Are you in the market for a secure browser? Brave is one of the browsers, but as this Brave browser review will show, it’s not a guaranteed option. We’ll discuss everything that makes Brave unique and its top security features. Are these features worth it for your peace-of-mind?
What is the Brave browser?
The Brave browser is a new privacy-focused browser that offers a number of automatic security features for users. From ad and tracker blocking, to private search and even a VPN, the Brave browser is at the forefront of advanced browser security.
The idea behind Brave is to empower internet users with the tools they need in order to take privacy into their own hands. Brought into existence by developers who also created JavaScript, it claims to offer more transparency, privacy and security than other browsers.
Because it blocks most third-party trackers and ads automatically, it also allows web users to escape the cycle of Big Tech companies using browsers to collect, sell and utilize their data. Brave is free and open-source like other Chromium browsers, so anyone can look up its code to learn how they can build even more privacy-focused or secure browsers.
The Brave browser: strengths and weaknesses
Enhance your privacy with the Brave browser. It will block ad tracking, protect users from cross-site cookie tracking, fingerprinting, phishing and malware attacks, and place your data in its own search engine, called Brave Search. Plus it’ll automatically upgrade your connection to a more secure HTTPS.All in all, the Brave browser is one of the best.
It’s very secure and private, with no ad trackers, phishing sites, or malware problems to worry about. In addition to blocking those threats when they appear, it automatically upgrades your connection to a more-secure HTTPS connection. The search engine allows you to do private search without having your information preyed upon by Google. Brave also has read aloud functionality, so you can have webpages read back to you in audio format.
How does Brave compare to other browsers?
What about Brave? Is it better than other browsers? The answer is yes. Let’s take a quick look at how it rates against some of the most popular web browsers!
Brave vs. Google Chrome
Brave claims that it is “3x faster than Google Chrome”, which would make Brave the fastest browser. However, this claim did not seem to appear anywhere else but on Bold’s website, and whether it’s true is unclear. If you’d like to know if Brave is safe than Google Chrome, both browsers are at the top of the list for safety.
One difference is that with Chrome you can increase your security with extensions or plugins. Brave offers “privacy by default” meaning that you don’t need to tweak your settings. It will deliver maximum internet security and privacy from the get-go.
Brave vs. Microsoft Edge
Edge offers some protection against websites that collect information about your browsing habits. However, it doesn’t have as much advanced anti-tracking features as other browsers.
For example, the browser is only updated twice a year and Brave, which updates approximately every four weeks, is more secure. One way to make Microsoft Edge more secure is by using the Edge NordVPN extension.
Brave vs. Mozilla Firefox
The private browsing mode in Firefox prevents malware, phishing, and other forms of malicious content while blocking pop-ups and fingerprinting. It also allows you to change your IP address with the help of a handy Firefox extension.
However, Brave automatically blocks advertisements and trackers without requiring any extensions or settings. If you’re looking for an established solution with plenty of features, Firefox may be your best bet.
Why are browser security and privacy important?
Most people don’t go through the effort to change their security settings and/or browser from the defaults when they first get a device because that’s what is supposed to be happening.
But just because these are the settings doesn’t mean you’re necessarily safe online. A browser is your portal to the online world and handles heaps of sensitive data about you — data that’s valuable to internet service providers (ISPs), advertisers, government agencies, and third parties. Tracking your every move with them enables them to better know you as a customer and tailor services, prices, and offers to your preferences with more profits on their end.