5.2 Secure your web browser

There are so many web browsers out there on available platforms, especially on mobile devices, but here I only discuss two web browsers: DuckDuckGo and Brave web browsers. Why them? Because they provide essential features that all other web browsers don't have. DuckDuckGo browser can remove all traceable data of your surfing history by a one-click operation, and Brave browser can connect you via Tor network (this feature is just available on desktop version). So yes, I recommend DuckDuckGo and Brave web browsers only. Remark: Due to technical issues, Firefox and hence Tor browser are not supported by SMS 2.x. DuckDuckGo Web Browser Now, let's show you how to remove all traceable data on DuckDuckGo web browser. Launch DuckDuckGo web browser, you can find a fire image button on upper or lower menu bar like figure 5.2.1 shown. It's position is varied on different platforms. Just click on this fire button, you will be asked whether you want to "close tabs and clear data". If you click on the "close tabs and clear data" button to confirm your decision, an animation show of fire (figure 5.2.2) will be displayed and all your browsing data will be deleted.

Figure 5.2.1

Figure 5.2.2

Remark: Supported platforms of DuckDuckGo web browser are Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows and macOS, Linux is not included.

Brave Web Browser Desktop version Brave web browser can be used to connect Tor network. i.e. Only Brave browser on Linux, MS Windows and macOS have this feature. The feature is called "New private window with Tor". You may click on the right top corner's menu to select it (Figure 5.2.3), or you may press keys Alt+Shift+N together to activate this feature. On macOS, the key combination is option+command+N. Note: If you use Linux or MS Windows virtual machine on Apple Mac computers, the key combination is option+shift+N.

Figure 5.2.3

When feature "New private window with Tor" is activated, another window will be displayed and percentage of Tor network connecting progress will be shown. When Brave web browser connect to the Tor network successfully, message will be displayed on the web page as Figure 5.2.4 shown.

Figure 5.2.4

At last, desktop version Brave browser let you clear selected data as you exit. You may configure related settings by access: Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data > Select page "On exit" and check all available checkbox items except "Site and shields settings" like Figure 5.2.5 shown.

Figure 5.2.5

Mobile version Brave browser has similar feature, but it just let users clear browsing data on settings manually, because it lacks of "exit" function. Update: The "exit" option can be found on Brave browser for Android now, but still missing on iOS.