A web browser is like your personal chauffeur on the Internet. It will take you to any website you want (as long as it exists and works) in seconds. Without it, getting around the Internet would be very difficult, if not impossible.
But a web browser also keeps tabs on you. It remembers what websites you’ve visited, what you clicked on, how long you’ve been browsing them, how much time you’ve spent on each page you’ve visited, and more.
Because of this, you need to start thinking about switching to the best privacy browser to protect your online identity and data.
In this article, we’ll see what the best private web browser is, as well as what the best private browser for Android and the best personal browser for iOS is.
Why Do You Need a Privacy Web Browser?
So why do you need a private browser?
- Data collection. Google, Microsoft, Apple, 3rd-party advertisers, and others can’t just track you via your IP address. Instead, they can do this much better using the data your web browser happily provides them.
- Cookies, tracking scripts, and pixels. Websites use these to understand their visitors better. The problem is that this also means that, sooner or later, your information will also get into the hands of advertisers.
- IP leaks. Although you can hide your IP address by using a good VPN service a web browser, if it has a wrongly configured WebRTC (RTC stands for real-time communication and is used for things like video, audio, and live streaming), then your IP address can get leaked. Most web browsers have WebRTC on by default.
- Browser fingerprinting. So you’ve hidden your IP with a VPN, deleted cookies, and blocked tracking scripts. That might not be enough to hide you from the authorities and advertisers, as your browser will tell them all about the settings you’ve used on the web pages you visit.
Ok, enough of that. Let’s see what the best web browsers for your privacy are.
Best Private Browsers for “Mainstream” Users – Firefox
Most “mainstream” browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and even Apple Safari (although they protect you against cross-site tracking and block 3rd-party cookies) won’t protect your privacy.
That’s not the case with Mozilla Firefox.
We bet you didn’t know this, but since Firefox is 100% open-source, it’s the basis for many privacy browsers, including Tor.
What’s more, Firefox is highly customizable, so you can tweak your privacy and security settings as much as you want. Unlike the popular browsers we just mentioned, Firefox allows you to turn off telemetry so that it won’t send your data back to Mozilla.
Best Private Browser for “Advanced” Users – Tor
Speaking of the Tor browser, if you are looking for a web browser that will provide you with the ultimate security and anonymity, you can’t go wrong with this browser.
Tor consists of three proxy layers (like an onion, hence the name – “the onion router”). First, it will randomly connect to a public entry node or the first layer. From it, Tor bounces to the middle node (again, randomly). And finally, exits through the third “exit” node.
However, some web services and countries block Tor, so you must configure it further and use “bridges.” The difference between “nodes” and “bridges” is that bridges don’t have publicly listed IP addresses, which adds an extra layer of security when using Tor.
The biggest problem with the Tor browser is that it’s not for the average user. First, you need to download and install it on your computer to be able to use it in the first place. Second, don’t play around with the default settings if you don’t know what you’re doing. You might inadvertently decrease its security. Third, if you are looking for a fast browser, Tor is not it and can sometimes be slow.
Best Private Web Browser (Android) – DuckDuckGo
If you’re looking for a private web browser for your Android device, you’ll be happy to know that there are a few worth noting, like Cake, Dolphin Zero, Firefox Focus, etc. Ultimately, however, our choice landed on DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser.
Mobile browsers can often be even worse than desktop ones when tracking you. DuckDuckGo blocks third-party trackers and will even tell you what it stopped.
In addition, thanks to HTTPS Everywhere, you don’t have to worry about someone knowing about your web life, as DuckDuckGo will keep it a secret and will do that much less intrusively than regular browsers you’ve been using thus far.
Best Private Web Browser (iOS) – Firefox Focus
Like their Android counterparts, iOS users also have a myriad of good options for private browsing if you ever want something better than Safari.
While the above-mentioned DuckDuckGo is a good choice for iOS as well, we had to give a nod to Firefox Focus as the best privacy browser for iPhone and iPad.
This mobile web browser gives you superior privacy and tracking protection and the easy-to-use interface you expect from Firefox for fast and secure browsing on your iOS devices.
The best thing about it is that the app won’t keep any records like your browsing history, online passwords, cookies, or cache once you exit. Instead, it will delete all of that.
Conclusion
There you have it; the best private web browsers are:
- For “mainstream” users – Mozilla Firefox
- For “advanced” users – Tor browser
- For Android users – DuckDuckGo
- For iOS users – Firefox Focus
Also, while you’re at it, check out what the most secure web browsers are ahead of 2021.
Now, all you need is the best email service to use with it, and that’s Gray Duck Mail: Armored Email. Gray Duck Mail is based completely on open-source code audited by users and security experts. It is available on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Ready to take back your privacy? Start using one of the web browsers we mentioned here and pair it with Gray Duck Mail email; your privacy is guaranteed. Sign up now for Gray Duck Mail.