A secure browser that protects your privacy is a critical tool for staying safe online and keeping your data secure from third parties. In this guide we are going to be analyzing the most secure browsers that also respect your privacy online.
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 more money through their advertising partners and specifically targeted ads. We see this same invasive and privacy-abusing business model with many search engines and email services.
Unless properly configured, most browsers contain lots 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 the “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 recent headline about Google spying on “Incognito” browsing:
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 a some other privacy issues (and solutions) in our guides on browser fingerprinting and 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)
NOTE: When using “private” or “incognito” 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. The best way to achieve true privacy while hiding your real IP address and location is to also use a VPN service in conjunction with a good browser. Here are our top two recommendations from the best VPN list (with discounts):
- NordVPN: A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama [72% discount coupon]
- Surfshark VPN: A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in the British Virgin Islands [81% discount coupon]
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 just 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.
So here are the most secure and private browsers:
1. 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 light-weight 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 more 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
2. Brave browser
Brave is one of the best secure browsers 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. 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
- Built-in script blocker
- Automatically upgrades to HTTPS (HTTPS Everywhere)
Brave ads – Despite offering “ad blocking” in the browser, Brave officially launched its own ad program in April 2019. The ads will be vetted by Brave and there’s a revenue-sharing model for participants to get a percentage of the ad revenue. While there have been critics of these ads, it also helps to secure revenue for the project to continue active development and improvements.
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 with extensions. It can also be used with Chrome extensions, making it an ideal alternative for Chrome. Just download it and you’re good to go.
You can read more about Brave’s privacy and security features here.
https://brave.com
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 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.
Ungoogled Chromium receives regular Chromium security updates.
https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium
5. Bromite (Android only)
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. 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/
Issues with other 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, although it’s not recommended for privacy reasons.
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 formerly announcing the acquisition (but only after the 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 that collects lots of data? I’m no longer recommending it.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
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:
- Firefox Focus – A privacy-focused version of Firefox for mobile users (iOS and Android).
- Brave – Brave is a great all-around browser for both desktop and mobile operating systems.
- Bromite – This Chromium-based browser is available for Android 4.4 and above.
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.
- HTTPS Everywhere – An add-on from the folks at Electronic Frontier Foundation, this will force websites to use a secure HTTPS encrypted connection (when available).
- 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. Do your research first, since add-ons could function as spyware and data collection tools for third parties. This is especially true with free VPN services or browser proxy add-ons, even if they are highly rated in the Google Play or Apple stores.
“Private browsing” mode is NOT private (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.)
- Your real IP address and location remains 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 the two VPNs that have come out on top in testing for the respective VPN review. Click the VPN name to read our full review, or check out the discount coupon:
- NordVPN: A fast, secure, audited VPN with advanced privacy features and a strict no-logs policy, based in Panama [72% discount coupon]
- Surfshark VPN: A no-logs VPN service with a large lineup of privacy and security features, based in the British Virgin Islands [81% discount coupon]
Short on money? There are also some good cheap VPNs that offer excellent features and performance, without breaking the bank.
Conclusion on secure browsers and privacy
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.
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 Restore Privacy:
- Secure Email Services
- Private Search Engines
- Password Managers
- Ad Blockers
- Best VPN Services
- Best Cloud Storage
- Best Secure Messaging Services
This guide was last updated on March 23, 2021.
Hi Sven,
Great article!
To my mind, there has been a growing public momentum for Brave; and I refer to a momentum for Brave over Firefox.
Yourself and the RP team appear (subjective) recently in recent articles to making this change of preference too.
I believe an in depth analysis of Firefox verses Brave would be a very interesting article.
Regards,
BoBex
Good idea BoBex! A comparison article would probably help people make a decision. And yes I agree that Brave has been doing well.
Great info from Brave!
https://brave.com/privacy-updates-8/
Pardon me if this a silly point to make. Used these things a v. long time and feel better informed than most, but I’ve nowhere near the detailed knowledge that that you do. Here goes.
I use firefox browser usually with all security & privacy settings I can muster,(?) and a Anonymous links in a private searcher.
As some sites (or parts of sites) won’t work this way I don’t always use Anon and so am typically offered initial cookie/snoopie blocking options (under the current law). I disallow all the categories where a choice is offered, and when finished I then invoke the “Firefox forget(24hrs)” command, to supposedly remove anything in my system which references my invocation of that website.
