If you care even a little about online privacy, chances are you have heard of Brave Browser. It is often marketed as a safer, privacy-focused alternative to Chrome and Firefox, promising you more control over your data. But here’s the real question most people don’t stop to ask: Is Brave browser safe, or does it just sound safe?

In this blog, we will break things down about Brave browser without a technical overload. Just a clear look at how Brave works, what it protects you from, and where it might fall short. We will also touch on its privacy features, its real-world uses, and whether Brave is enough on its own or if you still need extra protection.

Let’s start by understanding what Brave Browser really is.

What is Brave browser?

Brave Browser is a free web browser built to automatically block ads and trackers and limit how much information websites can collect about your browsing habits.

Brave Browser was co-founded by Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript and former CEO of Mozilla. He wanted a browser that did not treat its user as a product. So, he designed Brave to challenge traditional browsers by giving users more control over their data while maintaining the speed and functionality.

The moment you install it, Brave blocks ads, trackers and data collectors by default that follow you around the web.

Is Brave browser safe?

Brave Browser is a safe browser because it offers a lot of features that help secure your online activity and improve online privacy. Many of its protection features are built directly into the browser through Brave Shields. Brave Shields is a system that reduces exposure to ads, trackers and other common web-based threats by default.

Let’s have a look at the privacy and security features Brave browser offers:

Blocking ads and tracker by default

Brave Browser blocks ads and trackers, before they load, by default. This means most third-party trackers and intrusive ads are stopped before a webpage loads. It checks each script against built-in filter lists and blocks anything known to track browsing activity.

Brave Shields comes with two protection modes: Standard and Aggressive. By default, Brave runs on Standard mode, which blocks most third-party ads and trackers without causing issues on websites. If you switch to Aggressive mode, Brave starts blocking even more tracking, including some first-party trackers, but the trade-off is that certain sites may not work properly. Brave also uses something called CNAME uncloaking, which simply means it can catch trackers that try to disguise themselves as part of a website to sneak past blockers.

Brave also uses resource replacement, which swaps out certain third-party scripts for simpler versions that do not track you. This way, websites keep working like they should, but the original tracking scripts can’t collect your data.

Automatic HTTPS Connections

Brave includes HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) by default, inspired by the HTTPS Everywhere project. Whenever a website supports HTTPS, Brave automatically upgrades your connection to the secure version.

HTTPS connections are safer than HTTP because they encrypt the data you send and receive using Transport Layer Security (TLS). This means outsiders can not read or tamper with your information.

Protection against browser fingerprinting

Some websites try to identify visitors using a method called fingerprinting, which gathers small details about your device, like screen size, installed fonts, time zone, language, browser settings, IP address, and whether cookies are enabled or not. When all these details are combined, they can create a unique “fingerprint” that lets sites track you even without cookies.

Brave makes your device appear more generic. It slightly randomizes certain browser signals that are commonly used for fingerprinting, and limits tracking based on fonts and language settings. This prevents sites from building a stable identifier yet staying functional for you.

Private browsing modes

Brave gives you a couple of options for private browsing. The first is the standard Private Window, which works like incognito mode in other browsers. Anything you do there, browsing history, cookies, cached files, all gets wiped from your device as soon as you close the window. But your internet provider and the sites you visit can still see what you are doing.

The second option is a Private Window with Tor. Tor, short for The Onion Router, sends your traffic through multiple servers so your real IP address is hidden. It is a bit slower, but it adds an extra layer of privacy if you want to be more anonymous online.

How Brave protects against malware and phishing

Brave uses Google Safe Browsing, and on iOS, it uses Tencent Safe Browsing to protect against dangerous websites. These systems alert you whenever a site shows signs of malware, phishing, or other harmful activity.

For example, a phishing site might mimic a popular social media login page to trick you into giving your username and password. A malware site could disguise itself as a free software download or media player update. Brave provides warnings in these cases before any harm occurs to you.

Open-source browser

Brave is fully open source, meaning anyone can inspect its code, look for issues, and report vulnerabilities. This transparency allows security researchers to regularly check the browser for weaknesses.

On Windows and most platforms, Brave is built on Chromium, the same engine behind Chrome and Edge. Chromium is constantly reviewed by a large community of developers and security experts. On Apple devices, Brave uses WebKit, which is also open source and publicly audited.

How much data does Brave collect and how does Brave use data?

Brave is designed to collect very minimal data compared to most browsers. By default,

  • it does not store your browsing history or full activity on its servers,
  • it does not build detailed user profiles for advertising or tracking
  • what you do online stays on your device.

