Author Topic: Brave Browser  (Read 5737 times)

cool7hand

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Brave Browser
« on: December 10, 2019, 06:11:14 AM »
Has anyone tried the Brave Browser? I heard about it on Joe Rogan's podcast. Supposedly it blocks tracking. What has been people's experience with it? Smart phone v. PC/Tablet? Strengths? Weaknesses? Thanks!

RWD

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2019, 07:56:26 AM »
I had not heard of that browser. Looking at the Wikipedia page it appears to be based on Chromium, so functionality should be equivalent to mainstream browsers. However, I see some concerning things about it replacing ads with their own. You're probably better off with a well configured Chromium or Firefox (settings + extensions).

Example extensions:
uBlock Origin
Privacy Badger or Ghostery
Disconnect
Facebook Container
Cookie AutoDelete

cool7hand

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2019, 02:03:12 AM »
Thanks!

bacchi

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2019, 12:35:19 PM »
I use Brave and haven't seen any ad replacements or really any ads. Where would I see those?

Edit: Ok, you can turn on ads for certain sites. It allows you to reward/pay for oft visited sites. I don't use that (yet).


On Android, I use Firefox Focus.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 12:36:56 PM by bacchi »

ApacheStache

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2019, 06:20:49 PM »
I've used Brave for the last 2-3 years on Linux/Mac/Windows and my android phone and I have no complaints. It was a little rough going on linux a few years ago, but the stability has improved quite a bit. Also like any ad blocking technology there will likely be 1-2 sites that you visit that you'll need to turn off the Brave Browser "shields" to get the site to fully work.

If you're interested, I attached a screenshot of my Brave Homescreen that shows some simple metrics of Ads/Trackers Blocked, HTTP Upgrades and Time Saved. I can't vouch for the numbers, but I will say I no longer need to install 3 different plugins to prevent sites from bombarding me with popups and "catered" content/ads/garbage.

I will say, I've grown a little leery of installing well-known reputable ad-blocking/cookie-destroying/firewall extensions, because there was a story a year or two ago that found one of the major ad-blocker extensions was sold to another entity and that entity began charging advertisers a premium to let their advertisement bypass the filter. I don't recall all of the details but I can find the article if anyone is interested.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2019, 06:24:41 PM by ApacheStache »

RWD

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2019, 06:34:33 PM »
I will say, I've grown a little leery of installing well-known reputable ad-blocking/cookie-destroying/firewall extensions, because there was a story a year or two ago that found one of the major ad-blocker extensions was sold to another entity and that entity began charging advertisers a premium to let their advertisement bypass the filter. I don't recall all of the details but I can find the article if anyone is interested.

AdBlock Plus is an example. Was hugely popular but people have been migrating to uBlock Origin (not to be confused with uBlock!). You do need to do some research on which extensions to install.

Mighty Eyebrows

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2019, 01:57:22 PM »
uBlock Origin

Yup. Firefox and uBlock Origin is pretty much everything most people need. There is an advanced mode in uBlock Origin if you want to get into blocking individual elements or specific javascript sources.

While no organization is perfect, I am much happier supporting the Mozilla Foundation than anyone else. Vivaldi is my (distant second) backup if I need a chromium-based engine to check something.

nogopro

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2020, 10:49:23 PM »
Thanks, cool7hand, for posting about Brave!

Immediately downloaded it for Android and my Mac. Works seamlessly. Except for the part that it doesn't sync with your Google account -- which can be a real problem if all your passwords are saved there.

Easy fix, though: Download lastpass for all your devices. It's been around for a while and has much more in its free version than dashlane, etc. Then in Chrome while you're logged into your google account where your passwords are saved, go to Settings>Passwords>Export passwords. This'll give you a csv file you copy and past into the lastpass import section.

I also have a chromebook, for which I downloaded ublock origin and lastpass chrome extension. Pretty happy with that, too.

I'm now all set up, hoping to make a few bucks in the form of BAT tokens every month, too.

If anyone is interested in Brave, consider using my referral link to sign up and shooting me a PM with any questions you have about it: https://brave.com/apo465
« Last Edit: January 06, 2020, 10:58:33 PM by nogopro »

RWD

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2020, 07:14:39 AM »
If anyone is interested in Brave, consider using my referral link [...]

Man that's suspicious as hell... Why does a browser have referral links?

nogopro

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2020, 07:28:47 AM »
If anyone is interested in Brave, consider using my referral link [...]

Man that's suspicious as hell... Why does a browser have referral links?

From what I gather, Brave takes on privacy issue by encouraging a new model of generating ad revenue. Rather than show you ads that go through Google (and track you, etc.) it allows you to choose to watch non-tracked ads, get a large chunk of the ad revenue, and then pay the creators directly if you want. That's within the browser with BAT tokens, which you can also keep if you want.

Then if you are a "creator" you can refer people to Brave and you'll get some BAT tokens: https://brave.com/refer/

Until pretty recently they wouldn't let you withdraw BAT tokens it seems, because they need some user base in order for BAT tokens to even retain and build up value. Now it seems to be all about converting people to Brave so it can be a self sustaining ad model. Brave for its part sustains itself through the ad revenue it doesn't pass on to you

RWD

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Re: Brave Browser
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2020, 07:43:56 AM »
I don't want my browser deciding what ads to serve me. I'll stick with blocking them entirely.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!