cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/52731585
I was reading around about private browsers and I came across mullvad’s browser (only know them for the VPN), do you have experience using it? does it do anything different? I currently use librewolf and from what I can see the mullvad browser also is build from firefox. I generally prefer firefox-like browsers to chromium since i like way its set up and what it allows me to do. Its supposedly build by the same guys who made the tor browser (tbh i feel like thats just marketing). From their website it says its tor without tor but instead with a VPN. So technically I can accomplish the same thing with librewolf and a VPN?? Does the mullvad browser do anything new/different? One thing they do mention is browser fingerprinting does it do anything special to combat that? if i switch to mullvad instead but still have the same extensions is it more private?
In my opinion it does offer the best in class for anti-fingerprint features out of the box. Personally I don’t use it because I need browser addons. Adding addons to mullvad kinda defeats the purpose, as they will make your browser extremely unique. Librewolf + addons is more fingerprintable, but still less so than Mullvad + addons imo. I feel like it is useful to have both; Librewolf + addons for your daily driver, and vanilla Mullvad for extra anonymous browsing, web searches, etc.
As a side note too, I have also heard that using Mullvad browser + Mullvad VPN is a bad idea, because it gives Mullvad as a company more information points that might potentially deanonymize you. Part of the reason why Mullvad is so great is that when an entity subpoenas your info, Mullvad can say “we don’t know anything sorry.” So the more information points you give, the more that defense weakens, even though Mullvad itself is trustworthy
Mullvad Browser doesn’t collect your data, so the second paragraph is wrong. I completely agree with you on the first paragraph though. Also make sure not to change the window size in Mullvad Browser as that can also be used to track you. If you are using a tiling WM set a rule for it to make it floating at all times if possible. Also don’t forget to disable Encrypted DNS if you’re using a VPN.
I disagree; while Mullvad is very good with their no logs policies and collecting minimal info, it is generally good opsec not to centralize too many assets or data points into one company. Example: using android with chrome and google vpn, all your data is, from start to finish, in the hands of Google. Mullvad is miles better than Google of course, but I believe the same strategy applies
No, you’re wrong in the sense that they literally collect 0 data on your Mullvad BROWSER usage. It can’t be another data point because Mullvad likely doesn’t even know if you’re using Mullvad Browser, let alone what you’re doing with it.
Your point is only valid in the case of internet services, which a browser isn’t. A browser is a piece of software that can be replaced in a minute if let’s say Mullvad’s whole development team and CEO went full batshit crazy and placed backdoors in the public (and FOSS, so it can be forked) codebase, unlike e-mail etc. And your Google example is invalid because you can’t compare something like Google Chrome to Mullvad Browser.