Privacy-Centered Web Browser, Ulaa, Launches to Provide a Surveillance-Free Browsing Experience

The Privacy-First Browser has Built-In Data and Activity Blockers to Protect Against User Tracking; Includes Multi-Device Syncing and Built-In User Modes that Isolate Activity and Offer Tools that Enable Productivity, are Kid-Safe, and Developer-Centric

Cornwall, ON - May 4, 2023 — Ulaa, a privacy-centered browser by Zoho Corporation launched today, built specifically to help users secure their personal data and activity by providing a broswer solution that universally blockis tracking and website surveillance. According to Norton, 85% of global adults want to do more to protect their online privacy, with two-thirds of global consumers feeling that tech companies have too much control over their data. 

Ulaa is the next step in Zoho Corporation's long-standing commitment to privacy, and designed to help users protect their personal information and internet activity from the prying eyes of user tracking. The web browser comes equipped with features that allow for privacy customization, built-in user profile modes, and integrated productivity tools while keeping user data safe and private. Users can also sync browsing sessions between devices -- either an entire browser window or a singular tab -- allowing them to use multiple devices for the same browsing session seamlessly. 

"Privacy continues to be an uphill battle in the world of internet browsers because the model is broken -- browsers are offered by vendors with ad-based business models so the incentive to gather, sell or buy user data is significant. This is meant to leave little room for users to guard their privacy becoming accustomed to sacrificing it in the name of access or convenience," said Chandrashekar LSP, Zoho Canada's managing director. "With Ulaa, users don't have to compromise their privacy to browse the web, which unfortunately has become a surveillance minefield. Zoho's commitment to privacy and a privacy-centric business model allows us to offer a conflict-free, privacy-centric browser who value their own privacy and their kid’s privacy.

Ulaa was developed to protect against tracking and surveillance and is rooted in three main areas: 

• Privacy
• Ad and data tracking blockers prevent unauthorized push notifications, pop-ups, and time tracking. Existing browsers use time trackers or idle monitors to power recommendation algorithms and browser suggestions, which ultimately feeds that data back to the software provider and the companies that pay them for user data. 
• Ulaa does not track or share user data with any third parties. DNS prefetching is prohibited, so data cannot be cached, as are motion sensors that track mouse movement and clicks. 
• Users have access to Ulaa's multi-ID model, which offers unique IDs that are tied to the browser, which are refreshed every XX minutes to add an extra layer of protection from tracking software. 
• In addition to privacy customizations, anonymized user data and stats, geographical data isolation, end-to-end encryption, and privacy reports, Ulaa disables the API that allows websites to connect and communicate with devices connected to your computer or WIFI network.

• User Modes
• Ulaa users can toggle between five unique modes based on their desired browsing experience, with each mode completely isolated from others, offering protected browsing experiences unique to the specific mode; to keep browsing sessions separate from other users/members of the family; or with more bells and whistles when in developer mode. 
• Personal and Work Modes - Both modes offer users a clear and easy way to decipher between browsing functions for at home or at work. Personal Mode, for example can be where users do all of their online banking, music or video streaming, or shopping. They can view their browsing history, search records, favorite pages, and cookies data without having to sign in to Ulaa. This mode enables secure logins into user accounts, prevents ads, and maintains online privacy. 
• Work Mode, can be dedicated to work functions and automatically pull in the apps, websites, and browser extensions that a person uses most for work. With a stringent ad blocker enabled, users are protected from intrusive ads, possible phishing attacks, and more, so they can stay focused and productive.
• Developer Mode - Designed for professional web developers and testers, Ulaa's Developer Mode includes a suite of developer tools and suggested extensions in the browser. This mode allows users to ensure their websites are compatible with different browsers and devices, and also offers the ability to test new features and develop cross-platform applications. Developers can inspect currently loaded HTML elements, CSS styles, and JavaScript within Developer Mode all the while keeping track of the assets the page has requested, monitor how long they take to load, and more.
• Kids Mode - This family friendly special mode provides a safe online space for children to browse, learn, play fun games, and explore content online. It comes with native content filtering that protects children from accessing inappropriate content, as well as Parental Control features that ensure websites identified by the parent are blocked when using Kids Mode. The kid-specific mode comes equipped with ad-free entertainment and learning games, apps that promote creativity, and is easy to navigate, regardless of age. Added features such as Parental Control, Child Lock, and Learning-on-the-Go restrict the child’s access to other modes for worry-free web browsing.
• Open Season Mode - This mode comes with absolutely no privacy restrictions. With disabled ad blockers and tracking blockers, this mode enables access to all websites including "zero-restriction" sites without hindrances of UI or feature breakages -- similar to asking UIaa to behave like an average browser. The sharp red theme of this mode serves as a reminder of disabled data protection features and informs the user they are being surveilled online.
• Ulaa allows Dynamic Mode Switching, where users can ask Ulaa to open and remember which websites belong in certain modes. The next time the user visits that website, Ulaa will automatically prompt to open the site in pre-selected mode. Additionally when a website is opened that was previously opened in another mode, users will be prompted to switch back to that mode.

• Productivity 
• Ulaa comes equipped with tabs management options to view all open tabs in one place to be grouped and organized. Users can easily switch between tabs, close tabs that are no longer need, or move tabs to a different mode or a new window.
• Ulaa comes with integrated apps that boost productivity, including Zia Search for existing Zoho users, Text2Speech, and Zoho Notebook, a dedicated note-taking space that works across all tabs, so a user can easily jot down ideas, reminders, or important information without leaving their browsing session. 
• Ulaa includes Annotator, a new, built-in feature that can add annotations directly to web pages and images. 
• Most browser extensions are compatible with Ulaa, in addition to 

"There are two major trends impacting how people interact with the vast number of websites, applications, and tools available on the Internet. The first is that data privacy is becoming a prime consideration with increasingly concerned with the improper use of their data. The second is the preference for consolidating around major platforms that provide access to the wide range of services we need and use on a daily basis. The gateway for both is the Internet browser, which is why Google, Microsoft, and Apple have all invested massive energy in the space — and also why many users have felt that they needed to sacrifice their desire for privacy for the platform's ease of use," said Charles Araujo, Principal Analyst at The Experience Report. 

"Today, Zoho seeks to offer users the best of both worlds with Ulaa. While it provides the same sort of platform access as its much larger competitors — using the same Zoho account that provides access to its vast suite of productivity and business software — Ulaa is a privacy- and human-first browser that prioritizes the sanctity of a user's data over its capture and monetization. Loaded with built-in features, Ulaa is a formidable new entry that should be of great interest to all privacy- and productivity-minded consumers and business users."

Ulaa is free to all and available for beta download for iOS and Android. Ulaa's desktop version is fully available and can be downloaded here. For more information, please visit: https://ulaa.com/ 

Zoho Privacy Pledge 

Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. The company owns and operates its data centers, ensuring complete oversight of customer data, privacy, and security. More than 90 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho everyday to run their businesses, including Zoho itself. For more information, please visit: https://www.zoho.com/privacy-commitment.html