A secure browser that protects your privacy is a critical tool for staying safe online and keeping your information secure from third parties.
Unless properly designed, most browsers contain huge amounts of personal info that may probably be exploited or just collected by varied third parties:
- Browsing history: all the websites you visit
- Login credentials: usernames and passwords
- Cookies and trackers: these square measure placed on your browser by the sites you visit
- Autofill information: names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
WARNING: 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 get true privacy while hiding your real IP address and location is to also use a VPN service in conjunction with a good browser.
Top browsers for privacy and security in 2021
7. Opera: The oldest contender
4. Vivaldi: Very Fast than other browsers
2. Brave: The best Chrome alternative
Secure browsers that protect your privacy and keep Safe
Now 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?
Now let’s See the most secure browsers that you can combine with a VPN for maximum privacy.
8. Microsoft Edge
✓ Chromium-based
✓ Partially open-source
✗ Collects user data
Microsoft Edge is that the newest browser from the PC software giants, replacing the longstanding Internet Explorer as the default browser on all Windows devices. Edge currently runs on chromium, an equivalent browser kit developed by Google that powers Chrome, AVG Secure Browser, and plenty of others.
With weekly, automatic software system updates, Microsoft keeps
Edge on top of any security vulnerabilities. And integrated tracking protection helps preserve your privacy online against third party advertisers, though Edge could send information your device to Microsoft. Still, the routine software system updates put Edge light years ahead of Internet Explorer in terms of security.
Outdated software system — like Internet Explorer is at risk of being targeted with exploits. It’s necessary to recollect that software system updates often include critical security patches, So no matter which browser you use, choose one that frequently receives updates.
7. Opera
✓ Built-in ad blocker
✓ Chromium-based
✗ Built-in VPN logs usage
The creator of the CSS Web Standard, Hakon Wium Lie, developed
Opera in 1995. The browser has since adopted much of Chromium’s code into its software and is currently considered one of the more popular privacy oriented browsers.
The
Opera browser has a integrated ad blocker and uses a tracker blocker that takes from the EasyPrivacy Tracking Protection List, which can help to defend users from seeing ads and being tracked by advertisers and websites. It bases a part of its code on Chromium, which is open source and therefore can be scrutinized.
As with Chrome, Opera’s default window will cache your data, and its private one won’t although you can to tweak this in your settings to create it so in the default browser window.
While
Opera does provide ways to customize your privacy and security, the opt out methodology of securing and privatizing your browsing expertise may not be appreciated by those more with browsers that provide by default.
Opera also has a free built in
VPN that it bought in 2016. It’s a troubling addition to the browser, because it tracks data and logs usage, and Opera itself is in hand by an organization based mostly in an exceedingly country ill-famed for privacy violations. Browser watch.
6. Apple Safari
✓ Runs pages in a sandbox
✓ Stops malicious code accessing user data
✗ Not open-source
Safari prevents suspicious sites from loading and alerts you to the potential danger. By running websites in a sandbox, Safari also prevents malicious code on one page affecting the entire browser or accessing your information.
Safari is that the default browser for Mac OS and iOS devices. Overall,
Safari is not a horrible selection in terms of privacy and following protection, however it also can not be recommended for a couple of reasons:
- Apple is a partner in the PRISM police investigation program
- Apple was caught “hoarding” Safari browsing history – even when it was deleted
- Apple was found to be collection Safari history even when used in private mode
On a positive note, however, Apple will somewhat higher with privacy than other large companies. The
Safari browser blocks third party cookies by default and additionally implements cross site tracking protection.
5. Google Chrome
✓ Automatic updates
✓ Partially open-source
✗ Tracks a great deal of user data
Google Chrome is convenient, popular and useful. Moreover, the company constantly updates its security features, therefore it can be considered good in this regard. However, its privacy is lacking. Google is notorious for data collection, tracking, and different privacy violations. One of its primary sources of revenue is user profiling for ad targeting. You can’t expect a very private browser from such a company. Moreover, it’s not open source, so we can’t tell if or how Google might be tracking its users (Chromium – the browser
Chrome is based on and the next one on this list – does have open source code available).
While Google says it doesn’t sell user information, it will use it to dish relevant ads in Google product, on its partner websites and in mobile apps.
