There are more than 4.6 billion active internet users in the world. Nearly 60 percent of the global population is online. Cybersecurity and online privacy are major concerns for the vast majority of internet users.
Internet users are at constant risk of privacy and security breach, whether you use the internet for occasional web searches or you are an active internet user with multiple social media and other online accounts to your name.
However, online threats should not stop you from enjoying the benefits of the internet. As an active internet user, there are several steps you can take to make your online existence safer. You can start by choosing a secure, privacy-focused web browser.
A good browser can protect your privacy, keep your data secure, and help you stay safe online. To get you started, here are the best web browsers for protecting your privacy online.
Brave
Out of the box, Brave offers a pretty decent level of privacy and security. The chromium-based web browser performs well with its default settings, just download and install. The browser also comes with other interesting features such as automatic HTTPS upgrades, built-in script blocker, protection against browser fingerprinting, and it blocks ads and trackers by default. Brave is particularly a great option for users who don’t want to mess with the configuration settings to improve privacy.
Ungoogled Chromium Browser
Are you a big fan of Google Chrome looking for a more privacy-focused alternative? Try the Ungoogled Chromium browser. Ungoogled Chromium browser is basically Google Chrome minus the support of Google Web Services. This browser comes with a higher level of transparency, control, and the ability to customize your privacy. Ungoogled Chromium browser offers all the benefits of the popular web browser without privacy issues.
Tor Browser
Tor is a secure browser that provides protection against browser fingerprinting by default. The Tor browser also offers protection that includes three layers of encryption, blocks third-party trackers, and automatically deletes your browser history and cookies when you are done surfing the internet.
The Tor browser takes care of your privacy and security details down to the minute details. For instance, Tor warns you about the risk of exposing your computer screen to tracking when you minimize the browser window.
Firefox
Fast and lightweight, Firefox is a great all-around web browser that offers a pretty solid performance when it comes to privacy and security. The Firefox browser comes with a long list of security and privacy-enhancing features that you can customize to achieve the level of privacy that you want. These include the ability to block third-party trackers and browser cookies as well as a wide range of browser extensions that you can use to enhance your privacy.
Pale Moon Browser
Pale Moon is an efficient and highly customizable open source web browser. Pale Moon is forked from Mozilla Firefox, with additional security features and security-aware development. Pale Moon browser features regular updates of the latest security patches. It’s fast and lightweight, just like Firefox, and offers great customization options when it comes to privacy and security.
Enhance Your Online Privacy Further
These browsers perform well for both privacy and security and they are relatively safe. They provide unique features that allow users to tweak browser settings for more privacy and they are more upfront about the data they collect.
However, using these browsers doesn’t guarantee full protection from online threats. Keep in mind that turning ‘incognito’ or ‘private’ mode on your browser doesn’t stop websites, ads, and trackers from accessing your real IP address and location.
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an effective way to achieve anonymity when surfing the web. You can download a VPN to enhance your privacy online. A VPN will encrypt your connection and hide your IP address. Websites, ads, and trackers use your unique IP address to track your browsing activity. Concealing your IP address can help you maintain anonymity and online privacy when browsing the internet.