Tools · Chapter 4
Browsers
Seven browsers by engine, out-of-the-box privacy and how far you can configure them.
| Browser | Engine | Privacy by default | Customisability | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firefox | Gecko (Mozilla) | Good with hardening | Excellent | Best all-rounder. Open source, independent engine, massive extension support. Requires configuration to reach its potential. |
| Brave | Chromium (Google) | Very good out of box | Good | Best zero-config option. Built-in ad and tracker blocking, fingerprint randomisation. Chromium base is a minor concern; Brave's additions are legitimate. |
| LibreWolf | Gecko (Firefox fork) | Excellent out of box | Good | Firefox pre-hardened. Ideal if you want Firefox-level privacy without doing the configuration yourself. |
| Mullvad Browser | Gecko (Firefox fork) | Excellent, Tor-mode | Limited | Built with the Tor Project. Maximises fingerprint uniformity — everyone using it looks the same. Prioritises anti-fingerprinting over convenience. |
| Chromium | Chromium | Moderate | Good | Google Chrome without the Google. Better than Chrome, not as good as the options above. Acceptable if you need Chromium-specific compatibility. |
| Chrome | Chromium (Google) | Poor | Limited | Google's product. Every page you visit is a data point in Google's profile of you. Do not use as your primary browser. |
| Safari | WebKit (Apple) | Decent | Poor | Better than Chrome on privacy. Apple's ITP (Intelligent Tracking Prevention) is genuinely effective. No extension ecosystem worth noting. Fine on Apple devices if you won't switch. |
Reproduced verbatim from The Privacy Diet, Chapter 4 — “Choosing Your Browser”. The book explains the reasoning behind each verdict.