Firefox Focus is yet another open-source private web browser often chosen by privacy conscious users. It deletes your browsing history every time you close the browser window. Featuring a private browsing mode, Firefox Focus provides ad blocking, tracking protection, password management, and add-on support.

With its user-friendly interface and long-established reputation, it’s no wonder that Firefox Focus is among the most popular web browsers. Some people are wary of the fact that Firefox Focus collects anonymized usage data and shares it with its third-party marketing vendor, a company called Adjust. 

This is nothing like the kind of data collection perpetrated by something like Google Chrome, though, and it can be disabled in the settings.

One of the most popular browsers in the US, DuckDuckGo is arguably also one of the most private browsers available. Its privacy features include encrypting connections and hiding your IP address, blocking advertising trackers, and ensuring your browsing history remains private.

It also provides users with a privacy grade for each website they visit, making it easier to judge which sites are safe and which are best avoided. 

As for its cons, users point to the lack of advanced privacy settings and no virus or malware protection. Still, with the ability to load web pages twice as fast as Safari, many internet users opt for this alternative web browser app.

This next mobile browser is a bit controversial. Given that Apple has faced allegations of collecting user data in the past and with Safari being the default browser, it’s possible that some users may not be enthusiastic about using it.

Still, just because it’s a mainstream browser doesn’t mean it’s all that bad. When you use Safari, your online safety is enhanced through sandboxing. This process isolates open tabs from one another, effectively preventing any unauthorized data access or malicious code from spreading to other tabs or taking control of your browser.

As for its privacy features, Safari uses Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) which works to safeguard users’ privacy by limiting advertisers’ ability to track them across different websites. Finally, Safari comes with a built-in ad blocker that helps keep away all those annoying advertisements.

Every privacy-respecting web browser brings something different to the table. This is no less true of Aloha, a private browser app that has some pretty cool features.

As far as privacy protection goes, the Aloha browser has a free, unlimited VPN, ad blocking, and a private mode that allows you to browse privately, with no browsing history being logged.

As for additional features, Aloha comes with a built-in media player with VR support, the ability to secure your pictures, videos, and files with a passcode or fingerprint, and, as a cherry on top, an easy-to-use interface.

Unfortunately, even the best things have their cons. In the case of Aloha, it’s the fact that it isn’t open-source and that it’s reportedly slower than its competitors.

As the name implies, Private Browsing is a privacy-focused iOS web browser that features an interface that strongly resembles the Safari browser. It’s compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This private browser features a built-in ad blocker and password manager. Many users also appreciate how little storage space it takes up.

Its downside, according to some, is that it lacks some additional, privacy-enhancing features that other browsers have.

Possibly one of the most well-known open-source private browsers available, the Onion browser was created to ensure anonymous browsing and tracking protection when accessing the Tor network (commonly referred to as the dark web). Routing connections through the Tor network makes it nearly impossible to track and identify your online activities.

Regular updates mean it’s up-to-date with the latest security patches to provide you with the best private browsing experience. Additionally, it features iOS integration, making it that much easier to use.

As for the downsides, users often complain that the Onion browser is much slower than alternative browsers due to the many layers used to anonymize traffic. Also, JavaScript is disabled by default on the Onion browser, causing many websites to break or not load properly.

Although usable for browsing the clearnet (the regular internet), this browser is really designed with The Onion Router (Tor) network in mind.

Why is it important to use a private browser?

When you browse the web, your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and other parties are able to track your activity. The most concerning are data brokers and people search sites that scrape the internet searching for personal information. They can collect your personal details and find ways to monetize them. In this process, your private data becomes exposed, increasing the risk of falling victim to scammers and hackers.

The two best ways to ensure online safety are to use private browsers, both on your desktop and phone, and to get your data removed from the aforementioned data brokers and people search sites.

Once you switch to private browsing, spend some time sending opt-out requests to these third-party entities. This may sound easy, but it’s actually a very time-consuming process. So if you don’t want to spend countless hours writing removal requests, you’ll want to consider subscribing to Incogni.

Incogni is an automated personal information removal service that sends opt-out requests on your behalf. Incogni takes care of the entire process without you having to lift a finger. And at the end of the day, you can be sure your personal data is being taken off the market.