Thanks for investigating. For comparison, I'd suggest trying something older --- perhaps IE6, Firefox 3.x, and Opera 9.x? For something newer, Dillo and NetSurf might make good contrasts too; I believe they don't make any network requests and just sit there with a blank window and the cursor focused on the address bar, which is IMHO the way a browser should behave the first --- or any --- time you run it. No further adverts or other attempts to get "promotional" material in your face, just a program that waits for and goes to whatever URL you choose.

(I really hate the "first-run experience" of a lot of "modern" apps these days. I don't need to be told "thanks for using our product" or anything similar, I'm already using your product --- just shut up and let me use it!)