A secure browser that protects your privacy is a critical tool for staying safe online and keeping your data secure from third parties. We have been reviewing, testing, and ranking browsers for the past six years and this guide contains the latest recommendations for 2023.
Do you want a secure browser that truly keeps your data private? Well, you may be surprised by how much of your data is actually getting exposed.
WARNING: Many browsers today are actually data collection tools for advertising companies. This is the case for Google Chrome, the largest and most popular browser. By collecting data through your browser, these companies can make money through their advertising partners with targeted ads. We see this same privacy-abusing business model with search engines, email services, and even free mobile apps.
Unless properly configured, most browsers contain lots of private information that can be exploited – or simply collected – by various third parties:
- Browsing history: all the websites you visit
- Login credentials: usernames and passwords
- Cookies and trackers: these are placed on your browser by the sites you visit
- Autofill information: names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
And as we will explain further below, using “private” or “incognito” browsing will not protect you. Your IP address will remain exposed and various third parties can still track all of your activities. But you don’t even need to take my word for it. Here is a headline that illustrates the lengths companies will go to collect your browsing activities.
And even with a locked-down and hardened browser, there may still be exploits that reveal your data and potential identity. For example, Google Chrome announced a severe zero-day flaw that could allow hackers to remotely execute code on affected systems. We discuss some other privacy issues (and solutions) in our guides on browser fingerprinting and also WebRTC leaks.
But don’t let this stress you out. There are effective solutions and tools that we will cover in detail below. In this browser security and privacy guide, we’re going to explain the following topics:
- Best secure browsers that respect your privacy
- Problems with other browsers
- Browser privacy compartmentalization
- Secure browser add-ons
- “Private browsing” mode is NOT very private (and why you need a VPN)
Incognito / Private browsing mode still leaves you EXPOSED
When using “private” or “incognito” browsing mode in your browser, your real IP address and location are still being revealed to every website, ad, and tracker that loads in your browser. Additionally, all your activities remain visible to your internet service provider (ISP). And as we have recently learned, ISPs log everything you do online and share the data with many other parties. This is why it’s critical to use a good VPN for basic digital privacy.
The best way to achieve true privacy while hiding your real IP address and online activities is to use a secure browser together with a good VPN. This will hide your real IP address and location, while also encrypting and anonymizing your traffic so your ISP cannot see your activities online. Here are our top three recommendations from the best VPN list that we have tested and reviewed:
- NordVPN: A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama (with a 68% off coupon).
- Surfshark VPN: A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in The Netherlands.
- ExpressVPN – This is a secure and reliable VPN that boasts some great privacy features and also works well for streaming. It is based in the British Virgin Islands.
Now let’s examine the most secure browsers that you can combine with a VPN for maximum privacy.
Secure browsers that protect your privacy
In this section we will examine the best browsers based on two main factors:
- Security: How well does the browser protect you from hackers, vulnerabilities, and online exploits?
- Privacy: How much data is the browser itself collecting about you and who is this data being shared with? How does the browser protect your privacy?
Conflicting opinions! Just like with Tor, opinions about browser privacy and security can be wildly divergent and contentious.
This guide is not meant to sell everyone on one browser that beats all others. Rather, it is a summary of information about different web browsers that do well with both privacy and security. Choose the best browser for you based on your own unique needs and threat model.
Here are the most secure and private browsers for 2023:
1. Brave: The most secure and private browser (for both desktop and mobile)
Brave is arguably the most secure browser with simple, out-of-the-box privacy. It is a Chromium-based browser that is fast, secure, and privacy-focused by default. It has a built-in ad blocker and browser fingerprinting protection, while also giving you access to numerous add-ons and extensions. The main developer behind Brave is Brandon Eich, who formerly worked for Mozilla.
To summarize this browser, Brave is based on open-source Chromium, but configured for more privacy. It does well with its default privacy settings and extra features. Here is a brief overview:
- Blocks ads and trackers by default
- Protects against browser fingerprinting and even offers fingerprint randomization
- Built-in script blocker
- Blocks all third-party storage
- Easy access to the Tor network
One of the reasons we like Brave is because it offers simple, out-of-the-box privacy by default. This makes it ideal for those who do not have the time, patience, or know-how for browser customizations and tinkering. Brave can also be used with Chrome extensions, making it an ideal alternative for Chrome. Just download it and you’re good to go.
Tor network – Brave also has a feature that allows you to access the Dark web by simply opening a new window with Tor. We discuss this feature in our guide on how to access the Dark web safely.
Ads – Brave has received some criticism for its ads program, which allows users to “view non-invasive ads without compromising your privacy.” While some people find it hypocritical that a privacy-focused browser has its own ad program, we also see it as a secure source of funding. And with many browsers financially struggling, it appears that Brave’s business model is securing this browser’s future and ability to continue to innovate its products.
