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Old 05-06-2021, 12:28 PM   #1
heathcliff36
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Brave Browser - is it really so good?


I have used Firefox ever since going onto Linux.
I 'hardened' Firefox after taking recommendations from https://browserleaks.com/.
Despite this, the EFF (https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/) site is showing that due to my graphics/sound card (integrated with cpu) - my Firefox browser still has a unique fingerprint.
That's not great since I am using a paid-for vpn.

Step forward Brave Browser!
It's FOSS. All ads are blocked - even on Youtube! There is no unique fingerprinting! No advanced tweaking required - you're invisible by default. Additional Tor browser feature. Hell, it even pays you to use their browser (the BAT system)!

So what's the catch? It's too good to be true, right?

Last edited by heathcliff36; 05-06-2021 at 12:30 PM.
 
Old 05-06-2021, 12:49 PM   #2
pan64
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I would read some reviews (pros/cons) on the net. At the end you need to decide.
 
Old 05-06-2021, 01:39 PM   #3
wpeckham
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I tried it, but stopped using it soon. I have several other options and try to use only a certain one for a particular site. I also REALLY LIKE fingerprint masking two ways: 1. A fingerprint rotator that changes what OS, Platform, and Browser it reports about hourly, and 2. one which tells everything you are using Internet Explorer on Windows 7 no matter WHAT you really have.

I find some sites simply break into little sad pieces under one of those, so on those sites I use the other.
They are out there, if you know to look for them.

PS. Google really hates me.
 
Old 05-06-2021, 03:29 PM   #4
heathcliff36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wpeckham View Post
I tried it, but stopped using it soon.
Bit of a Freudian slip.
It means you haven't tried it.

Quote:
I also REALLY LIKE fingerprint masking two ways: 1. A fingerprint rotator that changes what OS, Platform, and Browser it reports about hourly, and 2. one which tells everything you are using Internet Explorer on Windows 7 no matter WHAT you really have.
The reason why a website asks what browser you're using is: it's so the website can run optimally on you're browser.
If Firefox tells a website it is actually Internet Explorer - then the obfuscation will work - but the website will not run properly on your browser.
That's because the website will be running on IE configuration instead of FF configuration.

Browser fingerprinting is about what hardware you're using.
You will change your software every year.
You will change your hardware every decade.

Quote:
PS. Google really hates me.
Me too. I haven't used it for over 10 years.
What about you?
 
Old 05-06-2021, 06:49 PM   #5
Timothy Miller
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post
I have used
Step forward Brave Browser!
It's FOSS. All ads are blocked - even on Youtube!
I tried it quite some time ago, and it's nowhere near as privacy oriented as a hardened ungoogled Chromium or Firefox. First, the "blocks all ads" is patently false. It simply replaces ads on pages with it's OWN partners ads. So instead of getting ads that benefit the webpage, you get ads that benefit Brave. But you most definitely still get ads. No thank you...ungoogle chromium + ublock origin it is for me. I don't care who sends the ads, I don't want ads.
 
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Old 05-06-2021, 07:28 PM   #6
m.a.l.'s pa
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Originally Posted by Timothy Miller View Post
But you most definitely still get ads.
I've been trying out Brave. I'm not seeing any ads.
 
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Old 05-06-2021, 10:28 PM   #7
heathcliff36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timothy Miller View Post
I tried it quite some time ago, and it's nowhere near as privacy oriented as a hardened ungoogled Chromium or Firefox.
Have you tested your browser on the EFF link given in the original post?
Does your Firefox lack a unique fingerprint?

It turns out that the more add-ons you use on FF - the more your browser becomes unique on the internet.
Believe it or not, most people don't harden FF.
So when you do harden FF - you become the few.
And with extra info of your hardware from javascript - you've exposed a unique fingerprint.

Quote:
the "blocks all ads" is patently false. It simply replaces ads on pages with it's OWN partners ads. So instead of getting ads that benefit the webpage, you get ads that benefit Brave.
That's a 'fake news' argument.
Wikipedia clearly explains that the untrustworthy and unsolicited ads on FF are replaced by vaccinated ads from Brave Browser's own library.

Also, Brave Browser pays you 70% of the ad-fee for their non-toxic third-party ads.
So now I want those ads!
Guess what, I haven't seen any.
Do you know what it's like watching Youtube with no ads?
It's an absolute godsend!

Quote:
I don't care who sends the ads, I don't want ads.
Erm... then I suggest you install Brave Browser.
It's easily installed on debian/ubuntu/Mint

I just wanted to know if Brave Browser is legit.
 
Old 05-06-2021, 10:42 PM   #8
Timothy Miller
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post



Erm... then I suggest you install Brave Browser.
It's easily installed on debian/ubuntu/Mint

I just wanted to know if Brave Browser is legit.
Like I said, I tried it and I had ads. I don't want ads, regardless if they meet someones ideas of "clean and acceptable". Therefore, I won't use Brave, I'd rather use...any of various other browsers that DO allow you to FULLY BLOCK ads.

You asked for opinions on if it's too good to be true, I gave mine. Do with it as you will.
 
