Description:
Sometimes when visiting certain websites, clicking on legitimate page elements (like a search button) will trigger the opening of a new tab with an ad or redirect (e.g., AliExpress, betting sites, fake “system alerts”). This disrupts the user experience and requires manual closing of the unwanted tab and refocusing on the original site — often repeatedly.
Feature Proposal:
Introduce a “Quick-Close Button” that appears only on new tabs that are automatically opened via JavaScript from another site. This button could appear for a few seconds in a small floating UI (like a dismissible popup) in the top corner of the newly opened tab. When clicked, it would immediately close the tab — without the user needing to switch back to the original window or use tab previews.
Example Workflow:
- User is on site Z and clicks a legit button.
- A new tab opens for an ad (AliExpress).
- A Brave “Close this tab?” button fades in for 5 seconds.
- User clicks it, tab closes, and focus returns to site Z.
Bonus Ideas:
- Option to auto-close such tabs in Brave Shields if they’re detected as ad behavior.
- A setting to enable/disable this feature.
- Maybe integrate this with fingerprinting or redirect detection logic?
Why This Matters:
This is a common trick used by shady websites to bypass pop-up blockers. Giving users a fast, ergonomic way to deal with these tabs (without hunting through their tab bar) improves privacy, reduces frustration, and gives Brave users more control.