When we browse the internet, a lot of our personal information becomes available on the net.
Many-a-times we feed in our personal data for creating an account, subscribing to a newsletter, making a purchase, and so on.
It is important to secure this information so that hackers or people with wrong intentions don’t use it.
A web browser is considered secure or reliable when it protects your privacy as a user. This is very important to protect yourself.
You will get to learn about the two most secure or reliable web browsers by reading this article.
You are able to browse through the internet using your web browser. These browsers store your information that is private and valuable.
Sometimes this user data can get explored by 3rd parties having malicious intentions. You could make a lot of money because of their activities.
Mostly, when you navigate the internet, your secure browser will have your private information. This information that is stored by them pertains to:
- Your login details: Every time you log in on a page, you feed in your login ID and password.
- Your browsing history: Irrespective of the websites you visit, it is all is visible in the history section of your secure browser.
- Cookies and Trackers: These are inserted by sites that you visit in your secure browser.
- Information auto-filled by you: Like Names, phone numbers, home address, and so on.
To make it simpler, just think about this. Your secure browser knows exactly what you have been browsing and the time spent by you on each site.
Also, it has information regarding what all you have clicked or almost clicked while on those sites.
Hence, anyone using your secure browser will be able to know your personal information held by that browser.
Worst case scenario, this person may also get to know about sites that you open using in incognito.
The next thing that we will tell you here will baffle you. The largest and most secure browser popularly used, Google Chrome, is widely used to collect user data.
Through Google Chrome, all your personal information is collected and utilized by many advertising companies.
They use this information of yours to make more money via advertising partners. The technique that they use for this purpose involves targeting specific ads.
Most email services and browsers use this model where your privacy is abused.
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How do we get tracked online?
We need to learn about the privacy policy of our browser. But, before doing that, we need to check how our activity on the web is monitored and tracked.
Advertisers and 3rd party trackers are the greatest threat when it comes to our privacy on the internet.
Most trackers and advertisers try to collect your data as much as they can. This is normally done using your browsing history.
You will keep seeing tailor-made ads based on your preference using your browsing history.
The more the data they have on you, the more the number of such ads will be shown to you.
The most common tools that are used for tracking data are device fingerprinting and Cookies.
Cookies
These are very tiny packs of data that are planted on your browser. It is like a spy that literally keeps an eye on your activities.
Whatever you do on the internet is tracked by it. The browsers that you use can also be differentiated by them.
Device Fingerprinting
This was when the below mentioned things are checked by a website:
- Your time zone, plugins installed, etc.
- Which browser is being used, make and model of your device.
All this data is collected by the website till it identifies the device and then starts following it.
This information shared by your device will be utilized for optimization of size. What we mean by this is, whether you use a laptop or smartphone, websites will want to know this about you.
This data is then used by them to select the right font size and screen resolution.
Although you may browse the internet using the incognito/private mode, your information can still be tracked. You are not safe.
The location of your device and IP address is still made available to all sites, tracker, ad that is present in the browser you are using.
A good way of having your privacy protected and hiding your location and IP address is through the usage of a trusted VPN (Virtual Private Network).
A great web browser is also needed, along with the VPN.
Definition of a Reliable and Secure Browser?
Two factors are mainly considered by us when secure browsers are spoken about.
Security Features
Can your browser effectively protect you from frauds, hackers, and other various malicious activities that happen online?
Privacy
What is the amount of your data that is collected by your browser? And whom are they sharing this information with? Lastly, what is your browser doing to protect your privacy?
Secure Web Browsers
Mozilla Firefox
This is amongst the most secure browsers that are considered to be all-rounders in terms of security and privacy.
The privacy protection features offered by them are very strong. They provide many options for customization and provide amazing security setting features.
Also, they provide you with regular updates, and their team for software development is very active.
Firefox’s latest version has a lot of options for privacy customization and is superfast.
Firefox’s best feature is that it can tweak and modify the privacy settings. You are allowed to customize using the many options provided by them.
Your customization could depend on the threats you could face, your browsing needs, etc. Also, various extensions are offered by Firefox for your browser.
Let’s go through Firefox highlights:
- Their development team is very active and provide new updates continuously
- Amazing privacy features that come with options for customization
- Additional security and privacy need more modifications.
- Tracking and telemetry have to be manually disabled
- Browser extensions are supported easily
Privacy Setting of Firefox
Firefox offers manysettings for privacy:
- Disable Telemetry
There is a feature of Firefox that allows sharing of interaction and technical data with Mozilla.