Thing is, if I then call up the same website again it doesn’t necessarily re-present the initial cookie/snoopie blocking options, which implies that the Forget has not completely worked, even though the ClearData section of PrivacyAndSecurity is showing 0Kbs.
If I then try OS restart, then the security blocking options are presented when calling that site up again.
It seems to me that some other technique is in use which circumvents the hoped for thoroughness of firefox&forget.
Pls ignore this if its bilge. just a comment – no response needed. Many thanks.
Instead of rebooting the OS, try closing all tabs or restarting Firefox after applying Firefox Forget.
Hi friends.
I don’t know if I’ve asked here, if so, forgive me, but I would like to know the opinion of Sven and other friends about Slimjet, a browser based on Chrome, which always has updates. The developer is registered as FlashPeak Inc., but doesn’t have much information about who the real owner of the company is.
Again, I don’t remember if I asked about it here, but anyway, it’s always very useful to hear what people on this blog/site think about browsers that pop up or have some time on the road.
Hugs.
I’d go with a more reputable browser that has a larger userbase and development team.
Ok, thanks, Sven. Actually, I was just curious about this browser, as I prefer Brave as the main browser and Vivaldi as the secondary browser.
I read on Wilders about regular updates of this browser. The problem, as with many browsers, is precisely the lack of more detailed information about who develops it and other factors. I wouldn’t go with him, of course, if someone gave him positive information I could think about it.
Just released was a powerful study on ads and their effectiveness in several catagories of users.
Lots of good info, all of which shows why Brave’s ad model is such a success for all who are involved from user to developer to product companies. :
https://brave.com/magna-brave-study/
Is there any alternative add-on with similar or more powerful features to this Trace by AbsoluteDouble
(An advanced extension that can protect many types of browser fingerprinting, such as Canvas/Audio/WebGL Fingerprinting). This add-on is not regularly updated. Please advise.
https://absolutedouble.co.uk/trace/
Raj,
Thus far, there are no perfect solutions to the problem available, but there are steps you can take to minimize it. This article lists several things you can and should do to reduce your exposure to this problem.
[https://blokt.com/guides/browser-fingerprinting]
There are several security extensions that can help you fight against Browser Fingerprinting. Some aim to anonymize various characteristics used for fingerprinting, while others attempt to block related tracking techniques and/or sites that are known to spy on their visitors.
Two good options to consider here are:
uBlock Origin – a FOSS product available for Chrome, Firefox, and most other popular browsers.
Privacy Badger – a product from the EFF designed to automatically learn to analyze and block problematic trackers and ads, as well as catches some types of fingerprinting.
Look up these in your browser’s app store.
Note: Chameleon detects the use of canvas fingerprinting, Chameleon does not protect against it yet.
Chameleon is a Chrome privacy extension that detects fingerprinting-like activity, and wants to “protect” against fingerprinting, currently by making Chrome look like the Tor Browser.
[https://github.com/ghostwords/chameleon]
Interesting as clients and servers can be fingerprinted – [https://securitytrails.com/blog/jarm-fingerprinting-tool]
I am having all the necessary security tools. I have strengthened my browser with userjs file which has improved my speed and now Firefox is loading at super speed than before.
Each page loads faster than before. Only issue is YouTube videos. Once I see any video and move on to the next video, there is a lag in going back to the next page.
Then why two days ago you have asked “Is there any alternative add-on with similar or more powerful features to this Trace by AbsoluteDouble” Anyway I’m glad your self helped.
At the time I couldn’t remember this one called safescrip I’d check into read on at the time. Alas it’s last update was in Dec of 2017.
ScriptSafe is one of my major side-projects. ScriptSafe is an extension for the Google Chrome, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox browsers with the aim of enhancing security and privacy by giving the user control over what content pages load.
[https://www.andryou.com/scriptsafe/changelog]
[https://www.andryou.com/scriptsafe/]
[https://github.com/andryou/scriptsafe]
Maybe safescript can address your you tube lag as you’ve mentioned.
