look back at that journey—one shaped by curiosity, frustration, discovery, and the constant search for a better way to browse.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4

Although I have used MS-DOS through Windows 3.1, my web browsing journey truly began with Internet Explorer 4, which came bundled with Windows 98. At the time, it felt magical to have the internet just a click away, without needing to install anything extra. I used the internet for the first time at the US High Commission in Colombo, and the very first website I visited was about a mugshot of Bill Gates—a funny and unforgettable introduction to the online world. It amazed me that something so vast and full of information could appear on a screen in front of me within seconds. The thought that I could explore the world from a single computer in Colombo was almost unreal.

IE4 introduced features like Active Desktop and tighter Windows integration, which made the whole experience feel modern and polished, even if it sometimes slowed down the system. I remember the excitement of hearing the dial-up modem connect, the anticipation as web pages slowly loaded, and the sense of wonder each time a page appeared. Looking back, Internet Explorer 4 wasn’t the most stable or secure browser, but it was my first real window to the World Wide Web. It laid the foundation for everything that came after and sparked my lifelong fascination with technology and the online world.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5/6

After exploring the web with Internet Explorer 4, I moved on to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 and later Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, which came with Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows XP. Back then, the web was simple—mostly text and images, with static pages and slow dial-up connections—but it was fascinating. Internet Explorer felt clean, dependable, and easy to use, even though it lacked features we now take for granted, like tabbed browsing or extensions. It was also the first browser that made the internet feel fully integrated with Windows. I remember the excitement of discovering new websites, the occasional crash, and the slow hum of the modem. Over time, IE6 became outdated and insecure, but these versions of Internet Explorer laid the foundation for my digital journey and sparked my lifelong curiosity about technology and the online world.

Mozilla Firefox

I discovered Mozilla Firefox while designing my first corporate website, and it immediately felt like a breath of fresh air after years of using Internet Explorer. That was also the year Sri Lanka Telecom introduced ADSL broadband to the country, making faster browsing finally possible. Firefox brought tabbed browsing, developer tools, and a speed that IE could never match. It was one of the first browsers to prioritize user control and embrace open-source values, which really resonated with me as I explored web design. Over time, however, a major problem emerged: memory usage. The more tabs I opened, the slower everything became, and my computer’s fan would roar like a plane. Eventually, I had to restart just to keep things smooth. Despite admiring Mozilla’s mission and commitment to privacy, Firefox ultimately couldn’t keep up with the demands of my daily browsing.

Opera

After leaving Firefox, I turned to Opera, which was an intriguing mix of innovation and individuality. Opera had features that were ahead of its time—like a built-in download manager, speed dial, and mouse gestures long before anyone else thought of them. It felt lightweight, fast, and efficient. However, as the web began to evolve toward HTML5 and modern JavaScript frameworks, Opera seemed to fall behind in compatibility and adaptability. Some sites didn’t render properly, and I found myself switching to other browsers to get work done. Still, I respected Opera for daring to be different and trying to innovate rather than imitate. It now has a free built-in VPN and ad blocker, which shows how it continues to reinvent itself. Even though I eventually moved on, Opera remains a browser I look back on fondly for its creativity and forward-thinking ideas that others later copied.

Google Chrome

Then came Google Chrome, and it felt like the future had arrived. It was sleek, incredibly fast, and minimalist—everything I wanted after years of clunky browsers. Chrome set new standards for performance and compatibility, quickly becoming the world’s favorite browser, mine included. I loved how effortlessly it synced bookmarks, passwords, and settings across devices using my Google account. However, over time, Chrome lost its charm. With each update, it seemed to consume more memory and CPU power. My laptop’s battery drained faster, and privacy began to feel like an afterthought as Google integrated more of its ecosystem. Chrome had started as the browser everyone loved but slowly turned into the browser everyone tolerated. I eventually realized that convenience was coming at too high a cost, and that’s when I began searching for something that respected both performance and privacy without feeling like surveillance software.

Microsoft Edge

When Microsoft launched Edge, I was hesitant at first. The original version felt experimental and incomplete, but everything changed when they rebuilt it on the Chromium engine. Suddenly, Edge became a serious contender—fast, secure, and visually polished. It integrated beautifully with Windows, consumed less memory than Chrome, and offered thoughtful touches like Collections and a built-in reader mode. I began using it as my primary browser and found myself genuinely satisfied. Edge managed to blend performance with productivity features in a way that felt natural. Even today, I still appreciate how stable it is and how it strikes a balance between innovation and reliability. Microsoft’s privacy settings are far clearer now, and the browser feels less intrusive than Chrome ever did. For a while, I thought Edge might be my permanent choice—until I stumbled upon a browser that went one step further in protecting my online life.

Brave

That browser was Brave. Built on Chromium like Edge and Chrome, it immediately felt familiar, but what set it apart was its commitment to privacy and control. Brave blocks ads, trackers, and cross-site cookies by default, creating a cleaner, faster, and more secure browsing experience. It even rewards users with Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) for viewing privacy-respecting ads—a refreshing change in how the web can work. Switching to Brave felt like reclaiming my digital autonomy. Pages load quickly, my system stays quiet, and I no longer feel like I’m constantly being watched. As Sri Lanka steps into the Fibre Optic Age, browsing feels faster and more fluid than ever. I tried the DuckDuckGo browser before this, but it was too limited for my daily workflow. Brave, on the other hand, feels modern and complete. It has become my default browser, not just for its features but because it aligns with my belief that privacy should be the norm, not an afterthought.

Wrap Up

Looking back, my journey from Internet Explorer to Brave mirrors how the web itself has evolved over the years. Along the way, I experimented with browsers like Netscape Navigator, Neo Planet, Avant, and Safari—brief stops that I didn’t highlight earlier, but which each taught me something about speed, usability, and experimentation. What began as simple curiosity about design and performance gradually turned into an awareness of privacy, control, and digital independence. I’ve watched browsers rise, fall, and reinvent themselves, each reflecting a unique stage in the evolution of the internet—and in my own relationship with it. Today, Brave feels like the perfect balance between speed, functionality, and respect for my data. That may change someday, but for now, I’m genuinely content, knowing the best browser is the one that truly works for you.

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