Important

Browser

Your browser tracks everywhere you go online. Switch to one that blocks trackers by default.

My recommendation

Brave Browser

Free, fast, and private by default. Brave blocks third-party ads and trackers, cross-site cookies, and many fingerprinting techniques before pages load. It works on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac.

Download Brave
  1. 1

    Download Brave

    It’s free. Get it on iPhone / iPad, Android, Mac, or Windows.

  2. 2

    Make it your default browser

    On a Mac or Windows computer, open Brave, then choose Menu → Settings → Get started → Make default. On a phone or tablet, choose Brave in your device’s default-browser settings.

  3. 3

    Bring your bookmarks with you

    When Brave first opens, its welcome tour can help you import bookmarks and settings from your old browser. You don’t have to start over.

  4. 4

    Keep Shields up

    Brave’s lion icon is called Shields. It blocks tracking attempts automatically and lets you see what it blocked. If a website you trust does not work properly, use that icon to turn Shields off for that one site only.

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Brave will feel familiar

Brave is built on the same underlying browser technology as Chrome, so bookmarks, tabs, and many familiar websites work much the same way. The difference is that its privacy protections are built in. You can choose the search engine that suits you. See the Search Engine guide for help with that.

What your browser knows about you

Your browser is the window through which you experience the entire internet, and it can reveal an enormous amount about you. Chrome, for example, is made by Google, an advertising company. When you use Google services or allow cross-site tracking, that activity can help Google and advertisers understand more about you. Over time, those details can shape the ads and content you see.

Even when you use “Incognito Mode,” your browser only stops saving your history locally. Your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and Google itself can still see what you’re doing.

What trackers actually do

Almost every website you visit contains invisible tracking scripts from third parties, often advertising and social-media companies. These scripts can record which pages you visit, how long you stay, and what you click on. The data can be used to build detailed profiles and serve targeted ads.

Brave blocks many of these tracking scripts before they can load. This protects your privacy and can make pages load faster.

Why Brave

Brave Shields blocks third-party ads and trackers, cross-site cookies, and many fingerprinting techniques by default. It also upgrades many connections to HTTPS and strips known tracking tags from some links. Fingerprinting is a way websites can recognize your device from a bundle of small details, even when you have not signed in.

Brave says it does not collect or retain your browsing history. Some optional features need information to work, so privacy still depends on the settings and services you choose. Brave is free and available on every major platform.

Use Shields wisely

The standard Shields setting is a strong, practical default. Some sites can break when content is blocked. If a website you trust does not work correctly, click the lion icon in the address bar and turn Shields off only for that site. Your protection stays on everywhere else.

Private is not anonymous

Private windows help keep browsing history off a shared device, but they do not hide activity from the websites you visit or your internet provider. Brave is a strong everyday privacy choice, not a substitute for a VPN or a specialized anonymity tool.

Optional features

Brave includes optional features such as Rewards and Wallet. They are not required for the privacy protections described here. For a simple privacy-first setup, you can ignore them unless you have a specific reason to use them.

Further Reading