These Are The Best Privacy Browsers On Android

There are several browsers that truly safeguard user privacy on Android devices. These browsers are specifically designed to stop online tracking and data harvesting. Many of them are even open-source or come from some of the most reputable and trustworthy names in the tech industry. While some are already relatively popular, there are a few hidden gems that few people know about.

Online tracking and data collection have always been a massive problem. Privacy-conscious users have been doing everything possible to prevent their web activity from being logged by various companies, big and small. While most of the tracking is done by advertising firms to push targeted ads, the vast amounts of data could also be dangerous in the hands of malicious actors with nefarious intent.

One of the best browsers from the privacy point of view is Firefox Focus. The non-profit Mozilla Foundation offers Firefox Focus is a minimalist, privacy-focused web browser. It is free and open-source (FOSS) and has built-in ad-blocking and tracking protection. Mozilla advertises it as ‘Private by default’ to emphasize that it only functions in private (incognito) mode. It is not as feature-rich as the regular Firefox but is perhaps the best choice for folks who prioritize privacy above all else. Another notable privacy-focused open-source browser is the Tor Browser, developed by the non-profit Tor Project Inc. Funded by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). The Tor Browser consists of a modified Mozilla Firefox and several privacy-focused extensions by default, including the TorButton, TorLauncher, the Tor proxy, NoScript and HTTPS Everywhere.

Privacy-Oriented Browsers On Android

Another excellent option for privacy-conscious users is the DuckDuckGo Browser. It not only offers all the features one would expect in a modern web browser but also one-tap deletion of all web history at once. It also automatically blocks hidden third-party trackers and comes with Global Privacy Control (GPC), which tells websites not to collect or share user data unless explicitly permitted to do so.

Kiwi Browser is one of the best options for people who’d much rather have a Chrome-like browser but with better privacy credentials. It is an open-source Chromium and Webkit-based browser that started on the XDA Forums in 2018. It comes with not only built-in ad-blocking and tracking protection but also cryptojacking protection to block hackers from covertly using a device to mine crypto-currency.

Alongside the browsers mentioned above, the free and open-source Chromium is also a good choice for privacy-conscious users, especially if they’re used to Google Chrome. Chromium is the open-source browser project on which many popular web browsers are based, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. However, it doesn’t have built-in DRM components that enable Chrome to play copyrighted content. Also, it is not available on major app stores like Google Play or F-Droid, and can only be sideloaded from the official website.

Finally, there’s the good old Firefox, one of the best browsers for privacy on any platform. It comes with all the features and customization options one could want from in a browser and none of the compromises of some of the other browsers on this list. Like Firefox Focus, users can also configure the browser to start in ‘Private’ mode every time. The browser now also supports add-ons (extensions) on Android, although the list of compatible add-ons leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, Firefox is open-source, has built-in tracking protection, and should address just about any privacy concern of even the most paranoid users.

Source: Firefox Focus, Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo Browser, Kiwi Browser, Chromium, Firefox