Features:
whitelisting/blacklisting functionality and granular control
automatic auto-syncing of settings AND whitelist/blacklists across your devices (via Google Sync)
actually speeds up browsing because it removes a lot of unwanted content
remove , , , , , , , , , and elements, as well as webbugs
block unwanted content (MVPS HOSTS, hpHOSTS (ad / tracking servers only), Peter Lowe’s HOSTS Project, and MalwareDomainList.com are integrated!)
block click-through referrer data
spoof referrer/user-agent data
block unwanted cookies
“intuitive” icon that changes based on whether or not a page is whitelisted/blacklisted/bypassed
shows number of blocked/removed items in toolbar
shows blocked/allowed items in tab details popup (along with item type)
bulk import domains into whitelist and blacklist
option to temporarily allow a page/temporarily allow all blocked items
choose the default mode (Block All or Allow All)
option to preserve same-domain elements
option to disable automatic refresh of pages after whitelisting/blacklisting/temp. bypassing a page
protect against WebRTC leaks
support for IPv6 addresses
protection against browser fingerprinting attempts
Sorry I’m a bit Dyslexic with grammar, things get reversed on me.
Hope you sense the help I tried to give.
I removed Trace from the browser because I noticed that it is interfering in Gmail. I cannot filter mails on Gmail and I cannot do any required searches on Gmail when Trace is activated.
The moment it gets deactivated, Gmail works fine and is back to normal. Trace definitely creates problems with Gmail.
See if the tools you have are sufficient by testing your browser fingerprinting with [https://fingerprintjs.com]
This comparison of Brave, Firefox Focus, and DuckDuckGo was published in The New York Times’ Personal Tech section back in March. In the end, there can be only one winner.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/technology/personaltech/online-privacy-private-browsers.html
Qutebrowser is very good web browser, safe and secure.
Do you have Google accounts and, if so, can you log in to them alright? A few years ago people who used Qutebrowser complained they couldn’t log in to their Google accounts with it. Is Qutebrowser primarily for Linux or can it be used on other operating systems? Happy surfing!
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-now-bans-some-linux-web-browsers-from-their-services/
If using Mozilla, be aware you may, in the future be “opt-out” of Mozilla Rally.
Just heard about it and it is not privacy friendly.
Right now it is an “opt-in” option.
My experience, this week, is Brave is so much easier to get people to switch to.
I got another individual to switch. Had I needed to go through the FF setup, they wouldn’t have left Google.
I would highly, highly suggest Brave first.
This makes seven that changed over. Slowly but surely.
Is there a simple download install for librewolf that is either an .exe or .msi without having to do the powershell thing?
Or does anyone know when the beta Ghostery browser will be available without having to register for it?
https://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/
https://www.ghostery.com/products/ghostery-browser/
I think the .exe file in LibreWolf’s GitHub page is how to download it. I have tried the browser and do like it, but I believe it does require manual updates like UnGoogled Chromium. If you’re comfortable with that then good luck!
In terms of Ghostery, I think you can avoid the registration with these links:
1) Windows: https://get.ghosterybrowser.com/download/win
2) Mac: https://get.ghosterybrowser.com/download/mac
3) Linux: https://get.ghosterybrowser.com/download/linux
If not, I suggest registering under a different identity. Happy surfing!
Yes from the Librewolf page above just go Installation-> scroll down to setup .exe releases and then just click the US winx64 setup .exe/zip. Might want to bookmark this page for future updates.
If it is Windows, it is here:
https://gitlab.com/librewolf-community/browser/windows/-/releases
https://gitlab.com//librewolf-community/browser/windows/uploads/502e84babf0968c6ed91c1ef896094e4/librewolf-89.0.2.en-US.win64.zip
No need to install. The zip file is available. Just transfer that to the drive where you normally put the apps and run it.
Mac:
https://gitlab.com/librewolf-community/browser/macos/-/releases
This is the website for downloads
https://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/install/
This is a pretty decent browser. They released the latest version Iridium Browser
Source version 2021.06 as well as latest builds now available
New source code for version 2021.06 based on Chromium 91.0.4472.114 has been made available.
Latest builds for Windows, macOS openSUSE Tumbleweed, Leap 15.2 and Leap 15.3 have also been released.
Builds for Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux as well as CentOS to follow early next week.
https://iridiumbrowser.de/downloads/windows
I have tried it and like it. The people behind Iridium are from Germany and were supposed to have the backing of a group called the Open Source Business Alliance. Unfortunately, Iridium is not regularly updated.
Google got some major backlash so, thankfully, they have delayed FLoC.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/google-delays-floc-rollout-until-2023/
Mike,
Just to hear your opinion, the cynic inside me says this is a strategic withdrawl, or a feigned retreat.
I think it might be a combination of both, J.M., and your cynicism is warranted, IMHO.
