Brave Browser

Brave Browser is a hardened version of Chromium, designed with a strong emphasis on user privacy and security. For individuals who appreciate the aesthetics and functionality of Google Chrome but seek enhanced privacy features, Brave presents a great alternative.

One of the great aspects of Brave is its built-in ad blocker, which means no ads and no trackers. It also employs advanced techniques for browser fingerprinting protection, minimizing the amount of data that can identify users across the web, which means robust protection against tracking. These techniques include blocking third-party cookies, which are often used to track user behavior across different sites. By leveraging these advanced privacy techniques, Brave effectively creates a browsing environment that prioritizes user anonymity and security.

Download Brave

Brave Browser 

Brave is an excellent browser when it comes to privacy, making it a straightforward choice for those looking to improve their online security. It’s significantly easier to recommend Brave to a family member compared to a browser like Firefox, which, while also a strong browser for privacy, typically requires more setup and adjustments to achieve optimal privacy settings.

Brave is designed to be private right out of the box, allowing users to have a more private and secure browsing experience without the need for extensive configuration. This approach makes it great for individuals who may not be as much into tech. With its built-in technologies, Brave ensures that users can browse the web with peace of mind.

Settings

  1. Click on the “Appearance” button in the left menu.
  2. Disable all options within the entire page.
  3. Keep “Show bookmarks bar” set to Always, as I use bookmarks.

Shields

  1. Click on the “Shields” button on the left bar.
  2. Set “Trackers & ads blocking” to “Aggressive.”
  3. Set “Upgrade connections to HTTPS” to “Strict.”
  4. Confirm that “Block scripts” is off, as it can break everything.
  5. Set “Block fingerprinting” to “Strict; may break sites” (I personally have never had issues).
  6. Set “Block cookies” to “Block third-party cookies.”
  7. Enable “Forget me when I close this site.”
  8. Disable “Store contact information for future broken site reports.”
  9. Disable all options in the “Social media blocking” section at the bottom.
  10. Click on the “Content filtering” option.
  11. Under “Filter lists,” click “Show full lists” and enable what you find useful to block.

Privacy & Security

  1. Click on the “Privacy and security” option in the left menu.
  2. Click on the “Delete browsing data” option.
  3. Select the “On exit” option.
  4. Check all available options.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Click on the “Security” option and verify that “Standard protection” is on.
  7. We will go over secure DNS here: NextDNS.
  8. Click back.

Last Tinkering

  1. Verify that “Use Google services for push messaging” is off.
  2. Enable the three options that follow.
  3. Disable “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browser traffic,” as this can become an identifier.
  4. Enable “Private window with Tor” (never use Tor in Brave!).
  5. Disable “Tor windows” and “Data collection.”
  6. Click on the “Search engine” option in the left menu.
  7. Pick either DuckDuckGo.com or Brave for both Normal and Private windows.
  8. Disable everything else in this section.
  9. Click on the “Extensions” option in the left menu.
  10. Disable “Allow Google login for extensions.”
  11. Disable “Media Router.”
  12. Enable “Widevine,” as it’s required for most video.

A Last Comment

Now you’re all set up with the Brave browser and the correct settings. One thing I find a bit overwhelming about Brave is all the extra features and fluff, like the cryptocurrency aspects and other functionalities that I personally don’t care much about. For those who aren’t interested in these features, it can feel unnecessary. But luckily, they can always be disabled.

Privacy & Security For All!