Keeping your data private isn’t something you want to overlook. Previously, we looked at choosing the best encrypted messaging apps and Virtual Private Network (VPN). It’s all about creating in-depth protection. The more layers of security and privacy you have, the better. Another security layer to add to the mix is encrypted web browsers. Unlike regular web browsers, which can track your online activity, collect your personal information, show you targeted ads, or expose you to malware or phishing attacks, encrypted web browsers use various methods to protect your online identity and data.
Top 5 Encrypted Web Browsers
Many encrypted web browsers are available on the market, but not all are equally secure or reliable. Some may have weak encryption algorithms, some may collect metadata or personal information from you, some may have backdoors or vulnerabilities that could expose your data, and some may be owned or influenced by companies or countries that do not respect your privacy rights.
I have reviewed five popular browsers to help you choose the best encrypted web browser, evaluating them based on their security features, privacy policies, usability, functionality, and compatibility.
1. Brave
Brave is a web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. It also rewards you with Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) for viewing privacy-respecting ads or tipping your favorite content creators. It uses robust encryption protocols and features such as HTTPS Everywhere (force secure connections), fingerprinting protection (prevent device identification), script blocking (disable harmful scripts), private tabs with Tor (Tor integration), and Brave Shields (customizable security settings) to ensure your security and privacy. It does not collect any personal information or metadata from you. It also offers features such as bookmarks, history, downloads, sync (across devices), extensions (from Chrome Web Store), Brave Rewards (earn or donate BAT), Brave News (curated news feed), Brave Wallet (crypto wallet), Brave Search (private search engine), Brave Firewall + VPN (paid VPN service), and Brave Talk (private video conferencing). Brave is free and open source. It is available for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
2. Firefox Focus
Firefox Focus is a web browser that automatically erases browsing history after each session. It also blocks ads and trackers by default. It uses strong encryption protocols and features such as HTTPS Everywhere (force secure connections), fingerprinting protection (prevent device identification), script blocking (disable harmful scripts), stealth mode (hide from other apps), and Firefox Relay (create alias email addresses) to protect your security and privacy. It does not collect any personal information or metadata from you. It also offers features such as bookmarks, search engines (choose from multiple options), Siri shortcuts (voice commands), and Firefox integration (send tabs to Firefox). Firefox Focus is free and open source. It is available for Android and iOS.
3. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser is a web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. It also gives you a Privacy Grade for each website you visit, showing how well it protects your privacy. It uses strong encryption protocols and features such as HTTPS Everywhere (force secure connections), fingerprinting protection (prevent device identification), script blocking (disable harmful scripts), fire button (clear all tabs and data with one tap), and DuckDuckGo Search (private search engine) to ensure your security and privacy. It does not collect any personal information or metadata from you. It also offers features such as bookmarks, autocomplete (suggest websites based on your typing), themes (choose from light or dark mode), and app lock (protect with password or biometrics). DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser is free and open source. It is available for Android and iOS.
4. Tor Browser
Tor Browser is a web browser that uses the Tor network to anonymize your internet traffic. When you use Tor Browser, your data is encrypted and bounced through several nodes before reaching its destination. This makes it hard for anyone to trace your online activity or identity. Tor Browser also allows you to access the dark web, a hidden part of the internet that hosts various websites and services not indexed by regular search engines. Tor Browser is very effective in protecting your privacy and anonymity but has some drawbacks. First, the Tor Browser is slow because your data has to travel through multiple nodes, and loading websites or downloading files takes longer. Second, the Tor Browser is incompatible with some websites or apps requiring JavaScript, cookies, or other scripts to function correctly. Third, the Tor Browser is not secure; although your data is encrypted between nodes, it can be decrypted at the exit node (the last node before reaching its destination). This means that if the exit node is malicious or compromised, it can access or tamper with your data. Therefore, you should always use HTTPS or another layer of encryption when using Tor Browser. Tor Browser is free and open source. It is available for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
5. Epic Privacy Browser
Epic Privacy Browser is a web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. It also deletes all your browsing data after each session. It uses strong encryption protocols and features such as HTTPS Everywhere (force secure connections), fingerprinting protection (prevent device identification), script blocking (disable harmful scripts), proxy mode (hide your IP address), encrypted proxy (use Epic’s own servers), and Epic Search (private search engine) to ensure your security and privacy. It does not collect any personal information or metadata from you. It also offers features such as bookmarks, history, downloads, extensions (from Chrome Web Store), video downloader (download videos from YouTube and other sites), and audio recorder (record audio from any website). Epic Privacy Browser is free but not open source. It is available for Windows and Mac OS X.
Encryption vs Incognito
Another thing to note is that using an encrypted web browser is not the same as using a private mode in a regular web browser. Private mode or incognito mode may prevent your browser from storing your browsing history, cookies, or cache on your device, but it does not prevent your ISP, websites, advertisers, hackers, or government agencies from tracking your online activity, collecting your personal information, showing you targeted ads, or exposing you to malware or phishing attacks. Therefore, you should always use an encrypted web browser on your personal devices when you are online.