Mike,
Thanks. Thinking about it, I see both as well.
Stay vigilant.
J.M.
Love the way you think.
Hackng of Microsoft Exchange Server and Pregasus Project revelations indicate we have been way too trusting. Careful which site you bring up or ask about news of the day. Weirdness ensues. More alarmed of big PC maker’s MB chips I’m typing on {yikes} and also led to me reformatting, after reading about certain driver-finding software giant, both with dodgy connections. Just cause you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. As I say way too trusting.
Sven is doing great work rasing awareness level. Eyes open.
This is a good video that gives advice for what kind of privacy-oriented browsers are available to Android and compartmentalization strategies you can use. I watch TechLore from time-to-time and like a lot of their videos. Some of the advice in this video might be of use to iOS users too.
https://youtu.be/-CDVNW2MD0g
DuckDuckGo announced a few days ago that they will be making a desktop browser. I am a little disappointed with this news. There are already lots of privacy browsers and DDG already has a decent mobile browser and extension for desktop. All another browser will do is dilute the privacy browsers already available. No doubt their browser will be based on Chrome like mobile browser is.
DDG is also going to release a product related to email privacy. It will be interesting to see what they produce.
https://www.wired.com/story/duckduckgo-quest-prove-online-privacy-possible/
I personally don’t see why a DDG desktop browser can be disappointing in any way. Even though there are other “secured” browsers DDG already has one of the better reps in the market today and I surely will welcome and use as my default browser when they do come out with it. But with all I just wrote I do wish they would have just built one from the ground up instead of using the base of Chrome but with the rep they have I believe that anything they can do to the Chrome base will be a big improvement
DDG does have a good reputation and they can do what they want. However, Ghostery’s browser will soon be fully released from Beta and that is forked from Gecko. My guess is DDG saw Ghostery was going through with a desktop browser so Gabriel Weinberg must have decided to develop one.
As far as building browsers, it is very hard (if not extremely time consuming) to build them, including developing the source code and rendering engines for browsers. That is why browsers are either based on Chromium or Gecko. Microsoft’s Edge browser was built on the company’s own source code but Edge was very unpopular so the company rebuilt their browser on Chromium source code.
As it turns out, Microsoft made the right move because Edge is now almost as popular as Google’s Chrome. As far as DDG’s desktop browser is concerned, I will wait and see. The company says that their new browser will be a desktop version of their mobile app and, in my view, that seems unnecessary especially with browsers, like Brave (also based on Chromium), that include DDG among their search engine selections.
https://spreadprivacy.com/duckduckgrowing/
One thing I forgot to mention is that users can configure Brave’s desktop browser to fill the role that DuckDuckGo seeks to fill.
What you can do is set Brave desktop to private only mode, download the Chrome extension Terms of Service Didn’t Read, and use DuckDuckGo exclusively as your search engine.
Brave has much of the same built in privacy features DuckDuckGo’s mobile browser does.
https://brave.com/
https://tosdr.org/
DDG review about it’s real privacy and security (DE language), not really good word about it.
[https://www.kuketz-blog.de/duckduckgo-privacy-browser-datensendeverhalten-android-app-browser-check-teil12/]
Like Firefox Focus, DuckDuckGo’s browser should not, in my view, be used as a primary account browser on your mobile device. It is a good browser for searches that someone doesn’t want tied to their identity (i.e. a “burner browser”) and that is it.
CONGRATS BRAVE!
Today they unveiled their new search engine. It is in Beta but this is what I was waiting for!
https://brave.com/brave-search-beta/
Brave is beginning to poise itself as a Google and Microsoft competitor.
If they brand Libre Office write, Spreadsheet and. Impress for online use, they could really take a lot of big steps forward!
Way to go team Brave!
Great news!
Agree!
Excellent news, friend! Thanks. I realized this when updating Brave.
Finally, we will be able to have a great and effective alternative (especially in the matter of privacy…), to the search engines of the big companies in the field.
I believe that when it becomes stable, it will be an excellent option.
Hugs.
Agree, John Wayne,
I have set my settings to do their blender, which anonymizes them to search Google if our search cannot pull up an answer. This way they see what they have to build upon, but so far I have only had one search actually do that. They have a good index.
I also am sending in usage logs (privacy is respected) so they can then see how it is being used. I don’t mind as I want them to do as you said, take on the others.
