Russia's KryptoPro Builds a 'Sovereign' Browser to Evade Google
After Google gave the boot to KryptoPro’s extension in the Chrome Web Store, Russia decided that the only logical response is to build an entire web browser from scratch. Because why fix an extension when you can launch a whole project?
KryptoPro, the firm behind Russia's government-approved data protection tools, has announced its own dedicated web browser. The software will be bundled into the next iteration of the KryptoPro CSP suite, version 6.0, specifically designed to handle web traffic using local Russian cryptographic standards instead of international ones. According to Stanislav Smyshlyaev , the company's CEO, this move aims to satisfy strict security requirements set by the FSB.
The push for a proprietary browser follows a dramatic falling out with Google, which removed the KryptoPro extension from the Chrome Web Store in early 2025. With users struggling to manage digital signatures in Chrome, the developer is essentially pivoting its existing Chromium-Gost open-source project into a formal, unified browser product.
Industry experts suggest this is less about innovation and more about damage control for sanctioned Russian firms. While Yandex Browser already dominates a significant chunk of the local market, big corporations require specialized configuration and technical support that standard browsers simply don't offer. Essentially, the digital iron curtain now comes with its own proprietary refresh button, ensuring that even the act of typing a URL requires state-sanctioned approval.
Source: Kommersant
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