But note: these Incognito or private windows only block other people on your computer from seeing the pages you visited. These private windows tell your browser not to store any information from that particular browsing session. Since Chrome first introduced Incognito mode, almost every browser has launched a similar feature. So it’s common to find the most private browser is also the most secure browser, and vice versa. Of course, many of the measures that increase security also give you better privacy. A private browser might try to anonymize your profile online, or even use a built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide your geographical location and encrypt your connection. Privacy, by contrast, deals primarily with protecting your data.

Security mainly refers to technical aspects of browser operation, like issuing updates to stay on top of emerging viruses and malware, or upgrading website connections from HTTP to HTTPS. While browser security and privacy are technically different, they go hand-in-hand. The idea is to prevent fingerprinting (or unauthorized identification of you or your device), and thus block Big Tech’s attempts to monitor your online activity. For example, it might hide your IP address, block phishing, cross-site cookies, and more. It also blocks third-party trackers and ads that collect your personal information to deliver targeted advertising.Īlso called a “safe browser” or “privacy browser,” a truly secure browser will integrate data protection mechanisms. The basics of secure browsingĪ secure browser does much more than hide your browsing history. In this article, we’ll define what makes a secure browser, and look at some of the best secure browsers. What’s needed is a middle way: A browser that protects privacy and security that’s optimized for performance and that works with all your favorite Web pages. Some lesser known ones prioritize privacy and security, but often at the expense of speed or convenience. The most popular browsers (like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) are built to collect data, not protect it. But while this is a big, complex problem, there’s an easy way to safeguard your data: by looking more closely at your browser. You’ve seen the news: Big Tech companies collect your data, trade it, sell it, and lose it to security breaches almost every day.

Brave browser secure