By doing so, this feature lets test studies be installed and run by Firefox on the computer you are using. You have to disable these settings.
You can disable this when you use this particular path: Menu>Options>Privacy and Security>Firefox data collection and use and then unchecking the related boxes.
- Change the search engine from default Browser.
In Firefox, the search engine set by default is Google. However, there are many other options of search engines that can be used by you.
Menu > Options > Search > Default Search Engine.
Use any one of these below-mentioned search engines that are private:
- Swisscows
- manager
- Searx
- DuckDuckGo
- Qwant
- Yancy
- Mojeek
- Blocking of Firefox content
Content blocking is a great customizable feature offered by Firefox. Content that helps track the sites that have been visited by you is automatically blocked by this feature.
You could choose from its three modes which are – Standard, Custom, and Strict modes. It helps to block these:
- Cookies
- Trackers
- Crypto miners
- Fingerprinters
The path for doing this is: Menu > Options > Privacy and Security > Content Blocking. After that, you will need to choose the desired mode you wish to use andclick on it.
Firefox lets you disable the feature for content blocking when it comes to certain trusted sites.
You could disable it by just typing the URL of the website URL, followed by the “i” icon that is present on the address bar, and then click “Turn off blocking for this site.”
Your data is saved, and the loading speed of your page is improved by Firefox.
Additional Privacy and Security add-ons
Firefox allows few add-ons for the browser that offers additional privacy and security. Listed below are a few of Firefox’s great add-onsthat are highly recommended.
- uBlock Origin:
This blocker is efficient and comes free. It filters tracking software and ads.
Also, it tremendously helps in improving the speed of page loading and the overall performance.
One more great feature of it is that it can whitelist few websites. A uBlock Origin is an open-source software.
- HTTPS Everywhere:
Every website you visit is forcedto connect with HTTP through this add-on. This works when that site has HTTPS. Most websites today use HTTPS.
- Decentraleyes:
You are protected from tracking via CDN (content deliverynetworks) by this add-on.
Third parties normally run these networks. The performance andpage loading time improvement is actually possible because of CDNs.
Third parties provide them for free. They are mainly used to help track all your browsing information.
Don’t be surprised when we disclose the names of a few of these third parties.
The names include big players such as Microsoft, Google, Cloudflare, Yandex, Facebook, and many others.
When CDNs are hosted locally, decentralization can solve this problem. They cut off the traffic of data on the internet and find locally supported resources.
These are later injected into the environment of the user. This helps in preventing the users from being tracked by CDNs.
- Cookie Autodelete:
Whenever you browse a site, many cookies are planted on that site. This add-on helps in deleting these cookies automatically.
Cookies that are no longer needed by that website will be deleted by it. In other words, you are protected by it from parties that try to track you. This is done by just deleting the unwanted cookies.
- Privacy Badger:
Spy ads and tracking parties are blocked by this add-on. The only disadvantage of this is that only 3rd party sites can be blocked by it.
This add-on can be used easily. It offers maximum privacy when you are generally browsing.
A combination of Privacy Badger and uBlock Origin could be used to have a better performance.
- uMatrix:
This add-on is advanced. It is able to control the websites tracking requests. You will receive requests from most websites visited by you that will help them track your activity on the internet.
uMatrix lets you control such requests. Many customization options are provided by it.
- NoScript:
This add-on, as per its name, blocks scripts. NoScript helps in identifying and blocking scripts running on websites.
This add-on is so powerful that websites can be broken by it. This means you are required to configure it and also tweak it. A great amount of configuration is needed by it.
Basically, more extensions and add-ons are not good. By installing too many of these add-ons will only hinder the performance badly, and it may also lead to crashing down of the system. Many of the add-ons provided by Firefox could become redundant if used together.
An approach that is balanced is needed to modify or install. And, you must modify or install only based on the situation.
Firefox latest Privacy features
Firefox VPN
This is also known as Firefox Private Network. It is not a VPN but a proxy, basically. Since only the traffic of data is encrypted via the browser, all this traffic routing is done using Cloudflare. The option to select the location is not offered by Firefox VPN.
Brave Browser
This browser is amongst the best browsers. Security is offered by it with an advanced yet simple privacy policy.
This browser is Chromium-based, which is an open-source browser. It aims to build a fast, stable, and safe way for using the web for everyone.
Brave’s configuration is done to provide higher security. Privacy settings are set to default. Its main features are:
- Script blocker that is built-in
- Trackers and ads are blocked using the default setting
- Browser fingerprinting protection is offered
- Automatic browser upgradation to HTTPS Everywhere
Browser Speed
Web pages are loaded three times faster than Firefox and Chrome.
