Secure and Private Browsing
Summary
TLDRThis discussion covers the best browsers for privacy, highlighting Firefox with added privacy scripts as the top choice. Brave is used but not necessarily recommended due to limited options. Concerns about Tor's speed and security are mentioned, while browsers like Epic and Opera are criticized for various reasons. Waterfox and LibreWolf are noted for privacy but have security update lags. The speaker also touches on the VPN industry, recommending self-setup over paid services for true privacy and security. The overall message emphasizes skepticism and careful selection of privacy tools.
Takeaways
- π Firefox is considered one of the best browsers for privacy, especially with the addition of the Firefox privacy script by Simon on security.
- π οΈ Privacytools.io is a recommended site for finding privacy-oriented browser tools and scripts.
- π LibreWolf and other Firefox forks are less preferred due to slower updates and potential vulnerabilities.
- π’ Tor browser is noted for its privacy but criticized for its slow performance and potential security issues with exit nodes.
- π Epic browser is not well-regarded due to its default privacy settings being comparable to Chrome and questionable affiliations.
- π‘οΈ Brave is used by the speaker and recommended for its relatively better privacy features, though its Tor functionality is lacking.
- π Waterfox is seen as less secure due to delayed updates from the Firefox project.
- β Opera is strongly discouraged due to past unethical practices, particularly with high-interest loans.
- π VPNs are commonly used for torrents and geo-unlocking rather than genuine privacy or security, with a recommendation to set up personal VPNs using WireGuard or OpenVPN.
- π VPN services can sometimes be compromised, as highlighted by an incident with NordVPN, making personal VPNs a safer choice.
Q & A
What browser is the speaker currently using for privacy?
-The speaker is currently using Brave browser.
What is the speaker's opinion on Mozilla Firefox for privacy?
-The speaker thinks Mozilla Firefox is probably the best browser for privacy, especially with additional scripts like the Firefox privacy script by Simon on Security.
What concerns does the speaker have about using forks of Firefox like LibreWolf and Waterfox?
-The speaker is concerned that forks like LibreWolf and Waterfox might be slow to patch security vulnerabilities, making users potentially vulnerable for longer periods.
Why does the speaker not recommend using the Tor browser?
-The speaker finds the Tor browser to be very slow and is concerned about the security and privacy of exit nodes, some of which might be controlled by state actors.
What is the speaker's opinion on the Epic browser?
-The speaker is not familiar with the Epic browser but expresses skepticism, especially after discovering that its default privacy settings are not much better than Chrome.
Why does the speaker dislike Opera browser?
-The speaker dislikes Opera browser due to its history of unethical practices, such as soliciting high-interest loans to users and being generally untrustworthy.
What is the speaker's opinion on Mullvad VPN?
-The speaker acknowledges that Mullvad VPN is one of the last independent VPNs on the market and suggests it might be a good option, though they don't use it themselves.
Why does the speaker not recommend paid VPN services for security and privacy?
-The speaker believes paid VPN services can act as honeypots and points out past security breaches, like the one experienced by NordVPN. They recommend setting up a personal VPN for better security.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to paid VPN services?
-The speaker suggests setting up a personal VPN using tools like WireGuard or OpenVPN, which can provide better security and privacy.
What is the speaker's overall stance on privacy browsers and VPNs?
-The speaker believes there are no perfect options for privacy browsers and VPNs, each having its own drawbacks. They advocate for informed choices and setting up personal solutions when possible.
Outlines
π‘οΈ Best Browser for Privacy
The speaker discusses the importance of choosing the right browser for privacy, mentioning the use of Brave browser. They emphasize that while Brave is being used, it is not an endorsement. Mozilla Firefox is highlighted as a top choice, especially when enhanced with privacy scripts like the one from Simon on Security. The speaker expresses concerns about other browsers like LibreWolf and the security implications of using forks of Firefox. The topic of Tor is also covered, with the speaker acknowledging its privacy benefits but criticizing its speed and potential vulnerabilities due to state actor-controlled exit nodes. Epic browser is briefly mentioned, but the speaker is skeptical about its privacy claims due to poor default settings.
π« Criticism of Epic and Other Browsers
The speaker continues to critique various browsers, expressing disappointment in Epic browser's privacy settings. They also mention their personal connection to Kansas, where Epic's founder grew up, but ultimately dismiss the browser due to its association with Norton. Brave is again mentioned, with the speaker criticizing its Tor feature. Other browsers like Waterfox and Opera are discussed, with the speaker disapproving of Opera's business practices and Waterfox's slow updates. Mullvad VPN is introduced as a rare independent VPN, but the speaker advises caution due to the lack of affiliate revenue and possible security concerns.