As one example of these innovations, Brave is currently developing a private search engine called Brave Search. Additionally, Brave continues to improve and innovate with its browser, which is growing in popularity.
You can read more about Brave’s privacy features here.
https://brave.com
2. Firefox (modified and tweaked for privacy)
Firefox is a great all-around browser for privacy and security. It offers strong privacy protection features, many customization options, excellent security, and regular updates with an active development team. The newest version of Firefox is fast and lightweight with many privacy customization options.
Out of the box, Firefox is not the best for privacy, but it can be customized and hardened, and we show you exactly how in our Firefox privacy modifications guide. Be sure to disable telemetry in Firefox, which is a feature that will collect “technical and interaction data” and also “install and run studies” within your browser.
Within the Privacy & Security settings area, there are many useful customization options for different levels of privacy: Standard, Strict, or Custom.
Another great benefit with Firefox is the ability to use numerous browser extensions that can enhance your privacy and security. We’ll go over some of these extensions further below.
Firefox highlights:
- Open source code that has been independently audited
- Active development with frequent updates
- Excellent privacy features and customization options
- Many browser extensions supported
- Telemetry and tracking needs to be manually disabled
- Other modifications necessary for extra privacy and security
If you want to keep using older add-ons that are no longer supported by the latest Firefox release, you can go with the Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR). If you want a privacy-focused version of Firefox for Android, you could try Firefox focus.
For additional customization and privacy settings, check out our Firefox privacy guide.
https://www.mozilla.org/firefox
3. Tor browser
Next up we have the Tor browser. The Tor browser is a hardened version of Firefox that is configured to run on the Tor network. By default, the Tor Browser is a secure browser that protects you against browser fingerprinting, but it also has some disadvantages.
Because it uses the Tor network, which routes traffic over three different hops, download speeds with the Tor browser can be quite slow. The default version may also break some sites due to script blocking. Finally, there are also drawbacks with the Tor network itself, including malicious/dangerous exit nodes, high latency, dependence on US government financing, and some consider it to be fundamentally compromised. There are also many websites that block IP addresses originating from the Tor network. (See the pros and cons of Tor here.)
Another option is to use the Tor browser with the Tor network disabled. In this sense, the Tor browser will work like the other browsers we’ve covered above. Additionally, you can simply run a VPN in the background. Like the Tor network, a VPN will also encrypt your traffic and hide your IP, but it will be much faster.
Be careful when adjusting the settings for the Tor browser, however, as this may compromise the browser’s built-in privacy and security features.
https://www.torproject.org/
4. Ungoogled Chromium browser
Ungoogled Chromium is an open source project to provide a Chromium browser, without the Google privacy issues:
ungoogled-chromium is Google Chromium, sans dependency on Google web services. It also features some tweaks to enhance privacy, control, and transparency (almost all of which require manual activation or enabling).
ungoogled-chromium retains the default Chromium experience as closely as possible. Unlike other Chromium forks that have their own visions of a web browser, ungoogled-chromium is essentially a drop-in replacement for Chromium.
UPDATE: It appears that Ungoogled-Chromium is no longer being maintained for Debian and Ubuntu versions of Linux.
https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium
5. LibreWolf – A private and secure fork of Firefox
LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox that continues to grow in popularity. The project’s stated goals are to delivery a browser that is focused on privacy, security, and freedom. From the LibreWolf website:
LibreWolf is designed to increase protection against tracking and fingerprinting techniques, while also including a few security improvements. This is achieved through our privacy and security oriented settings and patches. LibreWolf also aims to remove all the telemetry, data collection and annoyances, as well as disabling anti-freedom features like DRM.
Right now, LibreWolf is available for desktop operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Open BSD. You can find installation instructions here.
On the topic of updates, the LibreWolf team seems to really stay on top of things. They One issue to keep in mind, however, is that there are no automatic updates. This means that you will need to manually update the browser, which is a certainly a drawback to consider. Fortunately, LibreWolf frequently pushes these browser updates.
LibreWolf is always based on the latest version of Firefox. Updates usually come within three days from each upstream stable release, at times even the same day. Unless problems arise, we always try to release often and in a timely manner.
– LibreWolf FAQ section
This is definitely a browser to consider for those wanting more privacy and security on desktop operating systems.
https://librewolf.net/
Private browsers worth mentioning (but not necessarily recommended)
Below are a few private and secure browsers that are worth mentioning. However, these browsers did not quite make the cut to be recommended, for various reasons listed below.