Import Settings
You can import settings from your old browser very easily. All profiles of your old browser show up in a detailed manner in a list.
To import data from another browser easily, you just have to click the option from the main menu that says Import bookmarks and settings.
Brave Rewards
Though this browser is popular for its feature of blocking ads, it has an ad initiative of its own. You can offer back something to the websites you love by having Brave Rewards turned on. Sites that are visited by you frequently can help you earn tokens.
BAT (Basic Attention Token) is the name given to these tokens. This will let you find your most-loved content. Brave comes free.
When you get the Brave Rewards activated, you fund directly all those content creators that are your favourite.
Your contribution is automatically distributed by Brave based on how much time you spent on the websites.
You could also opt to get a fixed amount deducted on a monthly basis, or you could directly donate to websites.
During this entire process, the history of your browsing is kept confidential. The funds donated by you to the owners of the websites are done using a system that doesn’t reveal your identity. You remain anonymous.
Unmatched Security and Privacy
Brave browser protects you from malware, and makes sure to secure all your information, and prevents tracking. All these are the main priorities of Brave.
- The servers of Brave do not store or see browsing data.It remains on your device in a private mode until it is deleted by you. Hence, you can rest assured that your personal data will not be traded with 3rd party vendors and trackers by Brave.
- The shield settings can be customized by you. Every day, you can monitor how many ads and trackers Brave has managed to block.
- When you install any of the additional extensions, make sure to thoroughly check them before downloading. Matching up with the privacy policy of Brave is possible for you by getting the settings configured in extensions and browsers. Brave automatically upgrades to HTTPS. This means the data communication is secured and encrypted.
- Brave’s default settings block malware and phishing very effectively. It also disables a plugin by default that could become a security threat.
Listed below are the main features of the Brave browser
Shields
Different shields are provided by Brave that helps in blocking ads, better cookies control, Fingerprint prevention, blocking of scripts, and upgrading to HTTPS.
Security
The history of browsing is cleared for you. It has a system to manage passwords that is built-in.
You can autofill a form and also control content access. Media content can be autoplayed by you.
Search
Your most loved search engine can be set as default by you. You can use the keyboard shortcuts if need be for any other search engine.
For private searches, you can use the famous search engine DuckDuckGo.
Brave Rewards
Some rewards can be easily earned by you by clicking on or viewing private ads. Donating to content creators that are your favourite is possible for you here.
You can choose to donate monthly, or you could opt for the amount to be automatically debited so that the websites could be funded. You could also earn through contributions and referrals.
Tabs & Windows
Pinned tabs, private windows, find on-page, close options, print page, unload option automatically, drag & drop preferences are offered by Brave.
Address Bar
Bookmarks can be added by you; you could directly search using the address bar and have URLs auto-suggested.
The toolbar for bookmarks can be displayed or hidden. You could also have an insecure/secure website shown.
Extensions/Plugins
Most Chrome extensions are supported by Brave Desktop in the web store of Chrome.
Some of Brave’s features that are designed specifically for advanced users are listed below. These features are optional. They can help get extra privacy protection.
Tor Tab
Your IP address is hidden by it from websites.
Social Media Block
Brave lets you block Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Regional Filters
More trackers can be blocked by you by using regional filters.
Brave Firewall in combination with VPN
A user’s actual IP address is masked using VPN. Brave not only has a Firewall but also has VPN that offers extra security and privacy. This is possible by encrypting the browsing activity of the user.
- All connections are protected
- Your information is not sold nor shared
- The VPN server hides your identity
While all browsers should be configured so as to be able to block trackers and ads, Brave, by default, does it.
All kinds of tracks are blocked by Brave. For example, it blocks direct tracking, scripts, trackers related to ads, etc.
While all the other browsers are required to be configured to block ads/trackers, Brave does this by default. Brave blocks all types of tracking such as direct tracking, ad-related trackers, scripts etc.
Brave also provides protection from browser fingerprinting by default. Many browsers do give this protection. This makes them identical to many other browsers. But Brave operates differently.
It makes sure your profile appears differently to different websites visited by you. This happens every time you get your browser restarted.
Brave has one unique thing about it. It manages to block 3rd party cookies and storage. Not all browsers are able to do both.
When you block 3rd party storage, the protection provided is much stronger.
Luckily for Brave, the server and browser communication is less. Its developers have really worked hard towards this. You can also check our article on 3 Lazy Load Plugins to Make Your WordPress Site Faster.