What Yandex Browser does with user data

Note. To secure your data and keep your search queries and site visits private, follow these general recommendations for protecting your personal information.

Below is a list of situations in which Yandex Browser for Mobile collects and sends data to Yandex servers. All information that is collected by Yandex Browser for Mobile is processed by Yandex under the terms of the Privacy policy and License agreement.

In this article you can learn about:

  • Which data Yandex Browser collects
  • Why Yandex needs this data
  • How to disable the sending of data to a server
  1. Which data Yandex Browser collects
  2. Report a problem or ask a question

Which data Yandex Browser collects

Yandex Browser for Mobile sends data to the server in order to:

  1. Solve technical issues such as increasing the data transfer speed or protecting against viruses.
  2. Collect statistics on browser usage.
  3. Debug and resolve user problems.
  1. Data required for certain features to work
  2. Statistics and crash reports

Data required for certain features to work

The lists below describe the types of data sent, grouped by browser function.

Tableau
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Site addresses added to Tableau Tableau creates its representation of a site based on both the site's favicon and its main color. Manually delete sites from Tableau and the site addresses will be deleted.
Location Set of widgets that appear when opening Tableau for the first time which vary depending on your location. Data is sent one time when you first launch Yandex Browser. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Your smartphone's technical characteristics (model, OS, screen size) To adapt Tableau to different device models for convenience of use. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Site addresses added to Tableau Tableau creates its representation of a site based on both the site's favicon and its main color. Manually delete sites from Tableau and the site addresses will be deleted.
Location Set of widgets that appear when opening Tableau for the first time which vary depending on your location. Data is sent one time when you first launch Yandex Browser. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Your smartphone's technical characteristics (model, OS, screen size) To adapt Tableau to different device models for convenience of use. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Search
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data sending
Unique user identifier To account for the user's personal preferences in search results. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. To avoid sending the data, you can change the default search engine. Your data will not be sent to Yandex, but it may be collected by another search engine.
Interface language on your smartphone Search results are offered in this language.
Other data used when searching To improve the quality of search.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data sending
Unique user identifier To account for the user's personal preferences in search results. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. To avoid sending the data, you can change the default search engine. Your data will not be sent to Yandex, but it may be collected by another search engine.
Interface language on your smartphone Search results are offered in this language.
Other data used when searching To improve the quality of search.
Yandex Zen
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data being sent
Unique user and device identifiers To account for the user's personal preferences.

Disable the Zen recommendations feed:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Go to the Personalized feeds section.
  3. Go to the More settings section.
  4. Turn off Personal recommendations feed.
Interface language on your smartphone Recommendations are made in this language.
Location of the smartphone Recommendations are selected depending on the location.
  1. Browsing history.
  2. Ratings of recommendations in Zen.
  3. Reading time of articles.
  4. Frequency of feed views, length of time spent viewing feed.
  5. Subscriptions, channels, and subjects selected by the user.
 Allows you to configure your recommendations feed so that it more accurately reflects your interests.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data being sent
Unique user and device identifiers To account for the user's personal preferences.

Disable the Zen recommendations feed:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Go to the Personalized feeds section.
  3. Go to the More settings section.
  4. Turn off Personal recommendations feed.
Interface language on your smartphone Recommendations are made in this language.
Location of the smartphone Recommendations are selected depending on the location.
  1. Browsing history.
  2. Ratings of recommendations in Zen.
  3. Reading time of articles.
  4. Frequency of feed views, length of time spent viewing feed.
  5. Subscriptions, channels, and subjects selected by the user.
 Allows you to configure your recommendations feed so that it more accurately reflects your interests.
Ad filtering
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Addresses of pages that you have reported. To improve the ad blocking algorithms.

To disable ad filtering:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Tap Ad blocking under Content blocking.
  3. Disable the Offensive ad blocker and Intrusive ad blocking options.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Addresses of pages that you have reported. To improve the ad blocking algorithms.

