Mullvad Browser (no TOR, no VPN)
Mullvad Browser (no TOR, no VPN)
The Mullvad Browser is a privacy-focused web browser developed in collaboration with Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. It aims to eliminate data collection and provide user-centric browsing services, ensuring online activity remains private and secure. The browser has the same fingerprinting protection as the Tor Browser, but connects to the internet without Tor Network or VPN instead. The Mullvad Browser provides anti-fingerprinting protections.
The idea is to provide one more alternative – beside the Tor Network – to browse the internet with more privacy. To get as many people as possible to fight the big data gathering of today. To free the internet from mass surveillance.
Here: >> mullvad browser official <<
It's also worth to mention that you don't need a Mullvad account in order to use their Browser.
is this meant to dailydrive and be as anonymous as tor or better than firefox, but for real sensitive stuff you should still use tor?
I use it as a daily driver. For anything that I'm not logged into. I try to keep most of my normal browsing logged out anyway. So it's perfect
Yes, dailydrive. More anonymous than firefox with addons.
It's kind of like an in between, like if you're doing really sensitive stuff use tor, if you're just pirating or something or want companies to not know your IP address Firefox with VPN is fine.
Mullvad Browser is sort of that in between, like, for when it would be really bad if what you were doing were discovered, but not life threatening etc. Or if you want very strong privacy and fingerprint protection, but you don't want the speed loss that using tor would bring when what you're doing would be overkill to use tor for.
It's a bit of a niche use case, but for those in that niche it's exactly what we've been looking for imo.
Just use the Mullvad Browser daily - and if you need something special - than you can still use a other solution for the special case.
Should I be interested in this if I already use hardened Firefox?
Probably. Just keep in mind that letterboxing (grey margina to normalize screen size and avoid fingerprinting) is enabled by default and changing that would also change your fingerprint. I use librewolf atm, but i am considering switching if it wasn't for letterboxing.
Yes. Compare your Firefox and mullvad browser on fingerprint.com
Yes, it's more anonymous than firefox with mods/addons. You can do "fingerprint" tests online to compare how unique your browser is. Just use the Mullvad Browser daily - and if you need something special - than you can still use a other solution for the special case.
Addons yes. But hardened means changing the user.js with arkenfox as base or simply use that premade hardening. Mullvad Browser is nothing but Firefox+arkenfox+fancy UI and no Flatpak available.
Other vectors are fonts, which only work in the Tor browser bundle I think, to really fake being on Windows.
NoJSFingerprint using CSS is also still possible, a way to detect your OS. this is the same on all Browsers.
If you use Arkenfox without any big changes that are fingerprintable, no.
This browser is a collaboration with the Tor project, I think they white labeled tor browser by making it so you don't need tor to use it
I use it on Fedora, zero issues
What core is it based on/forked from? Is it Firefox like TorBrowser?
And what does Mullvad get out of it? Just name recognition?
github.com/mullvad/mullvad-browser Firefox ESR - it's basically Tor Browser without Tor. Mullvad gets name recognition 100%
There is a FAQ about the Mullvad browser on the Tor Project's website, which gives a few more details.
If you think this is a good Browser, keep in mind:
- this is a fork of Firefox with slower updates
- its simply hardened Firefox desktop. Mobile needs a seperate app, but for Desktop all you need is a user.js
its not isolated from the systemit has a Flatpak, which is good. But check its default permissions- I think it doesnt use a fake Download, Desktop etc. path
Tor Browser Launcher Flatpak is the most secure Browser afaik.
For Firefox hardening, I made "Arkenfox softening"
Its an approach to download Arkenfox, change it to be usable as a normal browser without leaking more data in any way and automating that process.
Its best to use upstream Firefox, best as Flatpak (prove me wrong) and harden it using this well tested preset.
Its just a little crazy, thats why I read all of it and just change some settings, not reinvent the wheel
Mullvad Browser is Tor Browser without Tor. TorBrowser evolved over many years, with a very long track record and is recommended uncountable times all over the world. So, if you want the TorBrowser without all the Tor stuff: here is it.
The benefit of using a seperate app instead of custom configured hardening is that (1) your hardening auto updates and (2) you're less prone to fingerprinting. Also it's easier.
True. Thats why I currently use Librewolf. Not sure if my arkenfox script still works.
But Librewolf has some weird breakages, like Videocalls simply not working lol. Until I need that, I stick with it.
I missed something like this since a similar project (Secbrowser by Kicksecure) got abandoned. All the security and privacy enhancements of Tor Browser, but without the Onion network. It also helps legitimize the Tor Browser/Mullvad Browser's fingerprint.
I hope someone forks this and creates an i2p browser, similar to the Tor browser.
100% same here
Have been a user of Mullvad. This looks really interesting!!
Permanently Deleted
Do you need the Mullvad Extension for the sake of privacy?
I dont like that they also use private browsing. It sucks, is unnecessary, restricts extensions, containers and disabling it is fingerprintable
You can still use a other web browser for other special usecases. Mullvad Browser has focus on privacy.
Yes. And private Browsing is useless.
Okay, it seems its not clear what I mean.
The purpose of private browsing:
- one switch, different UI for the "amnesia mode", LOCALLY
- use any persons Computer (probably) or leave no data on a computer others can access
- maybe leave no trace on your own computer
- easily cleanup lots of things combined
But the thing is:
- its useful, but only for this threat model
- you can delete Cookies, Cache, DOM data, Session, Downloads using seperate switches, most of them GUI
- private browsing is fingerprintable. If you want to only delete cookies, but with exceptions for sites you trust...
- if you want to save the session, which is local, does not cache sites and is not fingerprintable...
- you have to disable private browsing (which is fingerprintable! On a browser that has to ne exactly the same to fulfill its purpose!) And set the settings yourself, possible without GUI as this was deactivated.
I asked the Mullvad devs about this, but they dont care. Private browsing also restricts the browser, for example containers dont work, temporary containers for instant cookie cleaning for example. And it has no purpose! These can be individual settings, and simply enabling Session or reven downloads saving will NOT leak data to the web.
This "leave no trace locally" simply does not work for most people. Its your PC, you are the one accessing it. This keeps people away from the browser, even though Firefox with Arkenfox or Librewolf or Mull are perfectly usable, I use them daily.
I am new to privacy. I am confused about which browsers are Chromium based.
Is Mullvad chromium based browser?
Quick answer: no, it's based on tor which is based on firefox
How does it compare with LibreWolf ?
Just do a Fingerprint Test:
Is the other Browser better?
You will have less privacy due to fingerprinting and Mullvad-Browser has the advanced configurations that are in use for many years by TorProject. I never used LibreWolf but they described it as 'custom version of Firefox'. They integrated uBlockOrigin extension and if you add further extensions it will make you stand out.
WE KNOW AND KNEW ALONG TIME AGO
No linux support? I didn’t see anything on the site.