6. DuckDuckGo privacy browser (iOS and Android)
The DuckDuckGo privacy browser is a new addition to our lineup. This browser is available for mobile devices on iOS and Android and comes with lots of privacy-focused features by default. According to DuckDuckGo, their browser offers:
- Built-in tracking protection
- Encryption upgrades via Smarter Encryption technology
- Easy data management and clearing options
- Fast speeds
Issues with Microsoft trackers
One important update for this guide is that security researchers have discovered that DuckDuckGo’s browser allows Microsoft trackers. According to DuckDuckGo founder Gabriel Weinberg, this decision was based on a “confidential” agreement between DuckDuckGo and Microsoft.
Many people in the privacy community were outraged when the situation first came to light on Twitter here. There is clearly an element of hypocrisy going on here as we see DuckDuckGo castigate Google over the same practices.
Should you use DuckDuckGo’s privacy browser? I’d recommend considering other alternatives in this guide. However, it’s worth mentioning that the DDG browser remains more private than other options we have discussed here. The choice is yours.
This browser is now available on both the Google Play and Apple stores.
7. Waterfox
Waterfox is a fork of Firefox that was maintained by just one person for many years. In February 2020, news blew up on reddit that it had sold out to a pay-per-click ad company called System1. The news was also picked up by others, which resulted in Waterfox and System1 formally announcing the acquisition (but only after the news broke).
The problem here is the apparent contradiction of an ad company (that relies on data collection) owning a privacy-focused browser. As I previously reported, System1 also acquired a stake in Startpage, the private search engine based in The Netherlands. In researching the company’s background, it appears that System1 is fundamentally in the business of data collection:
“In our business,” Blend adds, “if we can gather as much data as possible, give it off to our engineers and data scientists, and then manage the two effectively, the business can quickly scale.”
So can Waterfox still be trusted now that it’s owned by an ad-tech company? You can be the judge.
8. Bromite (Android)
Bromite is a Chromium-based browser for Android only (no desktop support). It comes with some great features by default, including ad blocking and various privacy enhancements.
Unfortunately, being a small project, Bromite suffers from infrequent updates.
Here are some highlights of this browser from the official Bromite website:
- The main goal is to provide a no-clutter browsing experience without privacy-invasive features and with the addition of a fast ad-blocking engine.
- Minimal UI changes are applied to help curbing the idea of “browser as an advertisement platform”.
- All patches are published under GNU/GPL v3 to enable other open source projects’ usage.
- Bromite is only available for Android Lollipop (v5.0, API level 21) and above.
Another cool feature I like with Bromite is that you can use custom ad block filters — learn more here. Bromite is under active development and remains a great browser for Android users.
https://www.bromite.org/
9. Pale Moon
Pale Moon is another open-source fork of Firefox, which aims for efficiency and customization. In testing out Pale Moon, it does offer different customization options, as well as support for older Firefox add-ons and its own lineup of add-ons. The design feels a bit dated, but it’s also not overly-cluttered and is lightweight and fast.
Pale Moon is currently available on Windows and Linux, with other operating systems in development. Unlike other Firefox forks, Pale Moon runs on its own browser engine, Goanna, which is a fork of Gecko (used by Firefox). This is an older engine that was previously used by Firefox, but has long since been replaced. Many argue that this older codebase is a security vulnerability. And it’s also worth noting that the development team is very small compared to more popular browsers.
10. GNU IceCat
GNU IceCat is a fork of Firefox from the GNU free software project. IceCat is entirely “free software” as defined here and also includes various privacy add-ons and tweaks by default. Here are the privacy-protection features listed from the IceCat page:
- LibreJS
- HTTPS-Everywhere
- SpyBlock
- AboutIceCat
- Fingerprinting countermeasures
Slow updates – The big issue with GNU IceCat is that updates are very slow, and in some cases, years behind. This can expose IceCat users to security vulnerabilities, which is why we are no longer recommending it.
11. Iridium
Like Brave, Iridium is a secure browser that is based on Chromium and configured for more privacy by default. The following excerpt from Iridium’s website provides a good overview of this secure browser:
Iridium Browser is based on the Chromium code base. All modifications enhance the privacy of the user and make sure that the latest and best secure technologies are used. Automatic transmission of partial queries, keywords and metrics to central services is prevented and only occurs with the approval of the user. In addition, all our builds are reproducible and modifications are auditable, setting the project ahead of other secure browser providers.
Unfortunately, like IceCat above, updates to Iridium are few and far between.
Issues with other popular browsers
While some browsers claim to be secure against vulnerabilities, they might not be the best choice from a privacy perspective.
1. Google Chrome
Google Chrome is by far the most popular browser. Unfortunately, it’s a data collection tool as well and not a good choice for anyone looking for privacy.
