Brave’s privacy-first stance is the clearest example in the modern browser market of a company that has deliberately reshaped a Chromium base into a purpose-built, privacy-forward product — and in 2025 it remains one of the strongest choices when privacy and defensive defaults are your top priorities.
Brave began as a reaction to mainstream browser models that monetize attention through tracking and profiling. Today the project combines a hardened Chromium core with a set of privacy features turned on by default: ad and tracker blocking, layered anti‑fingerprinting measures, a built‑in private search, optional VPN/firewall services, Tor‑routed private tabs, and an evolving AI assistant. Over the last two years Brave has made a string of high‑profile moves — from rolling out an HTTPS by Default upgrade on iOS to launching a formal Request Off The Record (OTR) capability aimed at protecting vulnerable users — that demonstrate a product strategy focused on privacy-by-design rather than retrofitting privacy as an afterthought. These claims and milestones are documented in Brave’s own privacy and product posts and are corroborated by independent coverage in the tech press. (brave.com)
This feature article evaluates Brave’s privacy feature set in practical terms, verifies specific product claims against public documentation and independent reporting, and places Brave in the broader 2025 landscape of privacy‑centric browsers and services. It highlights where Brave excels, calls out trade‑offs readers should understand, and compares Brave to other reasonable choices for secure browsing.
That said, privacy is never absolute. Brave’s model relies on choices and technical trade‑offs: Chromium’s engine for compatibility, a hybrid approach to anti‑fingerprinting, and an opt‑in revenue model that is still maturing economically. Power users with highly specialized threat models — from nation‑state‑level adversaries to advanced corporate surveillance — will still need to combine tools (virtual machines, Tor, external VPNs, and endpoint hardening) rather than relying on a single browser.
Brave’s public blog and technical posts provide a high degree of transparency about how its features work and where they fall short; cross‑referencing Brave’s own posts with independent reporting shows the company generally backs its claims and documents limitations. Readers who prioritize a privacy‑first default experience will find Brave’s approach compelling, but informed deployment — understanding OTR limits, verifying VPN needs, and probing Leo’s privacy model — remains essential. (brave.com)
Source: ZDNET The best secure browsers for privacy in 2025: Expert tested
Background / Overview
Brave began as a reaction to mainstream browser models that monetize attention through tracking and profiling. Today the project combines a hardened Chromium core with a set of privacy features turned on by default: ad and tracker blocking, layered anti‑fingerprinting measures, a built‑in private search, optional VPN/firewall services, Tor‑routed private tabs, and an evolving AI assistant. Over the last two years Brave has made a string of high‑profile moves — from rolling out an HTTPS by Default upgrade on iOS to launching a formal Request Off The Record (OTR) capability aimed at protecting vulnerable users — that demonstrate a product strategy focused on privacy-by-design rather than retrofitting privacy as an afterthought. These claims and milestones are documented in Brave’s own privacy and product posts and are corroborated by independent coverage in the tech press. (brave.com)This feature article evaluates Brave’s privacy feature set in practical terms, verifies specific product claims against public documentation and independent reporting, and places Brave in the broader 2025 landscape of privacy‑centric browsers and services. It highlights where Brave excels, calls out trade‑offs readers should understand, and compares Brave to other reasonable choices for secure browsing.
What Brave actually does for privacy (short summary)
- Blocks ads and third‑party trackers by default — Brave ships with Shields that stop trackers and third‑party ads without requiring add‑ons.