They are good so far. Thanks.
I tried Brave search for a few days. It isn’t bad, but since it is in Beta I will wait until the full release.
@Mike,
Np. That is understandable.
With SwissCows out, and I am ok with MetaGar, Brave was what I was anticipating.
But I do understand the question about Beta status.
For the Firefox browsers, I find two addons seem to work well; ClearURL and CSS exfil. Just wondering if anyone here has some experience with these two. The Clear URL endeavors to remove tracking elements IN THE URL BAR. Note those ridiculous long web addys! I haven’t seen much else done about this “secondary” tracking method.
Regards
8Geee PuppyLinux
ClearURL’s is very good and I have it both of my browsers. However, CSS Exfil may not be necessary. It was released at a time when CSS Exfil attacks may have been a problem but probably aren’t any longer. This article points out websites already can use protection measures to prevent what the maker of the add-on is trying to address. I would suggest looking into it further since the more extensions you use, the larger your browser fingerprint can be.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/css-code-can-be-abused-to-collect-sensitive-user-data/
For Android Fennec F-Droid (modified) is improved option over Firefox (modified)
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/
One other way to download Firefox is through Aurora Store. The browser was updated with a patch recently that allowed this. The QR Code at this Gitlab page will enable F-Droid users to have an unofficial repo for Firefox browsers, including Firefox Klar which is the version of Firefox Focus used in Germany.
https://gitlab.com/rfc2822/fdroid-firefox
What we need, seems to me, is a new browser that’s NOT a de-fanged Chromium or Firefox based browser. Open-sourced and built for speed and above all, privacy.
Unless Sven (or others) can steer us to something out there that already exists. Appreciate this site, BTW.
I completely agree. However, it is my understanding that the reason why browsers tend to be based on Chromium or Gecko (i.e. Firefox) source code is that it is very hard (if not time consuming) to build them, including developing the source code and rendering engines for them.
Even browsers with their own source code and rendering engine (like Edge legacy) may not succeed and that is why Microsoft remade Edge with Chromium source code.
I have also come to understand that most browsers are based on Chromium source code because it is harder to use Firefox’s components outside of Firefox proper and Mozilla seems reluctant to make it easier. If so, that is unfortunate and a mistake since it might ensure Chromium will be what most browsers will be built on.
I agree with the need for a new browser or something that can be trusted. I am still using Pale Moon and it really sucks. I also am using Brave just because it works and there is no issues with lagging, freezing or locking up the screen, etc like Pale Moon. The decent browser choices are next to none. Hopefully something good is out there. I’ll pass on the current Firefox.
I use Pale Moon. Doesn’t do those things for me, which means, it doesn’t suck, “really” or otherwise.
@Pete depending on your operating system, I would suggest dumping Pale Moon for Librewolf or Ghostery’s browser (links below). Both are Gecko forks and do not have the tracking that Firefox has. Ghostery’s is still in Beta, so in order to use it you may have to register. If so, I would recommend using an assumed name or identity.
Please keep in mind that Ghostery might be the more logical choice since it is backed by a large, well known organization with money and manpower to keep their browser maintained and updated. This as opposed to Librewolf that may not. Good luck either way.
https://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/
https://www.ghostery.com/products/ghostery-browser/
Seven, Can you give us your thoughts on the Duckduckgo browser?
I have not tried it, but I’m sure it’s a decent option. We’ll get it tested for the next update.
Hi Alvin! I have used DuckDuckGo’s browser and like it. It is similar to Firefox Focus in that it is a another “burner browser” and is Chromium based. I also like that, unlike Firefox Focus, the browser has tabs and bookmarks.
However, I would not suggest using DDG as an account browser since I had problems using it for that purpose. I suggest using Firefox, Brave, or Bromite as your device’s regular account browser and DDG as a browser you want to do searches on but want to avoid having tied to your identity. Whatever you decide, happy and safe browsing!
Vivaldi browser is now listed as “open source” at AlternativeTo. Prior to that I believe the browser was listed as “proprietary.” I am unsure if Vivaldi Tech has released the entire browser’s source code, but I think this development is noteworthy none the less.
https://alternativeto.net/software/vivaldi-browser/about/
@Mike, I used this browser, Maxthon, in the past. At the time (this is about 10 years old, I believe), I had no experience about the origin of programs on the PC. Maxthon was fast and for me that was enough. Then I discovered this problem that you mention here. I never again used programs made in China, including Windows cleaners, some very popular with the Windows audience.
