Secure browsers are the best way to surf the internet safely. The internet is becoming more and more unsafe.
Secure Browsers can make a huge difference to your everyday browsing whether your priority is the faster performance, better security or more flexibility through downloadable extensions.
It is wise to look at the wider selection out there and choose Secure Browsers and a safe browser that will keep you from having your most sensitive data stolen and/or sold to third parties.
What are secure browsers
Secure Browsers range of security features such as URL filtering, download protection and the ‘do not track’ feature has transformed mainstream desktop browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, etc. In a sense, all browsers could now plausibly claim to be ‘secure’ browsers.
This means that today Secure Browsers are more specialized and now focused on the issue of user privacy, handing back control to the user and opting out of data collection systems of the sort that underpin firms like Google.
What Makes a Browser Unsafe
The wrong browsers can compromise your online security in many ways. Here are some things to think about when you consider the browser you’re using, and whether you might want to make a switch to Secure Browsers:
Software weak spots
Hackers can steal your data using these vulnerabilities as access points if you are not using a Secure Browser. These are most often the result of poorly configured browsers and programming errors.
Although they can be fixed with software patches, developers are often unaware of the problem until cybercriminals have already exploited it. This means this could be unsafe for weeks if it is not a Secure Browser, and sometimes years before they release a fix.
Sensitive data vulnerability
This adds an extra threat if you have given your browser permission to store sensitive data, like your login details. If your Secure Browser becomes compromised, the hacker will have access to your passwords. This is especially dangerous if you use online banking.
Unsafe browser extensions
Cybercriminals can use these as a bridge to compromise your device. In one instance, hackers infiltrated the Google Chrome Web Store after getting a developer’s password through a phishing email.
They used this to hijack multiple extensions and deploy malicious updates before the developers even realized they’d lost control of their program.
Recording your online activity
Some browsers, like Google Chrome, record your online activity to create targeted ads. Although this isn’t necessarily dangerous, it is a huge breach of your privacy.
Top 10 Most Secure Browsers
1. Tor Browser
Tor (The Onion Router) Browser is one of the most Secure Browsers in the market that hides your activity and location online by routing all your browsing through multiple anonymous servers, thereby concealing where you are and making it hard (but not impossible) to identify who’s doing what online. Tor is one of the most secure browsers to use.
The Tor network aims to provide users with truly anonymous internet access. In some ways, then, it serves a similar purpose to using a VPN. The Secure Browser provides a very high degree of true anonymity, but at the cost of day-to-day internet usability.
This Secure Browser also deletes sensitive information such as cookies and history every time you exit the browser and also lets us set up SOCKS applications to use Tor to further enhance the privacy.
Additionally, The Secure Browser also has advanced routing and encryption algorithms that keep your digital tracks secure enough so they can’t be traced back to you which is one of the prime weapons in its arsenal.
The Tor Browser can be used without installing any software on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It comes with pre-configured security features for protecting your anonymity and can run from a USB flash drive.
2. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is one of the most Secure Browsers and fastest browsers around, while also offering great security and privacy. Though the interface isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, it’s still a great option for most people and worth trying out.
Firefox Secure Browsers offer a suite of security features that any internet user will appreciate: phishing and malware protection, blocking reported attack websites/web forgeries, and warning users when a site is trying to install add-ons.
Firefox is a relatively lightweight, Secure Browser compared with its competitors. In keeping with the times, Firefox also features “Content Blocking,” allowing users to block all trackers the browser detects. Considering its vast array of add-ons, users are spoilt for choice when looking to further enhance their online privacy.
3. Brave Browser
Brave is a modern Secure Browser that is becoming more popular day by day. This Secure Browser is a project from Brendan Eich, once of Firefox developer Mozilla, and its mission includes both keeping you from being tracked on the web, and finding a better way to serve you advertisements.
There’s no doubt about the effectiveness of its tracker blocking technologies, though. The Secure browser apps block ads by default and put tight restrictions on the information sites that can gather on you through cookies and tracking scripts.
You can block trackers, scripts, and fingerprinting technologies where sites attempt to identify your particular device individually. This Secure Browser also tries to block phishing attempts over the web and will force HTTPS encryption where it’s available. It’s a comprehensive package that strikes a well-judged balance between simplicity and power.
4. Chromium
Google Chrome is open-source at its core but comes bundled with proprietary code specific to Google’s services. The purely open-source version of Google Chrome is available as Chromium, catering to more privacy- and open-source.
The Chromium browser is much like an unfinished version of Chrome, but with less code required to integrate third-party apps like Flash reducing the complexities that come with more code.
