Vanadium (GrapheneOS Exclusive)

Vanadium is our Chromium-based browser built into GrapheneOS, featuring all the necessary security enhancements. In addition, the browser is frequently updated and is a strong choice for privacy-focused users. If you follow the steps below, you will be using Vanadium. However, if you prefer Firefox, Brave, or another browser, you will need the Aurora Store.

Technical Details

The Vanadium Browser

  1. Open Vanadium.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
  3. Click on “Settings.”

Privacy and Security Configuration

  1. Click on “Privacy and security.”
  2. Click on “Third-party cookies” and ensure it blocks third-party cookies.
  3. Go back.
  4. Enable “Close tabs on exit.”
  5. Disable “Improve search suggestions.”
  6. Disable “Open external links in incognito.”
  7. Disable “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request” (explained later at the bottom).
  8. Set “Safe Browsing” to “Enhanced protection.”
  9. Set “Always use secure connections” to “Warns you for insecure public & private sites.”
  10. Set “Use secure DNS” to your custom NextDNS (note: I use a different profile than on my network setup).
  11. Disable “Access payment methods.”

Password, Payment And Autofill Settings

  1. Go back.
  2. Click on “Password Manager” and disable all.
  3. Go back.
  4. Click on “Payment methods” and disable all.
  5. Go back.
  6. Click on “Addresses and more” and disable it.
  7. Go back.
  8. Click on “Autofill services” and disable it.

We don’t want our browser to save information, as there are browser-specific attack methods that can be utilized to steal all the information Vanadium holds. This is still the case, even if it is significantly less than other browsers, I am sure. With that said, a lot of convenience is often tied to less privacy; however, it’s not always the case. In this case, I believe it’s not a good idea.

Tab Management

  1. Go back.
  2. Click on “Tabs and tabs groups.”
  3. Click on “Move to inactive section.”
  4. Set to “After 7 days inactive.”
  5. Enable “Archive duplicate tabs.”
  6. Enable “Automatically close inactive items.”

Site Settings

  1. Go back to “Settings.”
  2. Click “Site settings.” Disable all under the “Permissions” section.
  3. Set “Clipboard” to ask first.
  4. Under the “Content” section (same tab), block “JavaScript JIT.”
  5. Block “Pop-ups and redirects.”
  6. Block “Ads.”
  7. Block “Background sync.”
  8. Block “Automatic downloads.”
  9. Enable “Automatically remove permissions.”

Now we’ve set up Vanadium, providing you with a very secure browser. After all, it comes with numerous security and privacy features that are baked in. However, you do need to delete your browser history manually. In conclusion, I believe that Vanadium is all you need if you make a habit of regularly deleting your browser data. Therefore, I recommend you keep Vanadium and learn to delete your browser data every time. After all, it’s the one that GrapheneOS made themselves.

However, if you’re not fond of Chromium, you could consider switching to Firefox. For instance, I tried Firefox on my phone, but I find Vanadium to be better overall. Additionally, if you really need something more robust, you could get Tor.

Do Not Track is a rotten carrot! It can be used as an identifier to track you, so never use it!

After that whole speech, you can beneficially check out our other browser guides down below.

Privacy & Security For All!