- Anti‑fingerprinting — Brave uses randomization techniques (“farbling”) and other defenses to make cross‑site fingerprinting harder; there are selectable protection levels. (brave.com, github.com)
- HTTPS by default on iOS and desktop upgrade paths — Brave implemented an “upgrade unless explicitly excepted” approach that attempts HTTPS for connections that would otherwise use HTTP. The iOS rollout began in version 1.68. (brave.com)
- Tor‑style Private Window — Brave offers a Private Window with Tor connectivity that routes traffic through the Tor network (not identical to Tor Browser, but useful when anonymity is needed). (support.brave.com)
- Request OTR (Off The Record) — A unique browser‑level mechanism that allows sites to request a temporary, non‑persisted storage environment so visits don’t appear in local history (explicitly designed with intimate‑partner‑violence scenarios in mind). Brave ships this feature and documents its limitations. (brave.com)
- Brave Rewards and opt‑in ads paid in BAT — Brave’s business model supports an opt‑in ad system that rewards users with Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) if they choose to participate; participation is optional and not required to use the browser. (brave.com, support.brave.com)
- Built‑in VPN/Firewall options — Brave offers a paid Firewall + VPN service that covers the whole device and integrates with the browser, but historically this has been more limited in scope and capability than standalone VPN providers. Brave has expanded desktop support and server counts since launch. (brave.com)
- Leo AI companion — Brave’s Leo is an in‑browser AI assistant with a documented roadmap that prioritizes local privacy, optional premium models, and on‑device capabilities. (brave.com)
Deep dive: Brave’s headline privacy features
Shields: ad blocking and tracker removal by default
Brave’s “Shields” are the baseline privacy suite that users see immediately. Shields block third‑party trackers, cookies, intrusive ads, and known fingerprinting vectors. Because Shields are built into the browser, users gain protection without installing extensions (which themselves can be a vector for supply‑chain risk).- Why it matters: Built‑in blocking reduces the need to trust third‑party extensions and gives Brave control over compatibility and updates.
- How it works: Brave applies compiled filter lists and runtime protections; shields are user‑configurable per‑site.
- Limitations: Per‑site overrides are simple, but disabling Shields to restore broken site functionality reduces anonymity and may re‑enable trackers.
Anti‑fingerprinting: farbling, randomization, and levels of protection
Fingerprinting is one of the most pernicious ways advertisers and data brokers link browsing across sites without cookies. Brave decided to use a privacy‑through‑randomization approach — termed “farbling” — that produces per‑session or per‑site randomized outputs for fingerprintable APIs. Brave offers multiple protection levels to balance privacy with web compatibility.- Reality check: Anti‑fingerprinting is an arms race. Randomization raises the bar for trackers but cannot make fingerprinting impossible. Brave documents the techniques and warns about site breakage at stricter levels. (brave.com)
Request OTR – a practical safety feature for high‑risk users
Brave’s Request Off The Record (OTR) feature is a notable, non‑technical innovation: sites can request that the browser mark a session as off the record, opening the page into a temporary storage area that is not written to persistent history or local storage. Brave explicitly built this for people in abusive situations who need plausible deniability without leaving glaring gaps in their history.- Why this is unique: Traditional Private/Incognito modes are all‑or‑nothing and easy to spot. OTR is tied to specific sites and allows targeted, ephemeral visits. Brave collaborated with advocacy groups and published a thorough description of limitations. (brave.com, thurrott.com)
- Limitations and cautions: OTR cannot defend against device‑level spyware, compromised extensions, or any software that monitors network activity outside the browser. Brave is transparent about these constraints. (brave.com)
HTTPS by Default (iOS rollout) and connection hardening
On iOS, Apple’s WebKit historically made HTTP→HTTPS upgrades difficult for third‑party browsers. Brave’s HTTPS by Default implementation (released to iOS in version 1.68) attempts an automatic upgrade for all navigations unless a site is explicitly on a small exception list.- Practical impact: Upgrading unknown traffic to HTTPS protects against passive eavesdroppers on the same network or ISP interception.
- Verification: Brave’s privacy blog documents the mechanism, and the approach replaced list‑based models that became stale. (brave.com)
Tor mode: private windows routed through the Tor network
Brave’s “Private Window with Tor” routes traffic through Tor relays, providing IP‑level anonymity similar to the Tor Browser for that particular tab.- Important caveat: Brave’s Tor mode is a convenient Tor proxy in a mainstream browser, but it does not replicate all of Tor Browser’s defenses (e.g., hardening of fonts, behaviour fingerprinting mitigations, or patching attack surface). Brave’s support pages note the difference. Use Tor Browser if you need the full Tor threat model. (support.brave.com)
Business model, Brave Rewards, and the opt‑in ad model
A frequent question: how does Brave make money if it blocks ads by default? Brave’s answer is an opt‑in, privacy‑preserving ad model. Users who opt into Brave Rewards see local, privacy‑matched ad notifications and can earn BAT tokens which can be used to tip creators or converted via custodial partners.- User choice: Nobody is forced into the ad system — it is optional and requires explicit opt‑in.