You can safely assume that everything you do through Google Chrome is collected, saved to your data profile, and used for targeted advertising.
2. Microsoft Internet Explorer/Edge
Edge is a Microsoft product.
Just like with Windows, it’s a good idea to avoid Microsoft products, including Internet Explorer, and their newer browser called Edge. Internet Explorer and Edge are also closed-source, so there’s no telling what’s going on behind the scenes, and they’re also not the best for privacy reasons.
3. Opera browser
Opera started off as a decent browser, developed in Norway. However, in 2016 it was sold to a Chinese consortium for $600 million – and a lot has changed. Opera’s privacy policy explains how your data is being collected and shared when you use Opera products. Here’s what I found:
Opera also claims to offer a free VPN through the browser. However, as we covered in the Opera VPN review, it’s not really a VPN and does not offer full system-wide encryption. Additionally, your data is being collected when you use Opera browser and its “free VPN” feature.
4. Epic browser
Epic is a browser based on Chromium, created by “Hidden Reflex” which is based in India. Since 2014, Epic has been claiming they would open source the code, but it remains closed source today. What’s going on behind the scenes? How do they manage Chromium and remove invasive code? Who knows.
Just like with Opera VPN, Epic falsely claims to offer a “free VPN” through the browser, but this is not really true. The browser is merely routing traffic through a US proxy server. As we learned with Opera (and with many other “free proxy” services), proxies are often used for data collection (and they are often not secure). When reading the Epic privacy policy, we find that data from “video download and proxy services” is being collected.
One person who analyzed Epic found it to be connecting to Google on startup. This suggests that Epic is not, in fact, de-googled as it claims.
There are many better Chromium-based browsers to consider.
5. Safari browser
Safari is the default browser for Mac OS and iOS devices. Overall, Safari is not a horrible choice in terms of privacy and tracking protection – but it also cannot be recommended for a few reasons:
- Apple is a partner in the PRISM surveillance program
- Apple was caught “hoarding” Safari browsing history – even after it was deleted
- Apple was found to be collecting Safari history even when used in private mode
On a positive note, however, Apple does somewhat better with privacy than other large companies. The Safari browser blocks third-party cookies by default and also implements cross-site tracking protection.
6. Vivaldi browser
Vivaldi is a Chromium-based browser with source-code modifications that can be seen here. It is less popular than other browsers, with less active development than Firefox, for example.
Reading through their Privacy Policy, I did find some concerning information about data collection and the use of unique IDs:
When you install Vivaldi browser (“Vivaldi”), each installation profile is assigned a unique user ID that is stored on your computer. Vivaldi will send a message using HTTPS directly to our servers located in Iceland every 24 hours containing this ID, version, cpu architecture, screen resolution and time since last message. We anonymize the IP address of Vivaldi users by removing the last octet of the IP address from your Vivaldi client then we store the resolved approximate location after using a local geoip lookup. The purpose of this collection is to determine the total number of active users and their geographical distribution.
You can read more about Vivaldi here.
Secure and private browsers on mobile devices
Many of the recommended browsers above also offer versions for mobile users on iOS and Android.
With that being said, here some good options for mobile users:
- Brave
- Bromite
- Firefox Focus
- DuckDuckGo
I also like using standard Firefox on mobile devices with customization and configurations for more privacy.
Browser privacy and compartmentalization
One problem that often comes with browser privacy and security is that people want to remain logged in to various accounts, while also browsing the web. But this is problematic. When you stay logged in to Gmail or Facebook, for example, their trackers can record your activity as you browse the web.
One potential solution to this problem is browser compartmentalization. This is when you use different web browsers for different online activities. For example:
- Browser #1 will only be used for accessing your online accounts that require a password. You can stay logged in with only this browser, and it won’t be used for general browsing.
- Browser #2 will only be used for web browsing, with various privacy configurations and no cookies or history being stored on the browser.
- Browser #3 could be completely locked down for maximum privacy and security.
You can also utilize different browsers, configured exactly the way you want, for various purposes, depending on your needs and threat model. The key is to keep the compartmentalization strict and not break the rules/uses for each browser.
Virtual machines – On the topic of compartmentalization, using virtual machines is also a good idea for both privacy and security. You can easily run Linux VMs through VirtualBox (FOSS) on your host computer.
Password managers – It should also be noted that storing your passwords in the browser may be risky depending on the browser you are using, especially since browsers may store passwords in cleartext. A better alternative would be to utilize a secure password manager. We have reviewed many popular options, including Bitwarden, Dashlane, LastPass, and more.
Browser add-ons for security and privacy
In addition to adjusting the settings within your browser, there are also a number of different add-ons or extensions you can install to improve your browser’s privacy and security.
