Maintaining Your Privacy Online: Quick Guide for Useful Browsers and Extensions

Here’s a quick list of Browsers and Extensions you should consider using immediately to help curb Big Tech’s influence (and spying) on your life:

Browsers:

1. Brave — this is my favorite of the ‘privacy conscious’ browser. Its built-in tracker and ad blocking is supererior (in my opinion) to the alternatives such as DuckDuckGo.
   https://brave.com/
2. DuckDuckGo — Also a good option, but not as good as Brave.
   https://duckduckgo.com/

Here’s a good comparison between Brave and DuckDuckGo:
https://techwiser.com/brave-vs-duckduckgo/

Browser addons and extensions:

If you decide you want to keep using the mainstream browsers (Chrome, Firefox — at least install these addons to make the experience safer, to block ads, and trackers:

1. uBlock Origin — If you only do one thing from this brief guide, install uBlock Origin. It will basically block all of the ads and trackers that are loaded on sites, making it more difficult to monetize you and your information.
   https://ublockorigin.com/
2. Abine Blur — a great privacy suite which also blocks trackers, and the premium version provides access to things like masked cards, and emails. Here’s a good review of the service:
   https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/abine-blur-premium

VPN

VPNs act as a middleman between you and the sites and services you use online. If you’re on a VPN, and you type in www.google.com, your VPN (where you’re connected) is seen as the computer requesting that URL (not you). This lets you browse the internet with a substantially higher level of protection, and adds another layer to make it difficult to be tracked.

This is a great comparison of the countless VPNs available:
https://www.safetydetectives.com/best-vpns/

Here are two that we suggest as good options:

1. Private Internet Access — Easy to use and install, and keeps no logs. This means that when you visit a site, or use an app — they don’t record what you did. Currently $39.95 a year (as of this writing).
   https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
2. NordVPN — another good option, user friendly, and scores well on all the privacy metrics. Currently $59 a year (as of this writing).
   https://nordvpn.com/

Just like wearing layers in the winter — the best defense is multiple layers of protection that compliment one another. Goodluck!