SafeSurf
1. Brave
Brave is probably the safest browser with a simple and ready-to-use privacy
system. It's a Chromium-based browser that is fast, secure and privacy-focused by default. It has a
built-in ad blocker and digital fingerprint protection in the browser, and gives you access to
numerous add-ons and extensions.
The primary developer of Brave is Brandon Eich, formerly of Mozilla.
To summarize this browser, Brave is based on open-source Chromium, but is tuned for more privacy. It
does well with its default settings and additional features.
To summarize:
- Blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Protects against unwanted digital browser fingerprints and even offers fingerprint randomization.
- Built-in script blocker.
- Blocks all third-party storage.
- Automatically updates to HTTPS (HTTPS Everywhere).
- Easy access to the Tor network.
Brave can also be used with Chrome extensions, making it a perfect alternative for Chrome. Just download the extension, and you're all set. As one example of these innovations, Brave is currently developing a private search engine called Brave Search.
- Protects against unwanted digital browser fingerprints and even offers fingerprint randomization.
- Built-in script blocker.
- Blocks all third-party storage.
- Automatically updates to HTTPS (HTTPS Everywhere).
- Easy access to the Tor network.
Brave can also be used with Chrome extensions, making it a perfect alternative for Chrome. Just download the extension, and you're all set. As one example of these innovations, Brave is currently developing a private search engine called Brave Search.
2. Firefox
Firefox is a great all-around browser for privacy and security. It offers
powerful privacy features, many customization options and regular updates with an active development
team. The newest version of Firefox is fast and lightweight with many privacy settings.
By default, Firefox is not the best option for privacy, but it can be customized, thereby increasing
the level of protection to the maximum.
Be sure to turn off telemetry in Firefox, this is a feature that will collect technical and
interaction data, as well as install and run research on your browser. In the privacy and security
settings area, there are many useful configuration options for different levels of privacy:
Standard, Strict or Custom.
Another great advantage of Firefox is the ability to use numerous browser extensions that can
increase your privacy many times over.
To recap:
- Open source code that has been independently verified.
- Active development with frequent updates
- Excellent privacy features and customization options.
- Many browser extensions supported.
- Telemetry and tracking must be disabled manually.
- Other modifications needed for additional privacy and security.
If you want to continue to use old settings that are no longer supported by the latest version of Firefox, you can use the Extended Support for Firefox (ESR) version. If you want a privacy-focused version of Firefox for Android, you can try Firefox focus.
- Active development with frequent updates
- Excellent privacy features and customization options.
- Many browser extensions supported.
- Telemetry and tracking must be disabled manually.
- Other modifications needed for additional privacy and security.
If you want to continue to use old settings that are no longer supported by the latest version of Firefox, you can use the Extended Support for Firefox (ESR) version. If you want a privacy-focused version of Firefox for Android, you can try Firefox focus.
3. Tor.
Tor is an enhanced version of Firefox, Tor Browser is a browser with very
powerful default security settings, it protects you from unwanted digital browser fingerprints, but
it also has some drawbacks.
Because it uses the Tor network, which routes traffic through three different channels, download
speeds with the Tor browser can be quite slow. The default version may also fail to open some sites
due to script blocking. Finally, the Tor network itself also has flaws, including
malicious/dangerous output nodes, reliance on U.S. government funding, and some consider it
compromised.
There are also many websites that block IP addresses originating from the Tor network. Another
option is to use the Tor browser with the Tor network disabled. In this sense, the Tor Browser will
work just like the other browsers discussed above. Alternatively, you can simply run the VPN in the
background. Like the Tor network, the VPN will also encrypt your traffic and hide your IP address,
but it will be much faster. However, if you change your Tor browser settings, this can compromise
the privacy and security features built into your browser.
4. Bromite (Android)
Bromite is a Chromium-based browser for Android only (no support on PC). It comes
with some distinctive features by default, including ad blocking and various privacy improvements.
Here are some features of this browser from the official Bromite website:
- The main goal is to provide a seamless web browsing experience without privacy-breaking features
and with the addition of a quick ad blocking mechanism.
- Minimal UI changes have been made to help curb the "browser as an advertising platform" idea.
- All patches are published to the public domain, allowing other open source projects to use them.
- Bromite is only available for Android.
Another interesting feature that sets Bromite apart is that you can use customizable ad block filters. Bromite is under active development and remains a great browser for Android users.
- Minimal UI changes have been made to help curb the "browser as an advertising platform" idea.
- All patches are published to the public domain, allowing other open source projects to use them.
- Bromite is only available for Android.
Another interesting feature that sets Bromite apart is that you can use customizable ad block filters. Bromite is under active development and remains a great browser for Android users.
5. Ungoogled Chromium
Ungoogled Chromium is an open-source browser that allows for seamless privacy and
is a more private replacement for Chromium. In fact, Ungoogled Chromium works without relying on
Google web services.
The browser also contains some settings for increased control and transparency (almost all of which
require manual activation or enabling). Ungoogled-Chromium retains the default features of Chromium
as much as possible. Unlike other Chromium-based browsers, which have their own features,
Ungoogled-Chromium is the most confidential and functional substitute for Chromium.