π VPNs and Their Real Use
The final section focuses on VPNs, with the speaker discussing their primary use cases, such as torrents and geo-unlocking, rather than security or privacy. They explain how to set up a personal VPN using tools like WireGuard and OpenVPN, which can offer better security than public VPN services. The speaker highlights the risks associated with VPN services, citing a breach at NordVPN as an example. They conclude that IT professionals rarely use VPNs for privacy and security and suggest that most users would benefit more from setting up their own VPN.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Privacy Browser
π‘Brave Browser
π‘Mozilla Firefox
π‘Tor Browser
π‘Privacy Script
π‘Browser Forks
π‘VPN (Virtual Private Network)
π‘Affiliate Revenue
π‘State Actors
π‘Public Network
Highlights
The Brave browser is being used, though it's not an outright recommendation due to limited options for privacy-focused browsers.
Mozilla Firefox is considered the best privacy browser, especially when enhanced with additional privacy scripts like the one from Simon on Security.
Privacytools.io is recommended for evaluating different privacy-oriented browsers.
Concerns about the speed and security of Tor browser are raised, especially regarding exit nodes potentially being controlled by state actors.
Epic browser, though built on Chromium, does not have default privacy settings better than Chrome, making it a questionable choice for privacy.
Waterfox and LibreWolf, forks of Firefox, have issues with staying on stable releases too long, posing security concerns.
Opera browser is heavily criticized for unethical practices, such as preying on users with high-interest loans.
Mullvad VPN is highlighted as one of the last independent VPNs without affiliate revenue, making it less commonly recommended by YouTubers.
Affiliate sales in the VPN industry are significant, with YouTubers earning substantial commissions, influencing their recommendations.
For actual privacy and security, setting up a personal VPN using tools like WireGuard or OpenVPN is recommended over commercial VPN services.
NordVPN had a security breach where hackers gained hardware access to their server banks, compromising user data.
Most IT professionals use VPNs for torrents and geo-unlocking rather than for privacy or security purposes.
The practicality of mobile privacy browsers like the hypothetical Mullvad browser is acknowledged, though not currently explored.
Brave's Tor feature is mentioned as subpar compared to the standalone Tor browser.
Overall, the landscape of privacy-focused browsers is depicted as lacking ideal options, with each having significant trade-offs.
Transcripts
all right best browser for privacy this
is one of the most misunderstood topics
I think on the net so I'm using Brave
browser here don't get that mixed up as
me recommending Brave it's just there's
not that many great options when it
comes to browsers and brave just kind of
smells the not as bad as the rest for
the most part depending on where you're
at so this article right here says right
now number one's Mozilla
Firefox I don't disagree with that I
think Firefox probably would be the best
but I probably would add some stuff to
it there's this great script I think
it's like uh Firefox privacy
script um Simon on security made it yeah
that's it this is a great script that I
highly recommend I'm going to link it in
chat for everybody if you're a Firefox
you're concerned about privacy this is a
great one it even got mentioned in
privacytools.io which is a great one
when you're looking at different privacy
oriented browsers uh this actually is
not a bad uh site to go to but this one
can run the script and make Firefox less
Snoopy and and just overall a good
privacy browser approach now I know they
mentioned like Libre wolf and some other
ones I don't like these as much as the
Bas Mozilla with a privacy script just
because the Bas Mozilla does a better
job of patching like bleeding edge like
day zeros and stuff like that where some
of these Forks of
Firefox sometimes can be slow on the uh
the uptake and you could be vulnerable
for longer so from the security aspect I
like the more standard Firefox approach
with privacy browser but kind of
interesting um let's flip number two's
tour tour is just slow as crap app and I
just can't consider it as a normal
browser and I don't know from a security
or privacy
standpoint how useful it is because a
lot of I think the exit nodes a lot of
State actors are in this realm now to
where the tour Network I'm not 100%
certain that it's perfectly private and
perfectly secure as many people make it
out to be so
tour it gets me a little iffy and the
fact it's so slow also kind of like H I
have a hard time ever recommending tour
to anybody it's okay and it's probably
better than your stock browser but uh
again I I worry about a lot of those
exit nodes and stuff being run by state
actors and some other facts so I mean
I'm I'm kind of like on the fence about
tour it can be a good thing but it is
very slow so that's it epic what the
hell's epic if you're a chrome user easy
switch epic ships with privacy
protections have I been sleeping on a
new browser chat you heard about epic
using Incognito for privacy browsers you
still need epic how you're tracked epic
privacy
browser what is this no no okay I'm not
the only one on this one um who are they
built on chromium like everybody else
it's backed as a product of hidden
reflex of software company founded by
alok
Baja sorry Booker that name uh with a
development team in
Bangalore Bangalore India okay founder
of Slash dot blah blah blah grew up in
Texas Virginia and Kansas hey Kansas I'm
