Overview of Secure Browsers

What security issues are associated with the most popular browsers? What defines a secure browser, and what are its distinguishing features? How is the secure browser market evolving? This analytical review answers these and other questions about secure browsers.

Introduction

The browser is arguably one of the most essential programs for users of all ages, professions, and backgrounds. Since the first browser appeared, many have been developed, with dozens of well-known options available. Developers compete to attract users by offering maximum comfort, supporting as many operating systems, web technologies, data formats, and protocols as possible, and implementing a wide range of convenient features. Fast page loading is also a major draw for users.

Most people choose their browser based on these criteria, or simply use the default or most popular option. However, this choice is rarely informed, as not all browsers are equally secure.

Browser Security Issues

The term “secure” in this context may raise a question: aren’t all browsers secure? If you check your browser’s settings right now, you’ll likely find a section labeled “security,” “privacy,” or something similar. Security features like download protection, URL filtering, anti-tracking, and private browsing have become mainstream in browsers like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox. So why aren’t all browsers considered secure?

Past revelations have shown that using the most common browsers comes with security risks, especially those owned by large corporations. Google, Microsoft, and Apple are believed to participate in programs like PRISM, which collect user data transmitted over networks. Browsers are naturally convenient tools for gathering information about user behavior, habits, and preferences, at least for marketing purposes. The more widely used a browser is, the more valuable it becomes to corporations and government agencies as a data source. The biggest problem is that we can’t fully know how collected data will be used now or in the future. Ignoring this is risky.

What Is a Secure Browser?

To the average user, most browsers may seem secure. However, information security experts know that true security means minimizing dependencies on platforms, plugins, and other unnecessary elements to create a simple, transparent tool.

A secure browser is best defined as a specialized browser focused on user privacy, giving users full control and preventing data collection—even at the expense of some convenience. Popularity does not equate to security; in fact, these qualities often conflict.

This review highlights the most notable secure browsers to provide a comprehensive overview of the segment.

Secure Browsers

1. Tor Browser

No review of secure browsers would be complete without mentioning Tor. Tor Browser was developed in response to the growing number of internet security incidents. It is the visible part of a secure, distributed network of proxy servers designed to ensure user anonymity and privacy online.

Tor operates on the principle of “onion routing” (Tor stands for The Onion Router). Data is encrypted multiple times as it passes through three randomly selected Tor network servers (“onion layers”) before reaching its destination. Traffic between the Tor network and the target site is not encrypted, so users should still use HTTPS or other end-to-end encryption protocols for sensitive information.

Tor also allows users to access blocked websites. The browser is based on a special version of Mozilla Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release) and includes:

• Privacy-enhancing patches
• Default security-focused settings
• Security extensions like HTTPS-Everywhere, NoScript, and Torbutton
• Pluggable Transports to bypass censorship (e.g., Obfs3proxy, Obfs4proxy, meek, FTE)

Tor Browser does not save browsing history, and cookies are only stored for the session. On first launch, users can configure or connect to the Tor network. The browser limits third-party tracking and allows users to control what information is revealed to websites. Features like “New Identity” and “New Tor Circuit” help prevent activity correlation and resolve connection issues. The “Security Level” slider lets users adjust protection, with higher levels potentially breaking some site functionality.

2. Waterfox

Waterfox is based on Mozilla Firefox and is one of the most well-known browsers of its kind. Other Firefox-based alternatives include Pale Moon and Basilisk. Waterfox is an open-source browser designed for speed on 64-bit systems and was among the first to support 64-bit operating systems when Firefox was still 32-bit.

Waterfox is built on Firefox ESR and supports traditional XUL extensions and NPAPI plugins. Compared to Firefox, Waterfox disables:

• Integration with the Pocket web service
• Automatic telemetry data submission to Mozilla
• Encrypted Media Extensions (needed for some sites)

These changes do not significantly improve speed, and similar security can be achieved by manually configuring Firefox. Waterfox’s main advantages are:

• Browsing without leaving traces—passwords, cookies, and history are automatically deleted
• Blocking hidden trackers to protect privacy and speed up page loading

However, security updates from Firefox ESR are integrated into Waterfox with some delay, sometimes up to two weeks, which can be a security concern.