This Secure Browser is open-source, the Secure Browsers users can check for themselves if vulnerabilities are patched, which cannot be said of the more polished Chrome. As mentioned above, you’ll have to manually update your browser, so you’d have to be vigilant.
Neither Chrome nor Chromium allows you to disable WebRTC, which leaves users vulnerable to WebRTC leaks although you can patch this problem with the WebRTC Leak Prevent add-on, or a VPN.
5. Iridium
Iridium is Another Chromium-based secure browser, Iridium tries to offer users a more private and convenient experience than they’d get with Chrome. For starters, Iridium’s code is open-source and anyone can audit it. Also, the browser won’t send any automatic transmissions to Google. They will only occur if you enable them.
Iridium Secure Browser also comes with many improvements to offer users a more secure and private experience, such as Better RSA encryption, Improved WebRTC security, Do Not Track requests, Not storing passwords by default, Deleting site data (like cookies) on exit, Blocking third-party cookies by default. The whole list of improvements is pretty long, so feel free to check it out right here.
This Secure Browser Privacy Policy is a bit weird, though, since it doesn’t make it clear what data the browser logs. Luckily, the devs say they use encryption to secure your data, and that you can request it or have them delete it at any time.
6. Waterfox
Waterfox is an open-source Secure Browser fork from Firefox with telemetry (Mozilla phoning home) turned off completely – which is possible in Firefox but with some tinkering.
This Secure Browser also claims to be speedy but your results may vary compared to lightweight browsers like Firefox Quantum. Waterfox also promises to erase all online information from your computer, so passwords, cookies, and history, as well as blocking trackers automatically without addons.
Speaking of addons, Waterfox supports legacy Firefox extensions. The Waterfox subreddit is fairly active and its creator says that it will continue to be supported with updates and patches, although these won’t be as regular as Firefox. this Secure Browser is available on desktop and Android.
7. Pale Moon
Pale Moon is a lightweight secure browser and highly customizable open-source fork of Firefox. It is compatible with many classic Firefox add-ons, but not all of them. This Secure Browser is not compatible with Firefox’s new WebExtensions add-ons, but it has a growing library of add-ons that have been rebuilt specifically for Pale Moon.
Much of Pale Moon has been updated with code from more recent versions of Firefox, but its user interface remains the highly customizable XUL-based front-end last seen in Firefox 28. This Secure Browser includes support for a wide range of custom themes and skins. Pale Moon does not offer any “special privacy features” as such, but it doesn’t contain dubious, privacy-invading software, included in other mainstream browsers.
Although it provides a “close adherence to official web standards and specifications” Pale Moon is still working on full support for HTML5 and CSS3, so it can struggle when rendering some web pages.
8. Safari
Apple continues to add anti-tracking tech to Safari with each successive release on iOS and macOS, though this isn’t an option for your browser of choice if you’re on Windows or Android of course.
Safari is also a Secure Browser when coming to macOs. It has already declared war on third-party tracking cookies that try and connect the dots on your web activity across multiple sites and also blocks device fingerprinting techniques that try and identify you from the way your phone or laptop is configured.
Those protections are going to get tightened up even further with the arrival of iOS 13 and macOS Catalina in the fall. This Secure browser will even warn you when you try and use a password that’s too weak on a new website or service.
9. Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a fantastic browser that was a real revolution when it came out. However, there are some serious privacy issues with it, and it eats RAM for breakfast and not a very Secure Browser when we talk about data.
Google has always been known as a leader for browser security, and for good reason. In addition to leading its competitors in update frequency and scanning for harmful downloads.
Google automatically updates Chrome to the latest version, ensuring its users are always enjoying the latest browsing features. Chrome boasts the highest Browserscope security test scores, and Google itself has long encouraged hackers to find vulnerabilities in its own browser so the company can identify loopholes and improve the product.
10. Opera
Opera has been around a long time and has built a small, but loyal, fan base over the years. A few years it made headlines for being the first browser to have a built-in VPN, but a recent change in ownership has cast its security and privacy in a new light.
It is a fast and lightweight and secure browser that can compete on features with the likes of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Unlike Firefox and its derivatives, though, it is a closed source. The speeds aren’t as fast as we would like, but you can still stream and change your IP address without any hiccups.
Opera does have a cool feature that determines the security level of a WiFi network, which is great for those of us who tend to use public WiFi that makes it one of the Secure Browsers. We also like that the browser blocks ads and removes ad-tracking features. Overall, Opera gives a substantial amount of privacy and encryption for someone who’s looking for minimal use for a VPN.
