Your web browser is your window to the internet, and while it gives you a view of everything you can find online, windows work both ways. The same tool giving you access to the outside world is the same one used to give Big Tech a window into your private life.
One of the most popular questions from the privacy community, and especially those just starting to examine the steps they can take to protect their privacy online is: which browser is the most private?
The honest answer is none of them. Every single browser has its flaws, and every single browser does provide an opportunity for a website to invade your privacy. That said, not all browsers are created equal, and many are built with privacy in mind, and with some additional tools they can be modified to protect your privacy much better.
While many browsers will tell you they care about privacy, the one that stands out at the forefront is Firefox. First, Firefox is a not-for-profit organization, so unlike other Big Tech giants, they are not mining your data to increase their profit margin. They rely on donations and sponsorships to sustain their operation.
On top of that, they have many great privacy tools built right into the product, letting users select which level of privacy they want from a “Standard” setting which blocks basic trackers from social media sites, cross-site cookies, and more, to a more “Strict” setting which blocks all the above, but also helps isolate cookies, and blocks even more tracking content.
Firefox also lets you set custom DNS settings for your browser that help protect your browser from annoying redirects from your ISP, and even speed up your internet experience.
If you pair all of that with privacy-respecting plugins such as Startpage’s Privacy Protection plugin or uBlock Origin, you can block trackers and cookies that make it past the Firefox settings and have a much more private browsing experience.
However, Firefox isn’t the only privacy option, and when it comes to browsers, there is a degree of personal preference for how they work.
Firefox is built upon an engine called Gecko, this is the backend that drives the browser. Chrome-based browsers use an engine called Blink, which for some, is the preferred engine.
For those users, Vivaldi offers a wonderful browsing experience with many Firefox-like features allowing users to set their level of privacy and use addons such as Privacy Protection.
For mobile users, your choices narrow depending on the operating system your phone is running.
For those running iOS, your most privacy-respecting browser is Safari. This is Apple’s built-in browser and has such privacy features as such as Intelligent tracking protection, isolated Private Browsing tabs, iCloud Private Relay, and automatic HTTPS.
iOS doesn’t allow other browsers to use their own engine, meaning every browser is basically just a modified version of Safari. While Firefox does offer its own iOS browser, and it works well with many privacy-respecting features to go along with it, for most users, it’s just as simple to stick with Safari.
On Android, however, you’re able to choose between Firefox and Vivaldi so that you can get a better privacy experience with the same browser you might be using on your desktop.
Now, all of this is for your average user. None of these browsers or plugins will make you anonymous online. There are only two ways to do that. First, you can browse sites through Startpage’s Anonymous View, and visit websites as though you’re using a VPN. Your other option is using Tor, which has many benefits for those in need of strict anonymity but isn’t for everyone or everyday use.