3. Iron

SRWare Iron is a Chromium-based browser designed for secure internet use. Iron aims to offer all the benefits of Chrome without the security issues, particularly the transmission of user activity data to Google and the creation of unique user identifiers.

The interface is nearly identical to Chrome. Iron removes all settings related to data collection and transmission to Google, while other settings remain the same. Although Iron claims to have a built-in ad blocker, it is not enabled by default and must be configured via a file, which may not be user-friendly. Background updates and user identification mechanisms are disabled. Despite being marketed as open source, Iron’s source code has not been published in over 10 years.

4. Comodo Dragon

Comodo Dragon is another Chromium-based browser, but unlike Iron, it includes proprietary security mechanisms:

• Domain Validation to isolate external SSL certificates from internal ones
• Disabling cookies and other tracking mechanisms
• Preventing tracking of user downloads

Comodo is well-known for its security products, and its browser offers features like using Comodo’s free DNS servers for enhanced protection and speed. The interface is similar to Chrome, and privacy settings are comparable, with some data transmission mechanisms to Google removed. Additional features include automatic incognito mode and blocking referrer data to websites. Comodo Dragon also has a tool to detect potential IP/DNS leaks.

However, the installation process may add Comodo antivirus software and Internet Security Essentials without explicit user consent. The license allows Comodo to collect various system data to “improve performance and functionality,” which may be concerning for privacy-focused users.

5. Brave

Brave is a relatively new, open-source browser based on Chromium. Its standout feature is the high level of transparency regarding security mechanisms. The start page displays counters for blocked trackers, ads, HTTPS upgrades, and time saved (Brave claims to load pages 2–8 times faster than Chrome or Safari).

Users can view and manage security “shields” for each site, controlling ad and cookie blocking, fingerprinting protection, and more. Global shield settings can be adjusted in the browser’s settings panel. Brave supports:

• Tabs for “new identities” (separate cookies and parameters for each tab)
• Private tabs
• Private tabs with Tor integration

Brave also features experimental site isolation for enhanced security. For data collection, Brave uses Anonize technology, enabling anonymous accounting with zero-knowledge proofs.

6. Epic

Epic is another Chromium-based browser focused on preventing hidden user tracking. Developers highlight the shortcomings of incognito mode, browser extensions, and VPNs in other browsers. According to Epic, about 80% of websites use at least one tracker, and visiting 50 popular sites can install over 3,000 tracking files on a user’s computer.

Epic blocks critical data leakage channels, including:

• Address bar suggestions and URL tracking modules
• Installation-related data
• Error tracking and notification modules

Epic protects search queries with a secure search engine core and blocks various trackers (scripts, cookies, agents, etc.). Default privacy settings disable all unnecessary and potentially dangerous features, including history, password saving, page caching, Google server sync, autofill, and more. Enabling the built-in Epic proxy hides the user’s IP address and encrypts traffic, including DNS requests, allowing access to blocked sites. All session data is deleted when the browser is closed.

7. Dooble Web Browser

Dooble is a cross-platform browser and perhaps the most unique in this review. The first 2.0 release came out in November 2017, featuring a complete overhaul. Unlike most browsers today, which are based on Chromium or Firefox, Dooble is an independent product built on the WebKit engine, with a distinctive user interface.

Dooble includes many security features:

• Cookie management, including automatic and periodic deletion
• Built-in content blockers (no plugin support)
• Proxy server support
• Encrypted user data storage, with user-selectable encryption algorithms implemented by Dooble’s developers

While Dooble is less popular due to early issues, it now deserves more attention for its security features.

Conclusion

This article introduced the most notable secure browsers. The goal was not to provide a detailed comparison or final verdict for each product.

There is no such thing as an absolutely secure browser, just as there is no absolute security in general. Each solution has its strengths and weaknesses, and user needs and expectations vary. The main takeaway is that users should expand their browser selection criteria to include privacy risks.

Increasing security often comes at the cost of convenience and speed. Features like autofill, data sync, and browsing history make life easier but reduce security. There is no single approach to secure browser architecture. Developers generally:

• Remove unnecessary, potentially dangerous components from popular browsers
• Set secure default settings in popular browsers
• Create minimal browsers with built-in security mechanisms

Often, these approaches are combined. The reviewed browsers offer higher security than mainstream options and are worth keeping as alternatives for sensitive online activities.