Worried About Online Privacy? Check Out These 5 Privacy-Centric Browsers

Your browser could be handling much more personal or sensitive information than you estimate. The core architecture of popular browsers like Chrome or Edge means that there will be data exchange between your browser and a commercial entity, compromising data privacy. This article discusses five browsers that can help you address this and stay safe while you enjoy their powerful features. 

As end-users spend more time online, browsers offer a powerful channel for activity tracking and data collection to improve ad ROI for companies. While Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge might be the most common browsers in use, they leave you open to security risks. They allow the collection of vast amounts of user data through cookies, browser fingerprinting, and several other techniques. If you are looking to adopt a secure, privacy-focused browser in 2021-2022, your search has to extend beyond the usual suspects and the commonly known top contenders. 

Why Secure, Privacy-Focused Browsers Matter 

Browsers have emerged as a minefield of privacy concerns for one key reason: they don’t operate as standalone software but constantly share data with backend infrastructure to support connectivity, check for updates, and so on. This causes two risks: 

• Attackers may hijack data in transit between the browser and the backend infrastructure. 
• When the browser provider is also an online service provider (e.g., Google powers both Chrome and Gmail), they will use end-user information to boost ad effectiveness. 

On top of that, companies like Google and Microsoft have recently announced that there may be vulnerabilities affecting their browser products. In its latest Chrome Release Update, Google spoke about four security flaws that had left browser systems vulnerable for several weeks. And, in Microsoft’s September Patch, the company fixed a staggering 66 vulnerabilities that were overlooked until then. 

In other words, the onus is now on end-users – as much as on providers – to stay vigilant and share data only with trusted parties. Fortunately, some browsers can protect you from tracking and fingerprinting, which minimizes the risk of your data falling into the wrong hands. 

5 Top Browsers that Respect End-User Privacy and Security

Right at the outset, it should be noted that leading browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Safari invest a lot in security and roll out regular updates/patches to keep you protected. However, their essential architecture means that some third-party cookies will be planted for tracking purposes (often without explicit consent) which compromises your security posture. For example, Google’s new technology called Federated Learning of Cohorts or FLoC may violate the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is why Google won’t be running FLoC trials in Europe. Worryingly, FLoC groups users into cohorts based on browsing history and learns from it to drive interest-based ads. 

See more: Malicious Browser Extensions: Why They Could Be the Next Big Cybersecurity Headache

Here are five browsers that take a different, more privacy-centric approach: 

1. Brave

Overview: Designed by the creator of JavaScript and former CEO of Mozilla Corporation, Brave was identified as the most private browser according to researchOpens a new window conducted by the School of Computer Science & Statistics, Trinity College. 

Key features: Its top features include: 

• Ad and tracker blocking by default, which makes page loading up to 6X faster 
• Optional integration with Tor to mask your location from websites 
• The option to view ads with consent to earn token-based rewards 

Editorial comments: Brave isn’t only more secure and private than most browsers, but it is also faster and less bandwidth-intensive. The browser also has a simple and easy-to-use UI. 

2. Epic Privacy Browser

Overview: Epic claims to block 600+ tracking attempts in a single browsing session and has a free VPN to mask location. It also blocks ads by default and deletes browsing history to prevent FLoC-like techniques. 

Key features: Its top features include: 

• Always on private browsing and automated deletion of 20 types of browsing data 
• One-click encrypted proxy to hide your IP address 
• Address bar autocomplete based on locally stored data without sharing with servers 

Editorial comments: Epic is highly effective at removing the data “breadcrumbs” we leave behind when browsing the internet, from auto-translate data to your DNS cache. 

3. Mozilla Firefox

Overview: Mozilla Firefox is among the early pioneers in browser privacy. It is a free and open-source web browser and comes with the assurance that your information will not be used for monetization or ad targeting. 

Key features: Its top features include: 

• Blocking of third-party trackers, social trackers, and video auto-play 
• A recognized coaching organization for Lean Data Practices 
• Automatic removal of passwords, cookies, history, and other online information 

Editorial comments: Mozilla Firefox gives innumerable options to customize the browsing experience. Mozilla’s dev team is constantly working to improve its tracking prevention capabilities. While its user numbers may have declined slightly, it remains among the top secure browsers today. 

See more: The Problem With Storing Passwords in Your Browser (and How to Fix It)

4. Tor Browser

Overview: At its core, Tor is an open-source technology that enables anonymous routing of internet traffic by passing it through thousands of volunteer-run servers around the world. Tor browser relies on this technology and tracking prevention tools. 

Key features: Its top features include: 

• Isolation of every website so that user activity cannot be followed 
• Masking of browser and device information to prevent fingerprinting 
• 3X encryption and passing via multiple servers or Tor relays for VPN-like security 

Editorial comments: Tor’s exemplary features are not limited to the Tor browser and are also used by Brave, Firefox, and others. A strong global community also supports it. 

5. Vivaldi

Overview: Vivaldi is a feature-rich browser with built-in ad blockers, as well as built-in email, a calendar, and auto-translation. It supports an incredible degree of customization, allowing users to perform most of their productivity tasks in the browser itself. 

Key features: Its top features include: 

• The Vivaldi cookie crumbler to prevent websites from asking for cookie consent 
• Startpage a private search engine that doesn’t track users collect history or reveal user identity 
• Built-in ad blockers, no extensions required 

Editorial comments: In addition to being secure, you can customize Vivaldi using themes, view multiple tabs side by side, stack similar tabs into groups, and save time using custom keyboard shortcuts. In short, Vivaldi is a productivity powerhouse. 

See more: What Is Browser Isolation? Definition, Technology Components, and Vendors

Final Thoughts

Today, cyberattacks are getting increasingly more sophisticated, and your browser has to keep up. According to a recent surveyOpens a new window by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and MeriTalk, 60% of US users believe that their physical location and social media data are at risk when browsing online. Browsers like the ones we discussed are a step in the right direction. They approach the end-user online activity with a privacy-sensitive lens and consider the ethics surrounding data utilization for monetizable purposes. 

If you’re not sure if a secure, privacy-focused browser is a good fit for you, you can check your current browsing system’s trackability using Cover Your TracksOpens a new window by the Electronic Frontier Foundation to measure browser-related risk. 

Do you think private browsers offer better privacy features compared to mainstream options? Comment below or tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!