Privacy-centred web browser Ulaa to remain free for end-users, without ads

Zoho Corporation recently launched Ulaa, a privacy-centered web browser that offers an ad-blocker, along with five different browser modes

Zoho Corporation, India’s multinational firm that builds online business, network, and IT infrastructure management applications recently launched Ulaa, a privacy-centered web browser that offers an ad-blocker, along with five different browser modes. Praval Singh, Vice President, Zoho Corp. in an interview with Sourabh Lele explains the philosophy and functionality of the new browser. Edited excerpts below:

What led to the creation of Ulaa when there are several other web browsers available in the market?

We built Ulaa to provide users with a fast and secure browser that gives them control over their personal information, instead of falling prey to intrusive surveillance. The current spectrum of privacy-centric browsers is limited.

On one hand, there are browsers that offer the most basic features, and on the other, there are browsers that limit most functionalities and fall under what can be called a 'paranoid category'. Ulaa fits in the sweet spot where it does not compromise the usability of the browser while keeping users' privacy at the forefront.  Also, most browsers only offer profiles and not user modes—this, in addition to the productivity tenet of the platform, sets Ulaa apart.

When did you start the work on this new browser and how many people worked on executing this project?

Ulaa's journey began over three years ago. The Ulaa team is a compact team, compared to any other prominent browser development team in the market.

How do the five different modes offered by Ulaa help improve user experience?

These modes isolate different aspects of an individual's daily life. Depending on their use, individuals have the option of contextually switching to a separate mode for work (Work), personal activity (Personal Mode), and spending time with their child (Kids Mode). Each of the modes offers contextual features built for particular use.

For example, kids mode is a family-friendly mode that offers parental controls, child lock, and more that enables a safe and engaging space for children and parents. The Developer mode comes with in-built developer tools that enable web developers and testers to inspect and enhance assets. Work mode in Ulaa has features that boost productivity, by providing a distraction-free and secure browsing experience.

Additionally, contextual prompts for each mode also provide a seamless experience for users. This means if the user accidentally opens personal data in the work mode, the prompt will ask the user if they want to proceed.

Why did you choose DuckDuckGo as the default search engine for Ulaa?

Just like Zoho, DuckDuckGo is also against data-selling business models. Most other search engines in the market collect user data and profile the user based on their online behavior. However, DuckDuckGo doesn't store search history and IP addresses, making it harder to run targeted ads.

Ulaa also offers an option to choose between various popular search engines or even add a custom search engine of users' choice.

How does the ad-blocker feature work?

The Ulaa AdBlocker blocks ads and popups on websites and delivers a clean web browsing experience for the user. It also blocks deceptive ads, pop-ups, and fingerprint tracking and keeps malicious badware away from the system. This provides for a better browsing experience by reducing distractions and decluttering the screen space.

If there is a built-in ad blocker, how do you plan to create a sustainable business model for this product?

Zoho Corp has always been a privacy-conscious company, and our business model is not based on ad revenue. Ulaa is and will remain free for end-users.

Currently, our focus is on providing a privacy-focused browser for consumers. At a later stage, we expect enterprises to adopt this browser given its privacy-centric approach, and as the product evolves, we will look at chargeable add-ons to offer additional value on top.