Serious Discussion Browser Wars 2025: Which Browser Really Keeps You Safe?

Which Browser Offers the Best Security & Privacy in 2025?

  • Google Chrome – Fast patches, strong exploit defense, but data collection concerns.

  • Mozilla Firefox – Open-source, privacy-friendly, good add-on ecosystem.

  • Brave – Built-in tracker/ad blocking, privacy-first approach.

  • Microsoft Edge – SmartScreen protection, deep Windows integration.

  • Safari – Strong privacy defaults (Apple ecosystem only).

  • Opera / Other browsers – Lightweight with some built-in extras.

  • None of them – They all track and collect data anyway.

Results are only viewable after voting.
Parkinsond said:
Does not the browser has its own anti-exploit settings using its policy?
Which one of the MD exploit protection settings to apply? It is a very long list.
Can applying certain anti-exploit protection settings affect how the browser will behave and work?
Click to expand...

I don't care if the browser has its own mitigations, they can be bypassed, otherwise there wouldn't be news like this.
This is why EMET was created years ago.

On my PC, which does not support Hardware Stack Protection, there are a maximum of 13 overrides, otherwise there would be 14.
I already provided you with an exported list, I remember it well.
No, if you choose the overrides wisely.

Please note.
Simply adding the browser to the AE list is not enough for me.
You also need to use the right flags + strengthen the sandbox (you can do this entirely with Chromium Command Line Switches, but also with policies).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Parkinsond
Sampei.Nihira said:
I don't care if the browser has its own mitigations, they can be bypassed, otherwise there wouldn't be news like this.
This is why EMET was created years ago.

On my PC, which does not support Hardware Stack Protection, there are a maximum of 13 overrides, otherwise there would be 14.
I already provided you with an exported list, I remember it well.
No, if you choose the overrides wisely.

Please note.
Simply adding the browser to the AE list is not enough for me.
You also need to use the right flags + strengthen the sandbox (you can do this entirely with Chromium Command Line Switches, but also with policies).
Click to expand...
This is the only change I make for MD anti-exploit settings after Windows install

Capture.JPG
 
lokamoka820 said:
Is Google Chrome good for use with Google services, or is it better to use Brave browser? Can Chrome spy on my device or apps, or just on my browsing?
Click to expand...

Let's leave aside for a moment the sending of internal information to the browser, which I call telemetry.
This is present by default in Firefox and therefore also in Brave and Chrome.

Then you need to know what type of user you are.
Do you use Google services?
YouTube, Google Maps, Google Search...
If so, in the absence of filter lists, extensions, etc., which prevent a violation of your privacy, every browser could be the same.

Brave is usually more privacy-conscious than Google Chrome.

If you use Brave and Google services a lot, without limiting trackers, third-party cookies, cookies that are not deleted when you exit, failure to delete data when you exit... you may end up sending data to both Google and the Brave team.

Ultimately, it depends a lot on you, as is often the case in this area.
 
  • +Reputation
  • Like
Reactions: LinuxFan58, piquiteco, Halp2001 and 1 other person
Sampei.Nihira said:
Let's leave aside for a moment the sending of internal information to the browser, which I call telemetry.
This is present by default in Firefox and therefore also in Brave and Chrome.

Then you need to know what type of user you are.
Do you use Google services?
YouTube, Google Maps, Google Search...
If so, in the absence of filter lists, extensions, etc., which prevent a violation of your privacy, every browser could be the same.

Brave is usually more privacy-conscious than Google Chrome.

If you use Brave and Google services a lot, without limiting trackers, third-party cookies, cookies that are not deleted when you exit, failure to delete data when you exit... you may end up sending data to both Google and the Brave team.

Ultimately, it depends a lot on you, as is often the case in this area.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for all these details.

I use Waterfox as my daily browser with uBlock Origin, clearing data when I exit, etc.

I only need a browser to check my Gmail, Outlook, and Proton Mail and stay logged in. This browser is not for searching, but only as an email client (I use other services from these companies, such as calendars, notes, etc.). So, from what I understand, Chrome is perfectly suitable for this purpose, right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oxygen, LinuxFan58, Sampei.Nihira and 2 others
lokamoka820 said:
Thank you very much for all these details.

I use Waterfox as my daily browser with uBlock Origin, clearing data when I exit, etc.

I only need a browser to check my Gmail, Outlook, and Proton Mail and stay logged in. This browser is not for searching, but only as an email client (I use other services from these companies, such as calendars, notes, etc.). So, from what I understand, Chrome is perfectly suitable for this purpose, right?
Click to expand...

(y);)

Yes, a browser for checking web-emails.

An e-mail client is, for example, Thunderbird.

An e-mail notifier that resides in the taskbar and notifies you when you receive new emails is Pop-Peeper.
 
