Remove suggested top sites on first start on Android

[anthonypkeane]

Remove suggested top sites on first start on Android

[SergeyZhukovsky]

We actually want to remove pre-defined fav icons for now to avoid pings to thrid parties on initial start.

[kjozwiak]

The above requires 1.68.123 or higher for 1.68.x verification 👍 @hffvld @Uni-verse can use brave/brave-core#24511 (comment) as a template for 1.68.x verification. But we should check both mobile & tablet as well.

[kjozwiak]

Verification PASSED on Pixel 6 Pro running Android 15 using the following build(s):

Brave | 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 (Official Build) (64-bit)
--- | ---
Revision | 14ff4d467fb3eec4e6fc0a2f3e2d3f7b4c8cb788
OS | Android 15; Build/AP31.240517.031; 35; REL

• ensured that the pre-determined websites based on region are not being populated via NTP on first launch
• ensured that there's no websites being displayed/being loaded when opening several NTP
• ensured that there's no connections to websites like bestbuy.com, facebook.com & amazon.com via Proxyman
• ensured that once you start visiting several websites, the most popular/visited ones get loaded into Favorites
• upgraded from 1.67.123 Chromium: 126.0.6478.126 -> 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 and ensured that the previous Favorites under NTP weren't affected after upgrading

Also checked the following scenario to ensure that Favorites are still being added into the NTP:

• download/install 1.67.123 Chromium: 126.0.6478.126 and notice the pre-populated Favorites on the second NTP
• upgrade to 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 and notice that all the pre-populated Favorites have been removed
• visited several websites ~3-4 times each and ensured that the website was added into Favorites under NTP

Also ensured that previous Favorites that have been added by the user are not removed/affected after upgrading.

Example	Example	Example	Example

---

Verification PASSED on Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra running Android 14 using the following build(s):

Brave | 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 (Official Build) (64-bit)
--- | ---
Revision | 14ff4d467fb3eec4e6fc0a2f3e2d3f7b4c8cb788
OS | Android 14; Build/UP1A.231005.007; 34; REL

• ensured that the pre-determined websites based on region are not being populated via NTP on first launch
• ensured that there's no websites being displayed/being loaded when opening several NTP
• ensured that there's no connections to websites like bestbuy.com, facebook.com & amazon.com via Proxyman
• ensured that once you start visiting several websites, the most popular/visited ones get loaded into Favorites
• upgraded from 1.67.123 Chromium: 126.0.6478.126 -> 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 and ensured that the previous Favorites under NTP weren't affected after upgrading

Also checked the following scenario to ensure that Favorites are still being added into the NTP:

• download/install 1.67.123 Chromium: 126.0.6478.126 and notice the pre-populated Favorites on the second NTP
• upgrade to 1.68.125 Chromium: 127.0.6533.57 and notice that all the pre-populated Favorites have been removed
• visited several websites ~3-4 times each and ensured that the website was added into Favorites under NTP

Also ensured that previous Favorites that have been added by the user are not removed/affected after upgrading.

Example	Example	Example	Example