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Your Browser IS SPYING ON YOU

ByGene

This is another very easy step that can have a big impact on your privacy and on your development toward a more digitally green approach. Learn how to take back your privacy and browse safely with Brave or Firefox.

Be BRAVE, Stay Private

I’ve been recently thinking a lot about browsers and privacy. Most people just use Chrome without realising it’s basically a data-collection machine, tracking what sites you visit, what you click on and building an advertising profile about you. Even if you’re careful, a lot of your data still ends up in Google’s system.

Safari is a bit better. Apple limits tracking more than Chrome, but it’s still a closed ecosystem, you have to trust them to handle your data responsibly. It’s not bad, but not fully free from data collection either.

DuckDuckGo is privacy-friendly and ethical, but it’s slow and sometimes unreliable, so I hope they fix it soon.

That’s why I personally prefer Brave. It blocks trackers and ads by default, doesn’t sell your data and is open-source. I’ve been using it for months and it’s fast, clean, and I don’t feel I am being observed. I also like Firefox, which is open-source, non-profit, and strong on privacy.

At the end of the day, your browser is the gateway to your digital life. Switching to one that respects your privacy is simple but makes a huge difference. For me, Brave comes first, Firefox a close second.

1. Download and Install Brave

  1. Go to the official Brave website: https://brave.com
  2. Click Download Brave.
  3. Choose your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile).
  4. Open the downloaded file and follow the installation prompts.
  5. Once installed, open Brave.

2. Import Bookmarks

Brave makes it easy to bring your bookmarks, passwords, and settings from Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

  1. Open Brave and click the menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
  2. Go to Bookmarks → Import Bookmarks and Settings.
  3. Select the browser you want to import from (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).
  4. You can now choose what you want to import:Bookmarks, Browsing history, Saved passwords
  5. Click Import.

Your bookmarks should now appear in Brave, usually in a folder called Imported so you can organise them easily.

3. Set Brave as Your Default Browser

  1. Go to Settings → Get Started → Make Default Browser.
  2. Follow your system prompts to set Brave as the default.

4. Optional Tips for a Smooth Transition

  • Sync across devices: Brave has a sync feature, so you can have the same bookmarks, history, and extensions on mobile and desktop.
  • Explore Shields: Brave blocks ads and trackers automatically. You can customise protections in Settings → Shields.
  • Extensions: Brave supports most Chrome extensions, so you won’t lose your favorite tools.