Google Chrome is a fast browser, but it fails to protect users’ privacy online. Since Google’s core business is ads. Google tracks every move you make online using Chrome. Luckily there are 5 Android Browsers that let you have your privacy back (or they claim so).
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Privacy on the Internet
Every time you visit a website, you are monitored by several authorities. On the one hand by the website itself, which keeps track of how often you visit the site and which page you click on. On the other hand, there are advertisers, who look at whether and when you click or look at which advertisement. There are also ways to track you while you switch websites, and this can be done through so-called cookies. These are often present with advertisements, and even the buttons to share a webpage on Twitter or Facebook ensure that you are followed.
Your internet behavior is never completely anonymous, even if you clear your browser history or use a private tab. Still, there are ways to at least reduce the invasion of your privacy on the Internet with this selection of five browsers.
1. Tor Browser
If you really want to get the most out of your privacy, Tor Browser is the undisputed number 1. This browser hides your real IP address and replaces it with another one. This way the site and your internet provider do not know which website are you browsing. In addition, your browsing history is not kept because you get a new IP address every time you enter a new webpage or refresh a page. This is very privacy-friendly, but not always fast. That’s because Tor also heavily encrypts your internet traffic.
The third-party cookies mentioned above are also automatically blocked so that advertisers and other parties cannot follow you throughout the web. Tor also blocks a technique called ‘fingerprinting’. In doing so, third parties look at all the characteristics of your phone, such as the type, size, and resolution of your screen, the time zone, the Android version, the language you use, your browser, and more. With this technique, a unique profile of you can still be built up without using trackers.
2. Firefox Focus
Firefox Focus is a browser that puts privacy at the forefront. Last year, the regular Firefox browser received a large package of innovations, but this privacy-friendly variant is still being updated with updates.
Firefox Focus clears your browsing history by default as soon as you close the browser, and there is a button at the bottom right to close all tabs (and thus also clear your history). By default, it does not save cookies, so you have to accept the cookie notifications from websites every time. Firefox Focus also claims to be faster than normal browsers because trackers now no longer need to be loaded on a website. It is basically your incognito browser.
3. Brave Browser
Brave Browser is the most user-friendly of the apps in this article, and therefore also scores the ‘good’ in this list in terms of privacy. Your history and your cookies are remembered by default, unlike its competitors. Fortunately, you can tackle that problem by diving into the settings. In exchange for that effort, you will get user-friendliness back. Brave Browser automatically blocks things like third-party trackers and social media buttons.
4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser is a light-hearted browser including a dark theme that allows you to quickly surf the web. When you enter a search query, it uses DuckDuckGo as a search engine, whereby your search history or other data is not saved.
You can see how privacy-friendly a website is and how DuckDuckGo increases privacy by applying encryption to connections. In addition, the browser checks how many and which trackers are used, leading to a judgment ranging from A (good) to F (bad). Finally, DuckDuckGo also analyzes the privacy conditions of supported sites, informing you about how a site handles your data.
5. Vivaldi Browser
Vivaldi focuses on privacy and an attractive user interface. The browser helps you block trackers; just like annoying pop-up notifications and ads. You can customize the interface to your liking and set both a light and dark theme. Furthermore, Vivaldi also has its own view on tabs, because the browser has an interface that resembles desktops. it provides more overview in your open tabs.
Vivaldi can also store your passwords in a safe that is secured with end-to-end encryption. You can then use those passwords on all your devices. Another feature of Vivaldi is the ability to take notes right from your browser. Finally, you can also take screenshots of an entire webpage in one fell swoop. Vivaldi has recently been completely renewed making it more efficient and secure.
This concludes our list of the most secure browsers for Android. Which one do you think is the best android browser regarding the privacy. Please do let us know in the comments.