You’re probably seeing this on Google Chrome, which isn’t the most secure or private browser. Here are a few excellent choices.
If you were to look at the programs you use the most on your Windows PC, the browser would most likely be at the top of the list. Google Chrome is very certainly that browser, as it is by far the most popular program of its sort around the globe.
However, if you are concerned about security, there are many better solutions than Chrome. So, which are the best secure and safe online browsers for Windows that also preserve your privacy?
1. Firefox
Firefox, which was launched over 20 years ago as a safer and lighter alternative to Internet Explorer and other browsers, immediately became recognized for its security and privacy features. Today, Firefox has millions of users and remains an excellent choice for individuals who want a fast and dependable browser but are concerned about privacy and data security.
Firefox is open-source, often updated, and supports a wide range of extensions and add-ons, so it should be sufficient for the ordinary user.
Firefox, on the other hand, has attracted more experienced users for a reason: it is very customizable.
Even little changes, such as improving tracking protection (the browser has three privacy levels, Standard, Strict, and Custom, which you may choose in the Privacy & Security settings tab), can make a big impact.
You may also change how Firefox handles downloaded files, allow or deactivate automatic updates, control tracking, and cookie exceptions, and experiment with numerous other security and privacy options via the Privacy & Security menu.
Firefox is popular for a reason. Even after two decades, it remains one of the market’s top privacy and security-focused browsers, appropriate for both novice and experienced users.
Download: Mozilla Firefox (Free)
2. Brave
Brave has expanded swiftly since its initial release in 2019, garnering first tech aficionados and later tens of millions of users—and for good reason.
What distinguishes Brave is that you don’t need to fiddle with the settings or install adblockers and other plugins to search the web safely and privately: it’s all built-in.
To begin, Brave attempts to convert all websites to HTTPS (more secure than HTTP sites owing to encryption), and it prevents advertisements, scripts, and trackers.
The fact that you don’t have to install adblockers and addons is obviously a plus, but the negative is that some pages don’t always load entirely, which you may easily avoid by turning off the Shields function.
However, because it prevents advertisements, trackers, and scripts by default, Brave is exceptionally fast, so the minor inconvenience of turning off Shields on sometimes is well worth it.
Furthermore, Brave includes built-in access to the Tor network, which not only conceals your location but also makes it far more difficult for anybody to trace your online activities. Granted, Tor is not entirely anonymous in and of itself, but by having this capability available out of the box, Brave is leagues ahead of other browsers in terms of both privacy and security.
Download: Brave (Free)
3. Pale Moon
If you enjoy Firefox’s configurable capabilities, you’ll adore Pale Moon, which began as a fork of Firefox and is by far the most customized browser available today.
The stated motto of Pale Moon is “Your browser, Your Way,” which tells a lot about its user base: this is a browser for sophisticated users, computer enthusiasts, and individuals who enjoy experimenting with software in general. If you fall into that group, there isn’t a better browser than Pale Moon, which includes synchronization, security indications, and a sophisticated permission manager.
You may use the permission manager to prevent any domain from storing your cookies and data, displaying pop-ups, installing extensions, loading pictures, and other activities.
Most browsers enable you to create a broad cookie and data policy, but few allow you to specify particular restrictions and constraints for each domain you visit, making Pale Moon one of a kind in this regard.
Pale Moon also includes its own plug-ins and a variety of custom themes. More significantly, because it is open source, it has a very active development community, which means it is routinely updated and therefore improved.
Pale Moon’s biggest strength is also its major weakness: it is a unique browser with strong privacy and security features, but it is just not for everyone. If you like technology, you’ll probably enjoy it. If not, you’d be better off using Firefox or Brave.
Download: Pale Moon (Free)
4. Tor
Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, is simply a technology that allows anonymous internet connection by routing the user’s traffic across other servers, hiding their surfing.
The Tor Browser is the project’s official browser, and it, like Pale Moon, is simply a modified version of Firefox.
Tor will disguise your IP address, location, and other data that may be used to identify you or monitor your online behavior and browsing patterns by default. By selecting the Shield symbol next to the browser’s URL bar and changing the Security Level from Standard to Safer or Safest, you can simply improve these default privacy and security settings.
You may also deactivate certificates, enable HTTPS-Only Mode, and change additional privacy settings on the Security Settings page.
Tor is a fantastic solution for both casual and intermediate users since, while it gives virtually maximum protection and privacy, it is also incredibly simple and straightforward to use.
So, what are the drawbacks? In a nutshell, performance. Tor is significantly slower than other browsers—Firefox and Brave, for example, are roughly twice as fast.
Tor is vital as an online privacy tool, but if you value efficiency and speed and want a safe browser that you can use on a daily basis, investigate alternative solutions.
Download: Tor (Free)
The Most Secure and Private Browser
Windows is the most commonly used operating system in the world, and because it, like other systems, contains flaws, it will always be targeted by cybercriminals. Because security and privacy are inextricably linked, your web browser serves as the first line of protection against both cyberattacks and data tracking.
Firefox, Brave, Pale Moon, and Tor are all excellent browsers that will improve your security and data protection, but none of them is flawless or entirely anonymous.
Finally, your online security and privacy are in your control, therefore always observe fundamental cybersecurity principles when browsing the web.