There are always complaints against software coming from China. Opera, Maxthon and many others. Of course, like you, I write about it here after consulting serious web security sites.
Everyone should stay away from OS programs coming from China.
Hugs.
I cannot agree more.
I completely agree @John and TikTok’s recent change in their privacy policy is recent a reminder of what you and I are talking about. As of early June, the social media’s platform will now collect “new types of biometric information including ‘faceprints and voiceprints.'”
TikTok is like a more enhanced version of Facebook and has been accused of coming with surveillance software. It’s app tracks everything TikTok users do (including their purchase decisions) and TikTok has algorithms used to target and manipulate its users emotions. Worst of all, TikTok also sells this information to any interested party and no doubt the primary recipient is the Chinese Communist Party.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/4/22518435/tiktok-privacy-policy-biometric-data-collection-faceprint-voiceprint#comments
@Mike, yes, I know about Tik Tok, something totally illegal, immoral, to say the least about it. And many Chinese Android apps have security holes as well.
Anyone who wants to use OS cleaning programs, for example, coming from China, should at least cut off automatic startup and exit via firewall, as these exits can take private information from the user’s OS. It’s easy to cut off the program’s automatic communication through the Windows firewall.
Hugs.
Really great overview of the various browsers, thanks!
I was considering Vivaldi but your comments point out it is not fully privacy respecting.
I’ll stick with UnGoogled Chromium (the Eloston Chromium Mac build) as an alternative to Safari for times when I need an alternative.
@Mike, thanks for your interest, your question.
Well I don’t use Android device, so just PC. I use Brave as the main one and Vivaldi as the secondary one (actually I rarely use it and when I use it, it’s for basic browsing, but it has very interesting features…), of course I always research new, private, safe and interesting features browsers that may appear in the future.
I plan to have a third browser that might even be the first if it’s secure. Edge? No way! FF, as I already wrote, I also don’t intend to use it again. Google Chrome? Nobody deserves that punishment in life, lol.
Opera is the best. It was around since Java phones! and it was always ahead of the rest.
The problem is that Opera is owned by a Chinese conglomerate and it is proprietary software. Meaning your searches and other activities (including personal information) you do with Opera are probably being mined by the Chinese Communist Party. I suggest you dump Opera for Firefox or Brave. If you still want an Opera-oriented browser, then I suggest Vivaldi.
I agree, @Mike.
Opera and other Chinese browsers only collect data from users that will be used later when they want to use it.
Agreed @John. There’s a browser made in China called Maxthon where it was revealed 5 years ago that the browser was sending detailed information in zip files to Beijing. If this can happen with a browser made in China, it can certainly be done with a browser where a Chinese conglomerate has a financial interest in one made in Norway.
https://betanews.com/2016/07/16/china-privacy-maxthon-browser/
FireFox, Brave, Chrome, Vivaldi and Tor.
The design of these browsers is quite similar.
they are all in the service of US intelligence agencies, and in some cases Israelis.
If you want to be shot at from a driverless car when you drive on the road, with a weapon that weighs a ton. Select one of these browsers.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55105934
Really?! Uh oh! You know I could have sworn I was being followed the other day. 😉
Vivaldi released its new version 4.0 yesterday
I don’t know what Sven currently thinks about this browser, but it always has monthly updates, is fast and has privacy features. Of course, when it comes to privacy and security, Brave is much better.
In this new release, Vivaldi introduces native support for translations from Lingvanex.
Link with the new features of Vivaldi browser:
https://vivaldi.com/pt-br/changelog-vivaldi-browser-4-0/#Vivaldi_on_desktop_Version_38_40
I would like to know the opinions of Sven and other friends here about Vivaldi.
Hugs.
For me, Vivaldi falls somewhere in the middle. It’s not worthy of a strong recommendation, but it’s also not too bad.
Ok, Sven. Thanks for the quick feedback. Yes, I have this same view of you. Vivaldi is just in between: neither good (in terms of privacy and security…) nor bad. Other than that, it is a fast browser, based on Chrome.
Sven,
I have been doing some thinking and perhaps you might want to rank browsers using a star system instead of the way you rank them now. In my view, that is a more realistic way to review and rank them instead of the way you do it now. Nord has a page where they rank them in this manner (link below) and you could probably still keep the format you use now but utilize star rankings of 1 to 5 rather than recommended or now.