Here are a few different options, but they may not all be supported by the browser you are using:
- uBlock Origin – This is one of the best browser-based ad blockers available that will also protect you against tracking.
- Cookie Autodelete – This will automatically delete cookies that are no longer needed from your browser.
- NoScript – NoScript allows you to customize exactly which scripts run on the websites you visit. Like uMatrix, this is for advanced users and requires lots of customization.
Warning: Be cautious about using third-party add-ons and browser extensions. There are many Chrome VPN extensions that are 100% free and dangerous. Do your research first, since add-ons and extensions could function as spyware and data collection tools for third parties. This is especially true with free VPN services or browser proxy add-ons from questionable sources.
“Private” or “Incognito” browsing mode is NOT private (and why you need a VPN)
Many people falsely assume that using “private” or “incognito” mode in a browser actually provides some privacy. This is a false assumption.
Using “private” browsing mode only stops your browser from storing cookies, history, and passwords. But it doesn’t actually make you any more “private” to the outside world. Even when browsing in “private” or “incognito” mode, you are still exposed:
- Your internet provider can still see every site you visit. And note that internet providers are now forced to log web browsing activity of their customers and provide this data to authorities on request in many countries. In the United States, ISPs log everything and share the data with a huge network of third parties.
- Your real IP address and location remain exposed to all sites, ads, and trackers. This makes tracking and identification easy since your device has a unique IP address linked back to your identity through your internet service provider.
To easily solve these problems, we strongly recommend using a good VPN service. Using a VPN is simple. You just need to sign up for a VPN subscription, download the VPN app for your device, then connect to a VPN server and browse the web as normal. This offers many benefits:
- A VPN will securely encrypt your internet traffic, which prevents your ISP from seeing what you do online. (Your ISP will only see encrypted data, but not what you’re actually up to.)
- When you connect to a VPN server, the VPN server’s IP address and location will replace your real IP address and location. This allows you to appear to be anywhere in the world.
- A VPN will also allow you to access geo-restricted content, such as streaming Netflix with a VPN from anywhere in the world.
Below is a brief overview of our recommended VPNs that have come out on top in testing for the respective VPN reviews.
- NordVPN: A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama (with a 68% discount coupon). See our NordVPN review here.
- Surfshark VPN: A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in The Netherlands. See the Surfshark VPN review.
- ExpressVPN – A fast, reliable, and secure VPN that also works well for streaming, but with above-average prices. See the ExpressVPN review for the pros and cons.
Short on money? There are also some good cheap VPNs that offer excellent features and performance, without breaking the bank. We also have detailed VPN comparisons. Our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN guide compares the top two providers.
Conclusion on secure browsers and privacy in 2023
A well-configured secure browser is crucial for protecting your data as you browse the web with privacy.
Finding the best secure browser all comes down to identifying the best fit for your unique needs. Since this is a personal decision with subjective criteria, I tend to avoid recommending only one option for all use cases.
In addition to using a secure browser that is configured to protect your privacy, you should also consider using a good ad blocker. Ads function as tracking to collect your browsing data and serve you targeted ads. If you aren’t blocking ads, your activities can be tracked by third-party advertising networks, with any site hosting ads.
Note: There are some VPNs that have built-in features to block ads and trackers. See our guide on VPN ad blocking for more info.
In terms of privacy, you may also want to protect yourself against browser or device fingerprinting and WebRTC browser leaks, which can expose your identity even when using a good VPN service.
Other roundup guides on RestorePrivacy:
- Secure Email Services
- Private Search Engines
- Password Managers
- Ad Blockers
- Best VPN Services
- Best Cloud Storage
- Best Secure Messaging Services
This secure browser guide was last updated on January 8, 2023.
More favorable words about Neeva on Express VPN blog…
https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/fastest-ways-to-improve-your-online-security/
@Bronco Sir the problem with Neeva is that most of Neeva’s search results are from Bing and so is the case with Duckduckgo and as Duckduckgo is free and even allows to turn of advertisements in settings and is even more customisable while Neeva is paid I don’t see the point of Neeva. And I am telling you this with experience. Currently I have Neeva 1 year subscription and I am using Neeva as my main search engine. Though one thing is there that Neeva is split second faster in Singapore.
Here according to Express VPN Blog Neeva does collects a lot of data. So I don’t see why one should use it in place of Duckduckgo. As Duckduckgo does not collects all that data.
Ranked: Best (and worst) search engines for privacy in 2023
https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/6-search-engines-abuse-your-privacy/
Also according to makeuseof.com
7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Neeva, the New “Tracker-Free” Search Engine
https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-you-shouldnt-use-neeva/
Such a great and helpful article. I’ve now shared it with family members to help them understand the need for privacy. I don’t use a pc anymore. Everything’s either on iPhone or iPad, so many of these sites won’t work on my mobile devices and I hate being tied to an actual pc. They need more mobile friendly sites for privacy
Sven,
Ungoogled Chromium is no longer mainitained by Eloston exclusively but a group of developers listed on the Woolyss website: https://chromium.woolyss.com/.
