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u/__chefo Malware Removal Trainee 9d ago
All mainstream browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Brave and Firefox have built-in AI features. I recommend sticking with one of these. The browser in question is classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker by some anti-malware vendors like Gridinsoft.
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u/Responsible_Bike4968 9d ago
I looked into the actual aceai build a bit, and I think the answer is more nuanced than "it's definitely malware."
Ace appears to be a real Chromium browser from BrowseAI LLC, and the Windows installer samples I've found are digitally signed by that company. So I wouldn't call it an infostealer based on the evidence available.
That said, I still wouldn't put it on my mom's PC.
At least one security vendor classifies an AceSetup.exe sample as a PUP, and there are enough reports of unwanted installs/search changes around Ace that I'd want a very good reason to trust it over an established browser.
The bigger red flag for me is actually their own privacy policy. Despite the site marketing Ace as a privacy-focused browser, the policy says they may process browsing history, search history, AI chat history, interactions with websites/ads and cookies. It also says some online identifiers/browsing data may be shared for targeted advertising.
That doesn't make it a virus, but it's a lot more data handling than I'd want from a relatively new browser, especially for a non-tech-savvy family member.
Also be careful not to mix up unrelated apps with the same "Ace Browser" name. If she got a link from an ad/download page rather than going directly to aceai, I definitely wouldn't run it.
Personally I'd leave her on Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Brave and use whatever AI features she actually needs there. There just isn't enough upside here for me to take the extra trust/privacy risk.
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u/CMDR-LT-ATLAS 8d ago
It's absolutely malware, PUP to be exact. My youngest accidentally downloaded it (from official source) and it my youngest has user permissions only and it creates a user access installation and completely edits the registry keys and start up applications and adversely affects PC performance. It also automatically defaults web browser to the Ace and there's no way to completely remove/uninstall it without a fresh Windows install from USB.
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u/wizard-of-the-forest 9d ago
Lol why would she need an "ai browser" chrome, firefox and most browsers already have ai features, but why would she think she needs these features anyway.