To protect your information while using
Chrome, consider adding DuckDuckGo to Chrome. With this handy extension, you will defend your information, web search history and avoid irritating advertising trackers.
4. Vivaldi
✓ VERY FAST! It is running a lot quicker than other browsers
✓ Built-in notepad / text editor
With its extremely customizable interface and functionality, several consider Chromium based
Vivaldi to be the power user’s privacy browser.
The extensive customization choices extend into
Vivaldi’s privacy settings furthermore, permitting users to decide on their default search engine and a wide array of alternative settings that impact your privacy. You can, for example, set completely different default search engines for once you are using the regular and private browsing modes, and create completely different security settings for each of those search engines.
Much like alternative browsers we have highlighted this so far,
Vivaldi blocks sites from tracking you as you peruse the web. It additionally comes with options sort of a built in ad blocker and secure sync with end-to-end encryption.
Vivaldi doesn’t store your internet history, cookies and temporary files when you browse in a private window.
To make your personal browsing safer, Vivaldi permits you to set a different default search once engine when using a private window.
3. Mozilla Firefox
✓ Open-source
✓ Highly customizable privacy settings
✓ Lightweight
Firefox is a convenient, quick and lightweight browser. Moreover, it is the only mainstream open source browser, and its code has been thoroughly researched and scrutinized by the community. Firefox is additionally quite secure. Like alternative major market players, it offers a private browsing mode that include tracking, malware and phishing protection, pop-up blocking, and anti-fingerprinting protection. you can use its in extensive customization prospects pretty simply, however simply take care to disable the telemetry function, which sends your usage and performance data to
Mozilla. Firefox additionally has a impressive collection of security focused add-ons that can be used to create its experience safer.
Firefox contains some functions which may concern privacy oriented users, like Pocket, Telemetry, and Startup profiling. However, you can disable them by tweaking the settings.
When it comes to features like
Firefox Lockwise, you can also count on this privacy-focused browser to stay your passwords safe. Using 256-bit encryption, Firefox Lockwise permits you to access passwords you have saved in Firefox from anyplace.
Firefox collects information for development purposes but does so without including your browsing or search history. The data is also tied to a randomised numerical identifier instead of your name or user account. If you’d rather not share any data at all, you can also turn it off without affecting the browser’s performance.
2. Brave
✓ Built-in ad blocker
✓ Customizable privacy settings
✗ Tor tab doesn’t meet Tor’s privacy standards
The
Brave browser was designed to form privacy simple enough for everybody. it is an open source browser built in top of Chromium (an open source version of the Chrome browser), which means it’s simple for Chrome users to make the switch.
However, unlike Chrome,
Brave does not collect any information concerning your online activity. Your information remains private and on your device.
Brave is a pro at blocking data grabbing ads and trackers. Using Brave Shields, this browser blocks most data tracking ads, boasts automatic HTTPS protection and can load sites, like major news outlets, nearly 6 times faster than alternative browsers, including with Chrome, Safari and Firefox, on mobile or desktop.
Brave has also integrated Tor into its private browsing feature, therefore you will mask your location and hide your internet history.
1. Tor Browser
✓ Hard to track and trace traffic
✗ Law enforcement wary of Tor users
Tor is the best choice if privacy is your utmost concern. The Tor browser is based on Firefox, however it’s been stripped down and specially tag to run on the Tor network.
When you use Tor, your traffic is encrypted 3 times and bounced between 3 Tor servers before it reaches your required web site. The encryption is handled in such a way that every server only has access to 1 set of instructions, so no server has access to both your IP address and the web site you are visiting.
This setup makes it impossible for Tor to keep any records about your online activity, and every time you close up your session, the browser deletes your cookie cache and browsing history. The browser itself is formatted to prevent fingerprinting, and it blocks all types of trackers.
Tor can access the deep web, Unlike mainstream browsers, any web site ending with .onion is visible once when using Tor.
Not all websites work on Tor. Tor blocks Javascript and tracking scripts, which will stop some websites from working. although you can able to whitelist scripts, as needed, it could impact the browser’s security.
NOTE : If you think that any other browser should be in the above list feel free to contact us.
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