- Recent changes: Brave has transitioned away from a centralized virtual‑BAT model and now integrates custodial partners for payouts; these changes were documented in Brave’s posts. (brave.com, support.brave.com)
- Reality check: BAT payouts have fluctuated and many users report meager earnings; the Rewards program exists but should not be considered a replacement for mainstream ad revenue streams. Community reports and discussion threads reflect mixed user satisfaction. (reddit.com)
Brave VPN and Brave Firewall + VPN — convenience vs dedicated VPNs
Brave provides a Firewall + VPN product (powered by partners such as Guardian) that protects device traffic across apps, not just the browser. Brave launched cross‑platform desktop support in 2023 and has iterated since.- Strengths: Integrated billing and an easy onboarding path for non‑technical users; device‑wide protection when enabled; Brave markets multi‑device subscriptions. (brave.com)
- Weaknesses: Historically the VPN service was limited in server selection and features compared with market‑leading standalone VPNs. Brave has expanded servers, pricing options, and audit coverage, but reviews note Brave VPN remains a premium, feature‑light product relative to dedicated providers. If you need advanced VPN controls (protocol selection, multi‑hop, audited no‑logs guarantees outside Brave’s reporting), a dedicated VPN remains a better fit for power users. (brave.com, techradar.com)
Leo: Brave’s AI assistant — privacy first with premium tiers
Brave’s Leo AI assistant is a clear attempt to integrate helpful AI into the browser while avoiding the common privacy tradeoffs of cloud‑centric assistants. Brave’s roadmap emphasizes:- Local privacy defaults: chat history is stored locally, and Brave promises anonymized, unlinkable tokens for premium features.
- BYOM and on‑device goals: Brave plans local model support and other measures to keep context private to the user’s device.
- Commercial model: Brave intends to offer free and premium tiers; premium models will unlock higher‑quality outputs. (brave.com)
Cross‑checking the ZDNet excerpt: gaps, corrections, and confirmations
The ZDNet excerpt the user provided describes many of Brave’s features accurately, but the original text contained missing version numbers and a few ellipses. Public documentation fills those gaps:- Brave’s HTTPS by Default on iOS was announced in August 2024 and shipped with version 1.68. (brave.com)
- Request OTR was introduced around version 1.53 and is explicitly tailored to protect at‑risk users; Brave documents the header and preload list approaches. (brave.com)
- Brave’s blocking of Microsoft Recall (a Windows screenshot indexing feature that caused controversy) is implemented as a default block in Brave 1.81 for Windows users; Brave has explained the implementation and how to toggle it. Multiple outlets independently reported Brave’s move, confirming the claim. (brave.com, theverge.com)
- Custom scriptlets are available starting desktop version 1.75 and let advanced users inject local JavaScript to change site behaviour; Brave explicitly warns about the risks and gates the feature behind developer mode. (brave.com, bleepingcomputer.com)
Strengths: why privacy enthusiasts like Brave
- Privacy by default: Shields, HTTPS upgrades, fingerprint defenses, and other privacy tools ship turned on.
- Feature breadth: Brave combines privacy blocking, Tor routing, OTR, a private search, and an AI assistant — a rare breadth in a single package with privacy defaults.
- Concrete developer transparency: Brave regularly publishes technical blog posts explaining feature mechanics and trade‑offs; these posts include version notes and implementation details. (brave.com)
- User choice over monetization: The opt‑in BAT/Rewards system gives users an alternative to the surveillance ad model without forcing tracking on those who decline. (support.brave.com)
- Rapid response to ecosystem changes: Brave proactively blocked Microsoft Recall by default rather than waiting for platform‑level fixes, demonstrating a willingness to make bold defaults for safety. (brave.com)
Risks, caveats, and trade‑offs
- Chromium monoculture and supply‑chain risk: Brave inherits Chromium’s codebase — that’s both a strength (rapid feature parity and security fixes) and a risk (a monoculture where browser engine bugs can affect many vendors). Users concerned about a single vendor’s influence should consider Firefox or other non‑Chromium options. Community discussion and forum threads show users are aware of this trade‑off.
