I feel like there is no web browser with a sane default configuration that I can recommend to other people. All browsers are preconfigured in a way that harms the privacy of their users or include services that no one wants such as Pocket and BAT.

Here are my problems with some popular browsers.

  • Mozilla Firefox: Pocket integration, no ad-blocking without extensions.

  • Brave: Everything related to crypto. Also its start page is horrible.

  • Chromium: No ad-blocking without extensions and soon Manifest v3 will cripple all content blockers.

Now, these suboptimal defaults wouldn’t be such a big problem if the configuration files were easy to backup and restore and respected the XDG base directory specification.

  • @danielfgomEnglish
    5•1 year ago

    You should REALLY try Vivaldi.

    Best browser for desktop and mobile. Privacy respecting and great onboarding, plus very versatile and powerful if you want that.

    Or keep it simple. They let you choose.

    https://vivaldi.com/

      • @[email protected]
        4•1 year ago

        they just have a built-in email client, note-taking software, RSS reader, calendar bloat

        You literally get a button when you first install it asking whether you want these things. One click and they’re disabled. Also OP post is about privacy not bloat and these features will only improve your privacy over using some webmail.

        Also, Vivaldi is based on chromium (as such subsribed to all Google’s bullshit)

        All google stuff is either removed or toggleable from settings.

        uses Chrome extension store.

        What’s wrong with that? It’s a good deal larger than mozilla’s

          • @[email protected]
            1•1 year ago

            Not sure about the encryption tbh. I’ve never used any mail service that properly supported it so haven’t tried.

            Also, using dedicated email client like claws or mutt is even better from privacy perspective.

            Any reason why, aside from encryption?

            They can’t remove Manifest V3 though.

            That’s why they have a built in adblocker.

    • @the_crab_manOPEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      Web browsers handle the most sensitive information about a user, so I would never trust a proprietary browser.

      • @[email protected]English
        2•1 year ago

        Most of Vivaldi is already open source. The only parts that aren’t are the front end. And that part is apparently just minified JavaScript