According to CISPA researchers, websites in developing countries are smaller and less complex than websites in developed countries. This study was done after looking at 200,000 websites from 20 countries and comparing those websites from developed and developing nations. The study also found that the websites from developing countries have performance issues, but they are less vulnerable to security threats because of their simplicity.
The researcher at CISPA, Masudul Bhuiyan analyzed the database of 200,000 websites from 20 countries, 10,000 websites from 10 most populated developing countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines and Russia, and 10,000 websites from 10 most populated developer countries like Germany, Spain, South Korea, Italy, US, Japan, Canada and Australia, UK and France. Country-specific domains were used, and the researchers also looked at WHOIS data for the websites. Automated web tools like Puppeteer and Google Lighthouse were used to crawl and gather the information on websites like their speed and performance, privacy tools, size and complexity, and security.
The researchers found that websites in developing countries are simpler and smaller, which makes them best for mobile internet use. But these websites also have inefficient coding, like unnecessary codes, poor image formats, less use of HTTPS, and non-mobile-friendly design. The websites from developed countries have more cookies and trackers, probably because of advanced advertising strategies, even if they have stricter privacy laws. Websites in developed countries were also more likely to use JavaScript libraries, which could be security risks.
Image: Unsplash / Lee Campbell
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The researcher at CISPA, Masudul Bhuiyan analyzed the database of 200,000 websites from 20 countries, 10,000 websites from 10 most populated developing countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines and Russia, and 10,000 websites from 10 most populated developer countries like Germany, Spain, South Korea, Italy, US, Japan, Canada and Australia, UK and France. Country-specific domains were used, and the researchers also looked at WHOIS data for the websites. Automated web tools like Puppeteer and Google Lighthouse were used to crawl and gather the information on websites like their speed and performance, privacy tools, size and complexity, and security.
The researchers found that websites in developing countries are simpler and smaller, which makes them best for mobile internet use. But these websites also have inefficient coding, like unnecessary codes, poor image formats, less use of HTTPS, and non-mobile-friendly design. The websites from developed countries have more cookies and trackers, probably because of advanced advertising strategies, even if they have stricter privacy laws. Websites in developed countries were also more likely to use JavaScript libraries, which could be security risks.
Image: Unsplash / Lee Campbell
Read next: Media Survival Crisis Deepens as 2025 Press Freedom Index Slips into Difficult Territory Globally