- Not a perfect replacement for Tor Browser: Brave’s Tor mode is useful, but it does not equal Tor Browser’s hardened threat model. For activities where deanonymization risk must be minimized, use Tor Browser. (support.brave.com)
- OTR and device compromise: Request OTR protects the browser’s local persistence but cannot protect against host compromise, keyloggers, or malicious extensions. Brave states these limitations openly. (brave.com)
- VPN trade‑offs: Brave’s VPN adds convenience but historically lagged specialized VPNs in configurability. Brave has invested in server coverage and audits, yet privacy pros still prefer audited standalone VPN services for advanced needs. (brave.com, techradar.com)
- AI assistant is a work in progress: Leo promises strong privacy defaults, but premium features and on‑device model support are roadmap items; relying on Leo for highly sensitive tasks before local model support is widespread implies reliance on Brave’s anonymization and reverse‑proxy measures. (brave.com)
- Brave Rewards economics: BAT payouts are real but modest for most users and have changed over time; Brave’s move to require custodial partners for payouts changed the mechanics of how earnings are claimed. Users should not expect significant revenue from simply viewing Brave Ads. (brave.com, reddit.com)
Who should choose Brave — and who should look elsewhere
- Brave is ideal for users who want a privacy‑first browser with minimal configuration: people who want Shields turned on by default, HTTPS upgrades, a private search option, and a consolidated privacy toolbox inside one browser.
- Brave is also a good fit for those who value opt‑in monetization (BAT) and device‑wide firewall/VPN convenience.
- Brave is less ideal for users who require:
- the absolute strongest browser‑level anonymity model (use Tor Browser instead),
- enterprise support and feature‑parity with Chrome/Edge in corporate environments,
- or an advanced VPN feature set (use a specialized VPN provider).
Practical recommendations and testing checklist
If you are evaluating Brave as your privacy browser, here’s a short checklist for a real‑world test drive:- Install Brave and confirm Shields defaults (ad/tracker blocking and fingerprinting settings).
- Visit an HTTP‑only test page to validate HTTPS‑by‑default behavior (or check brave://settings/shields).
- Try a Private Window with Tor for a latency‑tolerant task and compare the behavior to Tor Browser for the same page. (support.brave.com)
- If you’re in a high‑risk situation, look up Request OTR and test on a partner site (Brave documents preload partners and the header approach). Do not rely on OTR as a complete defense against host compromise. (brave.com)
- If you need device‑wide network privacy, review Brave’s VPN options and compare server lists, speeds, and audit statements against dedicated VPN reviews. (brave.com, techradar.com)
Final analysis: Brave in context for 2025
Brave occupies a clear niche in 2025: it is a polished, privacy‑centred Chromium fork that chooses to put user privacy first. Brave’s engineering team documents features publicly, takes decisive action on contentious platform features (e.g., Microsoft Recall), and continues to innovate (custom scriptlets, OTR, Leo). For privacy‑minded everyday users who prefer mainstream web compatibility with strong defaults, Brave is among the best practical choices.That said, privacy is never absolute. Brave’s model relies on choices and technical trade‑offs: Chromium’s engine for compatibility, a hybrid approach to anti‑fingerprinting, and an opt‑in revenue model that is still maturing economically. Power users with highly specialized threat models — from nation‑state‑level adversaries to advanced corporate surveillance — will still need to combine tools (virtual machines, Tor, external VPNs, and endpoint hardening) rather than relying on a single browser.
Brave’s public blog and technical posts provide a high degree of transparency about how its features work and where they fall short; cross‑referencing Brave’s own posts with independent reporting shows the company generally backs its claims and documents limitations. Readers who prioritize a privacy‑first default experience will find Brave’s approach compelling, but informed deployment — understanding OTR limits, verifying VPN needs, and probing Leo’s privacy model — remains essential. (brave.com)
Conclusion
In 2025 Brave stands out as one of the best secure browsers for privacy if you want practical privacy without sacrificing modern web compatibility. Its default protections, unique features like Request OTR, and proactive policy choices (such as blocking Microsoft Recall by default) demonstrate a consistent privacy ethos. Brave is not a silver bullet — no browser is — but for users seeking a privacy‑first, turnkey browser experience, Brave is a smart place to start. Test the browser against your threat model, verify VPN and AI choices against independent audits and reviews, and layer additional protections (sandboxing, device hardening, and dedicated VPNs) where your personal risk requires it. (brave.com)Source: ZDNET The best secure browsers for privacy in 2025: Expert tested