Choose the browser that best suits your privacy needs.

[usonian]

Last edited Wed Nov 29, 2023, 12:58 PM - Edit history (1)

People ask which browser offers some privacy.
This is an article written by Tutanota. (who seem to be calling themselves Tuta now.)

On with the article:

https://tuta.com/blog/best-private-browsers

Why Choose a Private Browser?
Every site you visit tracks you in one way or the other, some sites require an account to view their content, others require allowing cookies, and this information is vacuumed up by web advertising agencies whose existence is predicated upon turning your browsing behavior into a product for marketing executives.

We already know how Gmail scans your email content, but what advertisers and others are doing with your browser data is a black box. The advertising industry likes to not talk about how tracking your entire online behaviour enables them to create profiles about yourself, your family, friends, and colleagues, and how this data helps them to post targeted ads to maximize the profits they can get - simply from harvesting your data.

But you have the power to stop this!
Mainstream browsers track you. Time to choose a private one! Mainstream browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer - these are all browsers to avoid as they do not respect your privacy. Better pick Firefox instead!

Today we will go ahead and take a look at a number of privacy-oriented web browsers outside those provided by Big Tech, which treat you like a human being and not a bullseye for targeted advertisement revenue. Let's dive into it!

The article goes into great detail in three categories: Mainstream Privacy, Alternative Privacy, and Top Anonymity


EDIT TO ADD. 15 Browser Extensions to Protect Privacy & Security
https://stackdiary.com/browser-extensions-to-protect-privacy-security/

Navigating the web can sometimes feel like walking through a minefield, especially when it comes to preserving your privacy. You might think that being careful with the websites you visit or the links you click on is enough, but the reality is more complex.

Advertisers, hackers, and even government agencies can keep tabs on your online activities, often without you even realizing it. So how can you ensure that your online life remains your own? Browser extensions designed for privacy and security can be your first line of defense.

In this guide, we've compiled a curated list of extensions that can beef up your online privacy in a variety of ways. From preventing tracking cookies to encrypting your data, these add-ons provide an extra layer of protection that goes beyond your browser's built-in security features. The best part? Most of them are just a click away and extremely user-friendly, even if you're not a tech guru.

If you're curious for which browsers these extensions are for, they are primarily for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, both of which amount to a large chunk of the entire web browser market share. If an extension is supported by other browsers (such as Edge, Opera, or its Source can be downloaded) we'll be including links for that as well.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. I've used Firefox for many years.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. So many new browsers - Tor, DuckDuckGo. Amazing Vivaldi isn't on the list

There's so much more to do than test browsers. Takes 2-3 hours to install and get it up and running, then I don't know how to run it, so there's a learning curve. Chromium is invasive like most things Google, I really should use Vivaldi as my alt. Firefox I'm very dissatisfied with, it's slow to load on boot, hangs frequently, takes forever to shut down, and it doesn't handle Zoom well, i have to use Chromium for Zoom.

[usonian]

3. Opera uses chrome extensions.

I use opera, Firefox and safari. I *really* like the "reader" on safari. There are more extensions on Firefox and Opera cuz Apple doesn't get in the middle. But the reader kills popups, nags, sidebars, and makes one column of readable type. That means a lot to me. Rarely, tor. Opera has a simple vpn built in. I just don't know many onion sites.

I use the zoom app on iPad, never the web interface.

[mitch96]

4. I liked Opera b/c of the vpn qualitys but when I heard it was bought by a Chinese company I bowed out...

You don't know who is looking under the covers.
m

[usonian]

5. They left it off the list.

Said it doesn't respect privacy. They said that about safari as well. I guess that the reasons why a browser is not on the list are just as interesting as why the others are on the list.

But if you accept their arguments, just use one that's considered more private.

Note that all browsers on iOS ( iPhone and iPad ) use the same underlying engine, so they aren't much different, AFAICT.

[MichaelSoE]

6. Vivaldi here also

Lately I have noticed that when I go to you tube using a private window a pop-up appears telling me that I need to turn off ad blockers. A little timer counts down and then I can close the pop-up.

It's a constant battle - browsers vs web sites vs browsers. It's been that way since Netscape vs IE.

[usonian]

8. It's an all-out war.

Some background (a few out of countless articles)

https://www.engadget.com/google-admits-youtubes-war-on-ad-blockers-is-resulting-in-suboptimal-viewing-experiences-115041371.html
Google admits YouTube's war on ad blockers is resulting in 'suboptimal viewing' experiences
Viewers report having to wait around 5 seconds before their YouTube video loads.

https://www.404media.co/youtubes-war-on-adblockers-shows-how-google-controls-the-internet/
YouTube's ‘War’ on Adblockers Shows How Google Controls the Internet


https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/11/youtube-tries-to-kill-ad-blockers-in-push-for-ad-dollars-premium-subs/
YouTube’s ad blocker crackdown escalates, aggravating users

https://stackdiary.com/adblock-plus-denounces-youtubes-anti-adblocker-measures/
Adblock Plus denounces YouTube's anti-adblocker measures
The "who's going to block who first" wars have begun.

Ublock Origin is fighting back.
https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock


I saved links to FreeTube https://freetubeapp.io/
Haven't tried (I use YT so little)

[Susan Calvin]

7. You've got to watch the defaults.

I have several browsers on my phone, and only one of them was set up for maximum privacy by default. Wish I remembered which one, but I don't. However, you can test any of them with Electronic Frontier Foundation's Cover Your Tracks.

https://www.eff.org/pages/cover-your-tracks

Only one of my browsers did not have a unique fingerprint, although using EFF's tool I was able to set everything else to max privacy in all browsers. Now that I think of it, I need to go back and find that one that also did not have a unique fingerprint.

[usonian]

9. Kicking for update to OP.

Added: 15 Browser Extensions to Protect Privacy & Security