To disable ad filtering:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Tap Ad blocking under Content blocking.
  3. Disable the Offensive ad blocker and Intrusive ad blocking options.
Security in the internet
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Prefix of the address hash of an open page To block pages containing malware. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Information about downloaded file To check files for the presence of malware. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Prefix of the address hash of an open page To block pages containing malware. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Information about downloaded file To check files for the presence of malware. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.
Syncing
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Authorization data on Yandex (email address or social network authorization data). To sync data between your devices and recover data if your phone gets broken or lost.

To disable syncing:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Select Syncing.
  3. Tap Disable.

You can also be selective in what data you choose to sync.
Tableau
Bookmarks
Encrypted passwords
Autofill data
Open tabs
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable sending data
Authorization data on Yandex (email address or social network authorization data). To sync data between your devices and recover data if your phone gets broken or lost.

To disable syncing:

  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. Select Syncing.
  3. Tap Disable.

You can also be selective in what data you choose to sync.
Tableau
Bookmarks
Encrypted passwords
Autofill data
Open tabs

Statistics and crash reports

In addition to information that is necessary for certain Yandex Browser for Mobile functions to work, crash reports and anonymized usage statistics are also sent to the server.

Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data being sent

In addition to reporting feedback to the browser's support service, other information sent is:

  1. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  2. Unique user identifier.
  3. Device region and language.
 For localization and troubleshooting.

Contacting the support service without this data is not possible. If you do not want to send this data then do not contact the support service.

Along with your review ( → Settings → Write a review), the browser support staff receives the following:

  1. Unique user identifier.
  2. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  3. Device region and language.
 For localization and troubleshooting.

Data is added to the body of the e-mail; you can delete it manually. It is better not to, however, because this data will help us locate the problem faster.
Crash reports are sent to the server if the browser or individual components close unexpectedly. To detect errors and debug the browser. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.

Statistics are periodically sent to the server:

  1. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  2. Device region and language.
  3. Navigation statistics.
  4. User clicks on pages.
  5. User requests.
  6. Opened video and audio files.
  7. Changes to browser settings.
  8. Browser processes that are running.
  9. Cookie files (for example, cookies that determine your location).
  10. Other statistical data (user actions, HTTP referrer, etc.).
 To count the total number of Yandex Browser for Mobile users and collect other statistics.
Attention. Data is sent in an anonymized form and is used by the Yandex Browser team to analyze statistics in aggregate. The collection of statistics does not threaten the security of your personal data.
  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. In the More settings section, disable the option Help improve Browser.
Type of data Reason(s) for sending How to disable data being sent

In addition to reporting feedback to the browser's support service, other information sent is:

  1. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  2. Unique user identifier.
  3. Device region and language.
 For localization and troubleshooting.

Contacting the support service without this data is not possible. If you do not want to send this data then do not contact the support service.

Along with your review ( → Settings → Write a review), the browser support staff receives the following:

  1. Unique user identifier.
  2. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  3. Device region and language.
 For localization and troubleshooting.

Data is added to the body of the e-mail; you can delete it manually. It is better not to, however, because this data will help us locate the problem faster.
Crash reports are sent to the server if the browser or individual components close unexpectedly. To detect errors and debug the browser. It is not possible to use Yandex Browser without this data. If you do not wish to send this data, then do not use this browser.

Statistics are periodically sent to the server:

  1. Your device's technical specifications (model, platform, operating system version, browser version).
  2. Device region and language.
  3. Navigation statistics.
  4. User clicks on pages.
  5. User requests.
  6. Opened video and audio files.
  7. Changes to browser settings.
  8. Browser processes that are running.
  9. Cookie files (for example, cookies that determine your location).
  10. Other statistical data (user actions, HTTP referrer, etc.).
 To count the total number of Yandex Browser for Mobile users and collect other statistics.
Attention. Data is sent in an anonymized form and is used by the Yandex Browser team to analyze statistics in aggregate. The collection of statistics does not threaten the security of your personal data.
  1. Tap  → Settings.
  2. In the More settings section, disable the option Help improve Browser.

Report a problem or ask a question

If you didn't find the answer to your question or you want to report a problem, please contact the Yandex Browser for Mobile support service.