Once authenticated, click Add then Applications - Brave Browser, then click Open; You should now see Brave displayed in the list of Applications with full disk access. From here, you can now use the steps in the section above to import Safari data into Brave. How do I export bookmarks from Brave as an HTML file? Launch Brave and open the Main. Download Firefox Firefox Privacy Notice Just like the Firefox browser, the Brave browser is free, open source and focused on protecting users’ privacy. Brave is a relative newcomer to the world of browsers: its maker, Brave Software, first debuted the browser in January 2016.
© Provided by CNET Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesWhile standalone virtual private networks will almost always offer you the strongest privacy protections, a growing suite of browser-based VPNs are worth checking into for those of us looking for something more lightweight that still ups your online security . Easier to use than standalone VPNs, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Brave Browser now all offer browser-based options designed to keep you scrolling fast while hiding your IP.
© James Martin/CNETVPN helps employees work remotely and help individuals avoid censorship.
Here's what you need to know about these browser-based VPNs, and what they offer.
Read more:The best VPN services of 2021
Browser-based VPNs vs. standalone VPNs
There are three different types of VPNs you can opt for, and each offers a different layer of protection.
First, there are router VPNs, which funnel all of the internet activity of everything connected to your home Wi-Fi network into their servers to keep you anonymous. Secondly, there are VPN apps for your computer or mobile that will protect your anonymity only on the device you've put them on, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
And finally, there are browser-based proxy services and VPNs. Sometimes browser companies erroneously call their proxy services a VPN to make them sound more secure, but I've noted which are which below. Where desktop and mobile VPNs protect the anonymity of your whole device -- all internet activity in your browsers, file-sharing apps and email clients -- browser-based proxies just anonymize what happens in your browser. They're less secure and less private, but far faster.
Whether you opt for a browser-based VPN or not, we still recommend tweaking your browser's settings to take advantage of any current privacy options you've already got onboard.
Brave
Brave Firefox Based
© Provided by CNET Illustration by Stephen Shankland/CNETRather than being just a simple proxy service, Brave's built-in browser VPN for iPhone and iPad delivers a full encryption experience. Strong security often comes at the expense of speed, but not so when paired with Brave Browser's lightning speeds.
Brave Firefox Focus
The browser feature, called Brave Firewall + VPN, is actually a combination of its VPN and its Brave Firewall protection software which blocks malicious websites and trackers more thoroughly than most of its competitors. And unlike most other browser-based VPNs, Brave Firewall + VPN offers full device encryption. It runs $10 per month or $100 per year, and a single subscription can be used on up to five devices.
Firefox
© Provided by CNET MozillaMozilla's VPN experience has been a bit confusing. First, its standalone VPN was known as Firefox Private Network, and then Firefox VPN. Then Mozilla launched an add-on, changed the standalone's name to Mozilla VPN, and called the add-on Firefox Private Network. Phew.
But never mind the early confusion. The Firefox Private Network add-on is a proxy service that's worth checking out if you want a light layer of privacy while browsing on public Wi-Fi. It doesn't offer full-device encryption the way the standalone Mozilla VPN does, but it doesn't drag your speeds down as much either. It's also easy to use: it's single, on-off switch makes it a breeze to operate.
And, yes, it's completely free of charge. While we usually would never recommend using a free VPN, again, this isn't really a VPN: It's a proxy service that offers extra privacy, not the full VPN suite of tools. If you want to really cover your tracks by upgrading to a full VPN, you should always use a paid service with a proven privacy track record (check out our favorite VPNs here).
Chrome
© Provided by CNET Angela Lang/CNETChrome doesn't have a native VPN built into it. Instead, you'll need to use browser-based extensions from your preferred VPN to get the same effect.
I recommend using the Chrome extension from our Editors' Choice VPN service, ExpressVPN. You can also use it on Firefox, Edge, Brave and Vivaldi browsers. You'll still need to have downloaded the full ExpressVPN app, but the lightweight browser extension allows you to streamline your VPN use to just geolocation changes and a couple other core privacy features.
In October of 2020, Google launched its own standalone VPN as part of its $100 annual bundle package for Google One subscribers with a 2TB account. If you're already a Google One user and simply looking for an extra layer of protection while using free public Wi-Fi, this VPN could be a great fit.
If you're interested in keeping your browsing and usage data private from corporations and government entities, however, I'd urge you to consider carefully Google's long, storied history of sharing and collecting user data before you use any of its products.
For more on VPNs, check out our picks for the best cheap VPNs, the fastest VPNs we've tested, and how to choose the right VPN provider for working from home.