from Kansas I'm a Kansas boy born and
raised studied philosophy music
Princeton University previously blah
blah blah well I have to check that out
Epic browser okay I I can't render
opinion on it because I haven't used it
so
interesting uh it does have some
drawbacks though we tested it using EFS
cover Your Tracks tool default privacy
settings weren't much better than Chrome
oh
man oh
no how how do you have a privacy setting
where the default privacy settings
aren't better than
Chrome like
what okay well we'll still maybe look
that up I'm still partial he's from
Kansas he can't be that bad oh jeez was
there did I see a Norton icon in the
footer oh is there is there one let me
see no I didn't see oh my gosh you did
see a Norton icon in the footer people
still do this what they hire a web
developer from 2003
like how does that even happen anymore
okay we can't take epic browser
seriously man I really wanted to like
the guy he's he grew up in Kansas that's
where I grew up although how did he grow
up in three states his dad must have
been in the military or something any
who it is Norton safe web protected by
semantic that's
terrible all right so yeah yeah all
right best private browser for you um
Brave that's what I'm using right now
it's not so bad their tour feature in
Brave kind of sucks too by the way tour
browser does a better job than the Brave
Brave tour if you if you're unfamiliar
there's a new private window with tour
it works like
just not not very well at all tour
browser Works infinitely better uh
waterf Fox again same thing applies I I
prefer Li Libra wolf more than water Fox
Fox water Fox I know sometimes their
Forks when they Fork it they they stay
on a stable release way too long and I'm
more worried about them uh they're
Downstream they take a long time to pull
back from the Firefox project
so yes they're private but the security
aspect is a bit more Pro problematic for
me Opera um I hate Opera it's just
absolutely the worst they are just no
don't don't ever use Opera they I think
it was their privacy or their their
mobile one where they prayed upon all
their users and were
solicita high interest loans upwards of
20 or 30% per month uh on their aprs so
they were soliciting like almost these I
think they were credit cards and just
awful awful company so Opera don't ever
use anything from them terrible and then
mulvad still new I haven't used them um
molad vpns I did talk about uh I'd say
mulvad is one of the last independent
VPN on the market you don't hear a lot
about mulvad VPN on YouTubers because
they have no affiliate Revenue meaning
they don't give YouTubers any money so
any security Channel you watch on
YouTube will never recommend molad
because they are missing 30 % of the cut
example
expressvpn if you signed up using my
link for them which I I'm no longer
sponsored by them and I don't have a
link anywhere for them anymore I don't
think if I do I'll take it down but like
let's say you sign up for the $100 a
year for for them I would get 30% of
that cut so I get $30 for every person
that signs up for expressvpn for the
full year at $100 so as you see if you
get a th000 people signing up and a $30
a pop well that's that's $330,000 in
that YouTuber's pocket so why would they
ever recommend something that doesn't
give them this kind of commission this
is YouTube affiliate sales in a nutshell
that no YouTuber will ever talk about
because they literally would be shooting
themselves in the foot because some
especially in the security realm when it
comes to vpns they make the most money
off of these affiliate sales because the
rips are huge these commissions are
massive and uh that's that's why the vpm
game is as it is but if you actually do
want a decent VPN I don't even recommend
mulad honestly but if you're going to
pick one and you're thinking that that's
a good thing that's fine but I would
highly recommend just going with
something different you know making your
own VPN but yes no I I when it comes to
vpns like for security and privacy
purpos purp is going to a like let's say
a hotel or a public network typically
you'd want to establish a VPN to try
encrypt your traffic but you can do that
to your home network using wire guard
using openvpn you can set up your own
free one and that way you're working off
of your home network instead of that
public network that can can have some
bad stuff happening so from a security
privacy Point that's really the only
time I'd recommend a VPN but I wouldn't
pay for it uh so that's the thing and
there's also been instances where these
kind of these VPN Services can be
working like honeypots uh like it was I
think nordvpn had a instance where they
had their data centers breached with out
of band access for several months and a
hacker had full Hardware controls of
that uh of that whole server server bank
I want to
say so they had Hardware access to all
of the information going in and out of
those those servers for for the VPN so
these people that were thinking they
were being private and secure were
actually would have been far better if
they were just doing it on their own
network having said that most of us in
the it realm don't use VPN for anything
I just said for privacy or security
Torrance and Geo unlocking that's
usually what these vpns are good for
let's just be real it ain't it has
nothing to do with security or privacy
that's why these VPN Services exist so
that is the gist of it and as far as
privacy
browsers pick your poison there aren't
any good options but hey maybe mobile
bad briser will come out and I would
love to try it someday probably not
today so that's my take on browsing
privately and
securely
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