Here’s what that means in practice:

  1. Brave does collect some technical info like crash reports or feature usage, but this is anonymous and aggregated, so it can not be traced back to you.
  2. If you enable ‘Sync’ or ‘Brave Rewards’, some additional data (such as bookmarks or a private payment ID) may be stored. However:
  • Sync data is encrypted and inaccessible to Brave or the cloud provider.
  • Rewards data (used for ad targeting within Brave’s system) stays on your device and is not linked to your identity.
  1. For security features like Google SafeBrowsing, Brave sends partial hash of a URL to the service to check if it is unsafe. But your IP is not exposed to the Safe Browsing provider.
  2. If you choose to participate in Brave’s Web Discovery Project, the browser will send anonymized and filtered data about your visited pages and search terms to help improve Brave Search, but this is opt‑in only, you can always opt-out.
  3. Brave collects info about how its features are used for example, how many tabs are open or which features are active etc, but this data is stripped of your identification details and is grouped with many Brave browser users so no personal pattern can be tied back to a specific person.

In short, Brave only collects what it needs to keep the browser safe and running.

Which is safer, Chrome or Brave?

Chrome’s Incognito mode clears local data like browsing history, cookies, and cached files etc but it does not hide your IP address and so websites can still track you.

Brave is more privacy-focused. It blocks many third-party trackers by default even in a standard Private Window. Brave’s Private Window with Tor even hides your real IP address.

Limitations and controversies of Brave browser

One common limitation users notice is website breakage. Because Brave’s default blocks ads, trackers, and scripts aggressively therefore, some sites may not load properly or certain features like logins, comments, or embedded media might fail. The only way out is to adjust ‘Shields’ settings on a site-by-site basis which can be an extra step for users.

To hide your IP address, you need to browse via Private Window with TOR, which slows things down and is not ideal for streaming or logging into personal accounts. It is better to use the TOR browser instead.

Brave also includes crypto features like Brave Rewards and Brave Wallet. When you turn these on, some actions involve third-party services outside the browser. This means certain data is handled externally, not just by Brave itself.

Since Brave is built on Chromium, it can also be affected by the same security issues found in other Chrome-based browsers. Even though Brave removes many Google tracking features, it still relies on Chromium updates to fix bugs and vulnerabilities.

Controversies

One of the most talked-about issues was Brave’s affiliate link controversy. In 2020, Brave was found to automatically insert affiliate referral codes into certain cryptocurrency-related URLs to generate revenue. When users typed the URLs into the address bar, they would automatically be redirected to the affiliate version of the relevant URLs, which Brave got paid for. Although this did not expose personal data, Brave later removed the feature and publicly apologized.

Brave also came under scrutiny in 2021 after a privacy issue was found in its Private Window with Tor feature. At the time, some Tor-related requests were being sent through the normal DNS system instead of staying fully inside the Tor network. Brave later fixed the bug, but the incident raised questions about how reliable its advanced privacy features are.

Do you still need a VPN with Brave browser?

A VPN (virtual private network) adds an extra layer of protection by encrypting all internet traffic on your device. This includes all apps (emails, banking apps, games etc) you use on your device.

Brave does a solid job by offering enough security and privacy features but it cannot protect you against all threats online. Plus, it does not hide your IP address by default. For increased online protection, you should pair it with other privacy and security apps and tools.

To increase Brave browser safety, you get two options here:

  • use Brave Firewall + VPN service,

  • use EonVPN

Brave does offer a VPN service called Brave Firewall + VPN, which masks your IP address, encrypts traffic, and provides firewall functionality, all on a device-level. However, this feature is separate from the browser itself and is part of a premium subscription that costs around $9.99/month or $99.99/year, making it an expensive VPN option available.

If you are looking for strong privacy protection at a more affordable rate or with additional features, a dedicated VPN like EonVPN can be a reliable alternative to consider.

Conclusion

Brave is a privacy-first browser that gives you stronger security and protection right from the start. Its built-in features and tools make the Brave browser safe and also provide a fast and smooth browsing experience. Since, its users have shared mixed experiences, so the best way to know ‘is the Brave browser trusted’ is to try it yourself. But do not forget to use a VPN to maximize your online security.

FAQs

Can you be tracked on Brave?

Brave browser is not 100% private and tracking free (just like any other browser). Although it blocks trackers, and fingerprinting by default, some advanced, or user-consented tracking methods can still potentially track your data.

What is the downside of Brave browser?

The main downsides of the Brave browser include frequent website breakage due to aggressive default ad-blocking and comparatively a cluttered interface for a common user.

Is Brave safe for online banking?

Brave includes several security features that can support safer online banking, such as blocking many trackers, enforcing secure HTTPS connections, and warning about phishing sites. But no browser can provide 100% safe browsing.

Does Brave sell your data?

According to the privacy policy stated on the Brave website, Brave does not sell user data to advertisers.

How can I optimize privacy settings in Brave?

You can adjust several built-in options to increase privacy controls. Set the Brave Shields setting to “Aggressive” and use Private Windows with Tor, to hide your IP address from websites. You can also manage permissions for location, camera, and microphone access on a site-by-site basis.