Brave and Firefox are two of the most secure browsers out there. Brave has made privacy its key selling point, integrating features that block ads, prevent tracking, and stop fingerprinting. Firefox, on the other hand, is the OG secure browser, challenging Chrome’s dominance for as long as we can remember. Both Firefox and Brave offer strong security, but if you’re looking for the most secure option, Firefox takes the lead. There are many reasons why, and I’ve listed some of them below.
4 Firefox offers better Password security
Protect your passwords with a master password
Firefox Password Manager is about as secure as any other password manager, with its security depending on how it’s set up and how you use it. One feature that adds an extra layer of protection is the primary password.
Previously called the master password, the primary password locks access to your saved credentials. Firefox encrypts stored passwords by default, but without a primary password, the encryption key stays accessible during your session.
Most password managers require a master password before letting you access saved credentials, but Brave doesn’t have this feature. Instead, it asks for your PC’s password. While that adds some security, if someone already has access to your computer, they might also be able to access your saved passwords.
With a primary password in Firefox, the encryption key to your password database is locked. You’ll need to enter the password to access your saved credentials, which makes sure that even if someone gets into your account, they won’t be able to see your stored passwords.
3 It offers flexible security levels
Choose from Standard, Strict, and Custom
Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) offers three levels of privacy — Standard, Strict, and Custom. For those unfamiliar, ETP blocks trackers that follow you online to collect information about your browsing habits and interests while maintaining site functionality. It also includes protection against harmful scripts, such as malware that drains your battery.
The Standard mode, enabled by default, blocks known social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinting scripts in Private Browsing. This ensures a smooth browsing experience without breaking most websites. The Strict mode provides stronger protection by blocking all known trackers, including tracking content and fingerprinting scripts, across all browsing sessions. However, it may cause some websites to malfunction.
If you’re seeking more control, the Custom mode allows you to manually select what to block, including specific cookies, tracking content, crypto miners, and fingerprinting scripts. Brave’s Shields feature is powerful but primarily relies on simple on-and-off toggles for tracking and ad blocking, which provides less flexibility than Firefox’s ETP.
2 There’s no Chromium
Which means more flexibility
Firefox’s Gecko engine is one of the last major alternatives to Chromium, the engine behind browsers like Brave, Chrome, and Edge. Being based on Chromium doesn’t make Brave a bad choice, but it does give Google more control. With about 75% of browsers running on Chromium, Google has a huge say in web standards, which raises concerns about one company shaping how the internet works.
Browser engines like Chromium and Gecko play a big role in how we experience the web. They decide what content we can access, how securely we see it, and how much control websites have over our interactions. Since Gecko isn’t tied to Chromium, Firefox has more freedom to do things differently. For example, Chromium is dropping support for extensions built on Manifest V2, which means ad blockers like uBlock Origin will eventually stop working on Chromium-based browsers.
Brave’s CEO has said the browser will keep supporting uBlock Origin and uMatrix as long as Google keeps the necessary V2 code around. But since Brave is built on Chromium, it has to follow most of its changes unless it decides to fork the code. In reality, Brave can only support these extensions as long as Chromium still has the right code in place.
1 Firefox is developed by a non-profit
It is developed by the Mozilla Foundation
Firefox is developed by the Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit focused on keeping the internet open and accessible. Unlike Brave, which is a for-profit company with ties to cryptocurrency, Firefox makes most of its money through search partnerships with Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Amazon.
While privacy-focused, Brave generates revenue through its crypto-based rewards system. In 2020, the browser faced backlash when it was caught adding affiliate codes to certain URLs typed into the address bar. For example, entering “binance.us” would automatically attach Brave’s affiliate link, allowing the company to earn from signups or purchases.
This creates some built-in conflicts. Brave encourages you to engage with ads (even if they respect privacy) to earn tokens, subtly influencing your browsing habits in a way that benefits its revenue model.
There are many secure browsers out there
There are plenty of browsers out there to match whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s privacy, gaming, or something else. If you’re a Chrome user thinking about switching, there are tons of great alternatives to choose from. And if privacy is your main concern, you might want to check out these open-source browsers. While you’re at it, take a look at some common mistakes people make when using a browser.