Eloston backed away from personal development by 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungoogled-chromium.
You should update the link referring to Eloston alone. Thanks.
Notice this article omits Brave and Vivaldi having built-in, privacy-oriented translation features? Wouldn’t want to force other developers to do the same, huh?
https://www.androidpolice.com/translate-websites-webpages-most-broswers/
Its is very sad that Brave browser is the best of best of the go to browsers. It is a good browser but it is still based on the Chromium web browser “Google friendly”. Why is there no Firefox equivalent of Brave, that has “Automatic Update built in” (note to LibreWolf & UnGoogled Chromium)? It looks like Chromium based browsers are being forced on the market whether you want it or not.
@Clay Ghostery Dawn is a Firefox fork but is mainly set for private browsing mode. In my view, there is nothing wrong with Chromium-based browsers since, as I pointed out before, it is looking like Mozilla purposely makes Firefox’s source code difficult to use. As far as I know, Mozilla has not made efforts to update or clean it up. That is probably why there are more Chromium than Gecko-based browsers.
I’ve tried the Neeva browser and search engine and I’m really impressed! It blocks ads and trackers magnificently. The search crawler is really good. And best of all, both iOS and Android browser are open source.
Again, since it’s a brand new product and is run by some former Google people, things might pan out differently. But so far, it seems we get something really good and different in the world of privacy browsers…
@Bronco I am glad you found a browser and search engine that you like and that Neeva’s browsers are open source. However, this TechRadar article reviewing their product concerns me due to the data they collect. My attitude toward them, so far, is “wait and see.”
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/neeva-search-engine
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
@Bronco On second thought, looks like I spoke too soon.
https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-you-shouldnt-use-neeva/
Mike
As you can see, there’s no much about it online, since it’s still in early stages of devdlopment. No jump to any conclusions here, just first impressions. My experience is based on their iOS app. I like the fact you don’t have to make an account to use it. And when you check the outgoing traffic, you can’t see anything suspicious…
@Bronco they may not but somehow Neeva is using a user’s data to do so. Potentially through the app you’re using. There is a lot more about Neeva online than you may think and, IMHO, this comparison with Startpage says it all. You do what you want, but the more information I find about Neeva, the less I like it.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/06/googles-former-advertising-vp-starts-a-subscriber-only-search-engine/
@Mike
Again, I’m not saying this is a great privacy service which I’m going to use regularly. I said it might be good, potentially. Because of the great ad blocker (Neeva browser) and search without any ads. . And it’s open source. The rest is upon the privacy reviewers and the techy people.
@Bronco Sir would you pay for Neeva search engine? Do you think is it worth it, also considering there are so many free alternatives?
No, I wouldn’t pay for it and I wouldn’t create Neeva account. There is no clear evidence about any wrongdoing with this software and, at the same time, there is a lot to like about how it works. This is for their iOS browser and search, which I tried. I’d say, Neeva is definitely good product for occasional search, especially if you need a Google-like, best search results. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe this is another Google in disguise – time will tell.
I think you should always pay for a good VPN. I also paid for the AdGuard app, because it offers a lot for a fair price. Many other privacy tools are generally free, made and audited by the open source privacy community.
I might have posted about this before, but wanted to reveal something that a lot of web browser users may not know about and is not widely written about or known. Has anyone noticed that there are fewer Gecko-based browsers but more Chrome-based ones? There is a good reason for this is and it is not what you may think.
After discussing browsers with a good friend of mine who has a background primarily in software development, during our talk he pointed out that Firefox’s source code is very complicated. According to my friend, Firefox’s source code is made up of half a dozen or more different languages. Chromium, on the other hand, may not have this problem as evidenced by the amount of browsers based on Chromium rather than Gecko.
Browsers in and of itself are very difficult to construct and, in fairness, my friend has not reviewed Chromium source code yet. It is small wonder there are only 3 types of browsers (Chromium, Blink, and WebKit) and what my friend experienced is probably why Brendan Eich based Brave on Chromium rather than use his former employer’s. I also do not think Mozilla has addressed this problem. But my friend said he did attempt to build a Firefox fork only to later sack the idea to when he had to use compilers for every language in Firefox’s source code.
FWIW, after learning about this, I switched to Brave on my mobile devices and may dump Firefox altogether. It is not that Chrome or Google has a monopoly on browsers, as some people allege. Rather, it is that Firefox’s source code makes development of browsers based on it very hard and, not surprisingly, more browsers are Chromium-based. Firefox is a great browser, but it makes no sense that Mozilla seemingly would not want to address this problem with their browser’s source code and make it easier to use.