Old 05-06-2021, 11:35 PM   #9
m.a.l.'s pa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post
Do you know what it's like watching Youtube with no ads?
It's an absolute godsend!
Yeah, when I posted earlier I had YouTube Music playing in one tab. No ads, but the Brave Shields icon was showing a count of the blocked ads.

I passed on the Brave Rewards stuff and did not opt in. I don't know what things would look like if I hadn't gone that route, and if I'd be seeing more ads. As long as they're being blocked, I don't care.
 
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Old 05-06-2021, 11:50 PM   #10
heathcliff36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wpeckham View Post
I tried it, but stopped using it soon. I have several other options and try to use only a certain one for a particular site. I also REALLY LIKE fingerprint masking two ways: 1. A fingerprint rotator that changes what OS, Platform, and Browser it reports about hourly, and 2. one which tells everything you are using Internet Explorer on Windows 7 no matter WHAT you really have.
Yes, but do you use a vpn?
 
Old 05-07-2021, 12:53 AM   #11
ondoho
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post
I have used Firefox ever since going onto Linux.
I 'hardened' Firefox after taking recommendations from https://browserleaks.com/.
Despite this, the EFF (https://coveryourtracks.eff.org/) site is showing that due to my graphics/sound card (integrated with cpu) - my Firefox browser still has a unique fingerprint.
That's not great since I am using a paid-for vpn.

Step forward Brave Browser!
It's FOSS. All ads are blocked - even on Youtube! There is no unique fingerprinting! No advanced tweaking required - you're invisible by default.
Frankly, I'm not buying this juxtaposition of "unique" vs. "invisible".
It's definitely possible to reduce one's uniqueness (it's a matter of degrees, not an on-off thing) with a hardened FF.
And I don't believe you are completely invisible with Brave, either.
I think you either misunderstood something there, or misread the EFF web page's output or simply did something wrong - would be nice if you showed us that comparison in full detail.

...or you are deliberately trying to "sell" Brave browser.

Last edited by ondoho; 05-07-2021 at 12:54 AM.
 
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Old 05-07-2021, 09:37 AM   #12
wpeckham
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post
Bit of a Freudian slip.
It means you haven't tried it.
No, it means I tried it for a few weeks instead of a couple of months. I do make decisions about such things in a few seconds, I run tests and use things daily, usually for several weeks. Brave did not satisfy me and I did not like some of the signal behavior I was seeing from it causing me to dup it earlier than I otherwise might have. If you like it that is fine, I do not.

Last edited by wpeckham; 05-07-2021 at 09:38 AM.
 
Old 05-07-2021, 09:52 AM   #13
wpeckham
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heathcliff36 View Post
Yes, but do you use a vpn?
I have, but it is pointless if you use a browser that presents an honest and informative fingerprint. They can parse enough information from that to make most of the advantage of the VPN vanish IF THEY WANT TO! There is some advantage to browsing to sites that do not.

A VPN was added security to me up until about four years ago. At that point I would have had to move to a fairly expensive one, as the free ones were trackible or doing logging they claimed they would not do. I have not tried or tested all of them, pointedly not the Mozilla VPN which is very new.

If I may make a point, I am not saying a VPN has no value, the best I had was through work and was VERY good. All I am saying is that nothing I do now either requires one or benefits by a free or cheap one (or one compromised by either national or corporate interference). The BEST use for one is encrypting otherwise unencrypted traffic and disguising your traffic endpoints from (for example) your ISP. None of my unencrypted traffic is confidential, none of my confidential traffic is unencrypted: and I can adopt a VPN quickly at need if that changes or I again need to target specific sites that should be obfuscated.
 
Old 05-07-2021, 08:12 PM   #14
heathcliff36
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Originally Posted by ondoho View Post
Frankly, I'm not buying this juxtaposition of "unique" vs. "invisible".
It's definitely possible to reduce one's uniqueness (it's a matter of degrees, not an on-off thing) with a hardened FF.
Go to the EFF link on the OP and see if your FF browser has a unique ID.
If it doesn't - make a comment.

Quote:
And I don't believe you are completely invisible with Brave, either.
You don't 'believe'?
Like your 'belief' is more important than global Linux programmers?
Like you are more important than the global world?
Like I care what you think?

Quote:
I think you either misunderstood something there, or misread the EFF web page's output or simply did something wrong - would be nice if you showed us that comparison in full detail.
Are you saying you went on the EFF website and after testing your FF browser - your browser didn't have a unique fingerprint?

Is that what you're saying?

Quote:
...or you are deliberately trying to "sell" Brave browser.
This is LQ. We learn from this site.
Brave Browser is made from the CEO of FF.
Just want to know from Linux people if Brave is better than FF.
 
Old 05-07-2021, 10:20 PM   #15
kev392
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I've been using Brave for a few months now. It seems to be the best lightweight browser and I use it more than Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, Slimjet and SeaMonkey. I don't use Chromium since it's only available through snap in Linux Mint and I have no plans to install snap.

I got good results from the coveryourtracks website.
 
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