[https://nordvpn.com/blog/best-privacy-browser/]
Interesting, thanks for the feedback Mike.
@Sven you’re welcome and thanks for your work and responses too. FWIW, using the star-ranking method takes into account what I was saying earlier about trade-offs when choosing a browser and it avoids the complexities of making the choice of a browser an all-or-nothing decision.
Of course you can (and in my view should) take other factors into consideration, such as weighing if users have no alternative but to use a browser such as the case with Apple customers who literally can only use Safari on iOS since even other browsers have to be built on WebKit in order to be placed on Apple’s App Store.
If you do decide to use my suggestion, in case I hadn’t mentioned it before and in addition to a browser’s update frequency, I also suggest you include or give a higher ranking if it is open source. If the makers aren’t willing to release their source code (in whole or in part), like Opera and Epic have not, then the browser may not be trustworthy since the producers don’t want to be transparent.
Even Vivaldi could be given some benefit of the doubt since Vivaldi Tech is open about why they do not release their browser’s full source code and up front about their privacy policy. None the less, thanks again and all the best.
Yep, agree on all, thanks Mike.
@Mike, great idea! Rate browsers by stars.
@Sven, I do believe that this will be a gain for your work.
I looked at the suggested website and found it interesting, but paradoxical. The author places Epic with 5 stars and Brave with only 3 stars. Waterfox with 4 stars, Vivaldi also with 4 stars, FreeNet, which I don’t know, with 4 stars. The article is from May 2021, that is, recent.
Of course, the author has every right to have his opinion and for sure, he made an accurate, serious analysis about browsers, as Nord is a very serious company. I quote here just to add to the information, but I don’t fully agree with this analysis by the author of the article.
@John Wayne thanks and I tend to agree with your assessment of the rankings on the Nord list and, while I am sure the author of it put a decent amount of work into their conclusions, I also disagree with some of them too.
My rankings would be Brave and Firefox would both get 5 stars, Bromite and Vivaldi 4 stars, Kiwi and Safari 3, Google Chrome 2, and Edge, Epic, along with Opera 1 star. I am unable to comment on the Tor, Chromium, or FreeNet rankings as I have not used any of them.
I think the author’s knocking down Brave’e ranking because of the controversy over their autocompleting in certain searches with affiliate links was not appropriate. The controversy was really nothing burger on par with Vivaldi Tech not release the source code for their browser. Brave users can switch that, and many other features, off any time. Brave Tech has to make money just like other browser makers.
Sven, can you please look into this article which has exposed Brave browser as Spyware Level: High
https://spyware.neocities.org/articles/brave.html
I am curious to know what is happening here
That article is over 3 years old and is not even relevant to the latest version of the Brave browser.
On my Android devices I have been using Brave for a long time, but decided to give Bromite a go. I must say, I like Bromite very much and may stick with it. My only hesitation is that Brave has a randomized fingerprint while Bromite does not when testing both browsers on EFF’s Cover Your Tracks.
Aside from the lack of sync, Bromite is a very solid browser, has similar privacy mitigations to Brave, and also seems to have a few more anti-tracking features that give Bromite a slight edge over Brave. Consequently, because of both browser’s privacy protections, they are both very fast.
What I also like about Bromite is that I have an easy set up where I just click a few buttons in the privacy settings and go, as opposed to Brave where I have to make a number of selections in the settings before I can use it. As an aside, both browsers are Chromium-based too.
I guess my question really is: Between Bromite and Brave, which of the two browsers do you think is better for privacy? Please briefly explain why in your response. Thanks!
https://www.bromite.org/
https://brave.com/learn/fastest-browser-for-android/
Thanks for the feedback, Mike. I have not yet tested Bromite and do not currently have an Android device, but let’s see what others think.
I have used both. I found that Brave was more robust for my needs.
Now Brave has just moved into another important and vital component. I am wondering what you think.
https://brave.com/federated-learning/
@Mike,
Forgot to also add, with the sandboxed cookies, the separate storage for searches, and then all the other things, Brave, I think, is stronger.
Couple that with the fact that the more who use Brave the stronger they can get to take on the Google and Microsoft conglomerates.
I am not saying Bromite is bad but I can sync all my stuff accross my devices and know it is all secured is awesome.
Thanks for your responses, J.M.! Very interesting points you raise. How about in relation to Firefox? Have you used Firefox and, if so, how do you compare it to Brave in terms of privacy, security, and convenience?