I don’t now much about this engine, but it promises a lot:
https://neeva.com
Hi Sven Sir,
What do you think of Maxthon Browser?
On its website it says it does not track user behaviour and offers better privacy and features than other popular browsers. It also offers a completely free Built in VPN.
https://www.maxthon.com/
@Mystical Mountain Aside from the fact that Maxthon is not open source, it is known as “China’s favorite browser.” That means you can expect your data is being saved in servers in Peking.
https://www.securityweek.com/maxthon-browser-sends-sensitive-data-china
Is it really worse than sending your data to the US agencies? I’m not so sure…
@Subaru there are several browsers that do not “phone home” such as Brave and Ungoogled Chromium. You can turn off telemetry in Firefox too. In China, this practice would clearly be prohibited.
@Mike in response to this controversy regarding Maxthon Browser sending data to China, CEO of Maxthon Browser Jeff Chen responded on Quora that it was because of a technical glitch and has now been fixed.
Personally I use Firefox Browser and find it too good on both Windows PC as well as Android to switch to any other browser.
@Mystical Mountain I would not be inclined to believe Chen, especially as the article I cite in my first response points out that several security issues were uncovered with other Chinese browsers such as QQ, UC, and Baidu. Even Opera browser probably has this same issue in which the company behind it was purchased by a Chinese conglomerate 5 years ago. Since being acquired, GHacks reported 3 years ago that things have only gone downhill for Opera Software since .
https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/19/what-is-going-on-at-opera-software/
As an aside, if people want to use a browser like Opera but want to avoid any potential mining of their data by China, I suggest they use Vivaldi. I also use Firefox on desktop and mobile too.
Collect everything. See the declaration provided in Play store’s ‘Data safety’ section of Maxthon.
And also has ads, said by Play store, clearly under the heading of Maxthon.
@shr very good point!
With the amount of browser comparison charts available, I am getting a better understanding of which privacy websites, like Restore Privacy, suggest Brave (desktop and mobile) as the best browser. Consider each browser’s strengths, not only with ad-blocking, but also in terms of site isolation, fingerprint mitigations and even content blocking. In the end, Brave gets most of the top rankings:
https://divestos.org/index.php?page=browsers
https://avoidthehack.com/util/browser-comparison
https://privacytests.org/
Granted this is just data, Firefox can be hardened along with having add-ons placed to strengthen the browser, but none of that seems necessary when it comes to Brave. While browser use ultimately comes down to user preference, this information is definitely something to consider.
Currently I am using Brave & Ghostery Dawn browsers and Brave is fine, I do not care for their Shield blocker and “wish” it could be removed permanently and use uBlock Origin. Ghostery Dawn on the other hand is a slug loading and is OK at best! Is there a Firefox equivalent of Brave that has “auto-update” and does not need hardening.
LibreWolf for Windows (auto intimation, if update available with an add-on).
Mull for Android (update through F-droid)
@Frank if Brave’s “shields” are an issue for you, how about using UnGoogled Chromium? You can place any extension you want on it and I believe UGC does not comes with ad or script blockers but most (if not all) of the in-built Google tracking features have been stripped out. The browser does have a bit of a learning curve though, including having to update extensions and the browser itself manually.
https://avoidthehack.com/how-to-install-configure-ungoogled-chromium
Brave is coming up with very innovative ideas to protect their user’s privacy. Mozilla should take note.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/brave-launches-frodopir-a-privacy-focused-database-query-system/
In addition to Cover Your Tracks, there are 4 other websites that can be used to check if someone’s browser is doing its job of helping protect you online.
https://www.makeuseof.com/free-tools-test-browser-security/
Henry at Techlore “went there” with a very objective comparison of Firefox and Brave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJGF3syQy4
I confirm for Vivaldi browser. Not only do they use unique ID’s but their browser is a gas factory..
If you install it fully, you are 100% dependent.
Besides, i had severe technical issues in term of site rendering and even functionalities.
Finally, their email service is also far from being what they pretend to be both technically and in term of privacy.
So far, the closest to privacy remains proton mail although far from being perfect.
What is a gas factory? I might want one.
@KONE so what browser do you recommend?
Not true fro Brave. It is based on google chrome and as soon as you browse, google Ip addresses start to pop-up on the network (use a sniffer and you’ll see).
You will need to block many IP addresses to be safe with Brave.
Tor and Firefox remain the best options for privacy.
What about https://epicbrowser.com/ ?
Any feedback ?