  • Like
  • Thanks
Reactions: LinuxFan58, piquiteco, Halp2001 and 1 other person
lokamoka820 said:
Can Chrome spy on my device or apps, or just on my browsing?
Click to expand...
If you are concerned that Google is tracking your movements and you want privacy and anonymity, I think it's best to use the Tor Browser. :LOL: @lokamoka820 Joking aside, I also use different browsers for different things when I access the web. For example: for shopping and internet banking, I use Chrome without any extensions. I use Brave for YouTube and streaming, and Edge or Vivaldi to check my emails. ;)
 
  • Like
  • +Reputation
  • Hundred Points
Reactions: Jonny Quest, lokamoka820, Sampei.Nihira and 1 other person
piquiteco said:
If you are concerned that Google is tracking your movements and you want privacy and anonymity, I think it's best to use the Tor Browser. :LOL: @lokamoka820 Joking aside, I also use different browsers for different things when I access the web. For example: for shopping and internet banking, I use Chrome without any extensions. I use Brave for YouTube and streaming, and Edge or Vivaldi to check my emails. ;)
Click to expand...
That is a good example in what I call "put your data in different baskets", to limit exposure to one company (y)
 
  • Like
  • Hundred Points
  • Applause
Reactions: Jonny Quest, lokamoka820 and Sampei.Nihira
piquiteco said:
If you are concerned that Google is tracking your movements and you want privacy and anonymity, I think it's best to use the Tor Browser. :LOL: @lokamoka820 Joking aside, I also use different browsers for different things when I access the web. For example: for shopping and internet banking, I use Chrome without any extensions. I use Brave for YouTube and streaming, and Edge or Vivaldi to check my emails. ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you very much, your example made it easier to understand.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jonny Quest
Parkinsond said:
Last time used Chrome (a week ago or something), it was clearing properly; Edge is the one which retain some.
Click to expand...
Here is what Gemini says about "Delete all site data ... when you close all windows". Please see the important point in "What is not deleted". One solution is to use S+Ctr+D at the end of a session, use an extension or a 3rd party cleaner.
When you toggle this setting in Google Chrome, you are essentially telling the browser to treat your local storage like a "Short-Term Memory" bank. Once the "session" ends—meaning every single Chrome window is closed—the browser performs a cleanup of specific locally-stored files.
Here is exactly what gets wiped and what stays behind.

What is Deleted​

When you close all windows, Chrome clears the following from your local drive:
  • Cookies: Small files used by websites to remember you (e.g., keeping you logged in or remembering items in a shopping cart).

  • Site Data: This includes Local Storage, Session Storage, and IndexedDB data. These are used by web apps to store preferences or offline data.
  • Cache: Temporary images and website files that Chrome saves to make pages load faster upon your next visit.

What is NOT Deleted​

It is a common misconception that this setting acts like a full "factory reset." The following remain intact:
[TR]
[td]Category[/td][td]Status[/td][td]Reason[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]Browsing History[/td][td]Saved[/td][td]Your list of visited URLs remains in the History tab.[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]Passwords[/td][td]Saved[/td][td]Any passwords saved to Chrome’s Password Manager stay put.[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]Bookmarks[/td][td]Saved[/td][td]Your manual saves are never touched by this setting.[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]Downloads[/td][td]Saved[/td][td]Files you actually downloaded to your computer stay in your folders.[/td]
[/TR]
[TR]
[td]Autofill Data[/td][td]Saved[/td][td]Addresses and phone numbers used for forms are retained.[/td]
[/TR]
Click to expand...
And why more cookies available for removal in "Delete browsing data" than the cookies shown in "See all site data and permissions" in a fresh instance of Chrome:
It feels like a glitch when the numbers don't add up, but there is actually a logical (albeit slightly technical) reason for the discrepancy.
The short answer is that "Delete browsing data" counts individual cookie files and shared tracking resources, while "See all site data and permissions" groups everything by the "Owner" domain.
Here is the breakdown of why you see a higher number in the deletion menu:

1. The "Grouping" vs. "Counting" Logic​

  • See all site data: This menu focuses on origins. If you visit google.com, it might show as one entry. Even if that one entry contains 10 different cookies (for preferences, security, etc.), it often counts as "1 site."
  • Delete browsing data: This counts the total number of individual cookie items. If that same google.com visit generated 10 cookies, the deletion counter will show "10 cookies," whereas the site data list just shows the "1 site" that owns them.

2. Third-Party "Ghosts"​

When you visit a single website, it often loads content from other domains (ads, analytics, or social widgets).


  • Site Data & Permissions: Chrome often filters this list to show you the "top-level" sites you actually interacted with.
  • Delete Browsing Data: This menu is an "all-call." It catches the tiny tracking cookies from 3rd-party ad servers (like doubleclick.net) that were loaded in the background. Even in a "fresh" instance, visiting just one news site can instantly drop 50+ 3rd-party cookies onto your device.

3. Service Workers and "Other Data"​

The "Delete browsing data" category is technically labeled "Cookies and other site data." That "other" is doing a lot of work. It includes:


  • Service Workers: Background scripts used for notifications or offline support.
  • Web SQL / IndexedDB: Small databases that sites use to store info.
  • Cache API: Different from your "Images and Files" cache, this stores specific site assets. These often don't appear in the "Site Data" list as individual cookies, but they are bundled into the total count in the deletion tool.

Summary Table​

FeatureWhat it showsWhy the number is lower/higher
See all site dataA list of websitesGroups many files under one domain name.
Delete browsing dataA count of itemsCounts every individual cookie, script, and database file separately.
Export to Sheets
In short: You aren't seeing "extra" data that shouldn't be there; you're just seeing the "Delete browsing data" tool be much more honest about the sheer volume of individual tracking and storage files a single website can leave behind.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
  • Applause
Reactions: Jonny Quest, Sampei.Nihira and Parkinsond
oldschool said:
Here is what Gemini says about "Delete all site data ... when you close all windows". Please see the important point in "What is not deleted". One solution is to use S+Ctr+D at the end of a session, use an extension or a 3rd party cleaner.

And why more cookies available for removal in "Delete browsing data" than the cookies shown in "See all site data and permissions" in a fresh instance of Chrome:
Click to expand...
I already know such data; the good thing about Edge, I can select individual items to clear (only cookies or only cache), for Chrome, I cannot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lokamoka820, Sampei.Nihira and oldschool

You may also like...