You’re welcome. I have used it. I had it on my linuxes and my phone. So here are all my impressions.
1) It was and is easier to get people to Brave rather than Firefox. The reason being is out of box experience. Less that must be done.
2) The amount of changes that needs to be done is crazy for FF. on this site it is a lot. It took me about 20 minutes at least to harden everything. Do that three times and it gets tiring.
3) The philosophy of FF is questionable. For being a free and open net supporter they have taken cues and direction from big tech (see Gab for an example). In my mind, they are untrustworthy especially when they come out in support of silencing opposition.
4) Most of their funding comes from Google. Who will they listen too?
5) Security, maybe they are ok but when Brave comes out with their empherical storage and now the other thing I linked too and they are not going in the direction of big tech, that says something.
6) speed, Brave blows FF out of the water. I have had so many issues with FF and their web engine that I get frustrated waiting.
7) Integrity and trust is more to Brave for me.
8) the lack of requiring an account to sync is marvelouse. With my NPO if I find something on my phone, I bookmark it and it is in my office.
9) They now have Brave Connect which is a web talk tool that is also open source (Jitsi I think).
10) Waiting on their own search engine that is Googleless.
11) lastly, I think they have the best chance to take on MS and Google.
This is my opinion and others may disagree, but I hope this helps answer the question. I would love to hear your opinion on this.
Thanks for your research.
Good morning Mike and J.M and other friends from this blog.
I agree with what you wrote, J.M.
I’ve used Firefox in the past for a long time (I never liked Google Chrome…), but after I discovered Brave, after it went from Beta to stable version, the difference is very big. Both the speed in opening pages, as well as the security and privacy factor, Brave is unbeatable.
FF is linked to Big Tech, for me, even with the Sven settings (yes, it takes a lot of precious time to configure….), FF remains an unknown and mostly, very slow, compared to Brave.
It’s just my personal opinion.
Hugs.
@J.M. it looks like your last post seems to reflect Brave for desktop? Am I right? Or is your experience with Brave mobile the same? Please clarify. Bromite can only be used on Android.
@John Wayne thank you. Do you have Android devices? If so, have you used Brave mobile and Bromite? If so, which of the two do you think is better for privacy and security?
@ Mike, John Wayne,
Good comments. I will hopefully answer everything. If I miss, please let me know.
I do use an Android. However it is not a true Droid as I have disabled all google software and products and do not have an account attached to it.
As far as my ranking for both phone and desktop is:
1) Brave (on both)
2) Bromite (Android)
3) Not sure
4) Firefox.
I have used Brave for both and I can say that on phone, desktop and laptop, nothing has gotten close to the speed, security, and privacy that Brave offers for me.
On the phone, it is lightweight, and quick. My VPN is what slows it a little, as expected.
So my answers are mixed. If I were to isolate Android, some of the above comments become more exacerbated.
Making the FF changes as suggested here on this site, my thumbs are almost too big for the keyboard, LOL!
So I hit things I shouldn’t and have to go back, make corrections, etc.
Brave on my phone gives me a tad bit less modifications but they are minor things, more about layouts and serch engine changes. So privacy and security is still tops.
Every advanced security they put out I try it. And I am loving the sandbox searches.
I can group searches together, make a new box and go with something else.
This just get better when I add the desktop/laptops to it.
Combine with the ability to use Linux and I can’t ask for anything better.
I know FF is big on this site but as a commentator, I find that FF is a shell of what it was or could be and a shadow of its pappa corporation…Google.
Now, if someone uses it and it works, I won’t call them out, but I believe there are better choices.
Bromite is a solid choice for Android though. It is really, really good.
Just not as robust for what I was wanting, or as feature rich as I hoped or needed.
Plus if I have been able to get four people off Google and MS and using Brave because it was and is load and play. The two others that wanted to switch went to FF, got discouraged with all the reccomended changes that I was sharing so they went back.
I think I may get them to try Brave but they are a little gun shy right now.
I think I answered all of it but if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I love answering.
Thank you both for your inputs.
Can anyone please throw more light into this article which has exposed brave as Spyware Level: High
https://spyware.neocities.org/articles/brave.html
That is a very old article and the information is also not kept current either. I also think the author twists or hypes information as a click-bait method. For example, a lot of the things he says about Brave can be switched off. I would not trust it as a reliable source of information.