@mangemerd Epic browser is based on Chromium but is also closed source. Meaning the people behind it can change the terms any time without notifying you. Also, there have been accusations the browser is really a spyware vehicle as outlined in this Reddit Privacy chat thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/a4pfte/comment/ebi8zm9/
You’d be better off using Firefox.
epic browser phoned home to google .
People are already starting to take notice of what will happen once Google’s Manifest V3 standards are implemented next month and are dumping Chrome already.
https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/xn5fs6/whats_up_with_people_leaving_google_chrome/
This is an excellent video that shows how to transition from Google Chrome to Firefox:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw4Io8DxdGU
I am looking to go back to Firefox after using Brave for a while (decent browser but something fishy about it?) and wanted to know what is the preferred Firefox version…between regular Firefox, Firefox Rapid Release, or Firefox ESR? Is one better than the other, can they all be hardened, is one lighter on resources? With everything turned off in Brave and no add-ons, I have noticed that Brave still is using a lot of memory. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Centbrowser—Priavcy—V3.2(Beta)
https://github.com/LilyJone/OpenTools/releases/tag/Centbrowser%E2%80%94Priavcy%E2%80%94V3.2%EF%BC%88Beta%EF%BC%89
Try to use it. This is a browser I modified myself, specialized for privacy, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t need users to use more than ten browsers, and I don’t need users to do meaningless tests.
Everything is out of the box, I keep all the Settings of this browser on Github (V1), and all the newer version content, and have made movies (V3), which is currently the most stable version, worth mentioning in addition.
You can learn from the various techniques that I use in the browser, or even steal them all and make them your own.
It does not instill confidence in me when the creator of a privacy browser can’t even spell the word correctly.
@Victor I prefer the regular Firefox browser. As to the differences between them, the below article gives a good overview or comparison of the different browsers. The best way to find out which Firefox version works best for you is to try each of them and then decide. Good luck!
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/different-versions-firefox/
Would some of you good people check [maps.google.com] and see where it opens up to an location. I’ve noticed in the last few days, (week), myself it’s my local neighborhood. . .How is that possible being behind a VPN-adblocker?
Please report if your experiences and thank you.
@Kathy I’d say the best people to ask about this is your VPN company. I, and I am sure most of the people who post on these chat threads, do not use Google Maps. I suggest you no longer use Google Maps too.
A very good alternative is Organic Maps:
https://organicmaps.app/
That’s running from the problem – not confronting it, Mike!
Every wireless access point (wireless routers) broadcasts unique signals. Any place you are, in which is nearby some of these unique signals, (ex, on a busy city street, or an large apartment building, would have dozens of networks available to your laptop at once) – those networks will show up to your computer if your wireless radio is on.
If a browser is able to access that information, it can compare it to what they already know ! Google, for example, probably has tremendous data storeage of SSIDs and other information due to it’s ‘Street View’ cars, and as well information volunteered in droves through their various services and programs free to users. So they compare.
If your laptop is routing the IP through a proxy/VPN in another state or country, but is physically located near 20 other unique signals (SSID) networks, and Google identifies a majority of those SSID networks as being from Location X, Google will probably decide you’re at Location X.
Firefox, for example knows the IP address, which is used to connect to the VPN provider. Many geolocation services, however, only look at the IP address they see from the server side. With java installed, a website can read the local ip-address without asking for permission.
If I were you, I wouldn’t worry myself thinking about Google knowing my location. Basically, it’s what they do. But if you’re hell bent on security, here’s what you do:
[https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/02/how-to-see-if-your-vpn-is-leaking-your-ip-address-and-how-to-stop-it/] I’m an old lady and haven’t seen good knowledge shared since 2015.
For reference, I don’t log in anywhere to Google though being an android user I had to set up an “G” account to start and use the device.
@Kathy I respectfully beg to differ. Switching to an open source map application, like Organic Maps, can make it harder for a user to be tracked. Plus also you’re expressing your displeasure with Google with their maps app and tracking by opting for another option. In this case an application that doesn’t track users and says so in their privacy policy.
I do not know if you are aware, but last year Google essentially kinda sorta adopted Apple’s policy by implementing an anti-tracking policy for Android too.
https://www.engadget.com/google-android-opt-out-app-tracking-143911504.html
Let’s all agree, any privacy for a web user is broken by the design in the webs own foundation and all web standards set since it’s conception. All these so called safe options, may start out honorable but still the same, are corrupt, or in a short time become corrupted! When you have great resorces of wealth, who can know exactly your agenda?
@KAthy your concerns are legitimate, but until something is done on the ISP side, any claims of wanting online privacy will be superficial at best and you will see more monitoring and tracking. This article lays it all out.
https://restoreprivacy.com/internet-service-providers-isp-privacy-data-collection/