Network speed extremely slow with Shields on

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Description of the issue:
Network speed on Brave is extremely slow when using Brave. When I type an URL and press enter, the website takes a long time to start loading. Its taking forever in an idle state (at least that’s what it shows to the end user).

After acting like Sherlock Holmes for a few minutes, I found out that maybe Shields is causing that.

I have everything related to Shields disabled:

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But it is still slow until I click this Shields are UP for website toggle on the top, then everything just loads way faster.

I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect or not.

A few things to notice:

  1. This is a fresh install of Brave (just made the switch from Chrome)
  2. This happens with all extensions on or of, doesn’t matter
  3. I don’t use VPN
  4. This doesn’t happen on other browsers
  5. This doesn’t happen on a Private tab (so far)
  6. Yes, I did try creating a new, fresh profile. It didn’t work

It could be a Shields problem but it also could be another thing, I just don’t know.

And I’m not the only one with this complaint:

It’s even happening on Android:

Reddit:

How can this issue be reproduced?

  1. Just open Brave with the shields toggle on (even if you have the options disabled)
  2. Go to anywhere (X, YouTube, Reddit, etc)
  3. You will notice that it will take a really long time of loading without actually going to the website and start loading it

Expected result:
Start loading the website immediately.

Brave Version( check About Brave):
Brave is up to date
Version 1.78.97 Chromium: 136.0.7103.93 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Additional Information: None.

2

Thank you for creating a detailed report – really helps a lot.
Shields is not likely to be causing this particular issue. It is strange that the issue doesn’t occur when using a Private window but does occur when you’re using a fresh profile. When you tested with the fresh profile, did you close your original profile window?

I’d also be curious to know if you get the same behavior if you download and install the Beta build of the browser.

1 Like
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Hey @Mattches

That’s actually a really interesting question. No, I did not close my original profile because I didn’t think it would interfere. I’ll test it out.

And yes, I’ll definitely download the beta build and will update here if this issue happens there.

Thanks!

2 Likes
4

I can confirm this too. Since few days ago my Brave is extremely slow with Shields on. Every site takes 10 sec to load. This is same for Firefox too on my laptop but Chrome is working fine.
Is Google doing something to slow things for browsers that block ads?

1 Like
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I suggest:

Tips regarding Brave Shields:

I have more success, with:

  • Brave Shields UP
  • Either Allow All Cookies or Block 3rd Party Cookies, but NOT Blocking All Cookies
  • Allowing JavaScripts from specific sources, but NOT Allowing All JavaScripts
  • Trackers & Ads treatment: Aggressive (at first), and then incrementally relaxing that setting
  • Fingerprinting (aka footprinting) blocking: Strict (at first), and then incrementally relaxing that setting

I almost NEVER use:

  • All of Brave Shields UP
  • All of Brave Shields DOWN

Shields Basics

How do I configure global and site-specific Shields settings?

How do I use Shields while browsing?

Because, the “modern” tendency of increasong numbers of websites, is to storm your device’s castle - when the website is not satisfied:

  • website “thinks” your computing device is a" bot", and the website is impractically
    • paranoid about or
    • misconfigured or
    • programmed

in regard to its dealing with your defenses.

So the website throws a fit’s worth (aka a “snow job”) of tactics at your device’s castle, that very quickly leads to some variety of “too many requests” (reported to your device, or not displayed) and failure.

The condition: ALL SHIELDS DOWN, can, and does at times, result in a “snow fight” - again, going nowhere.

In general, websites that frustrate Brave Browser users, rely upon vulnerable browsers. And sometimes, I have to choose a more vulnerable browser for some online tasks.

6

Hey! Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been really busy.

That did not fix the issue, sadly.

UPDATE-
I’ve tried with multiple OS: Windows and macOS.

Both have this problem.

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Thank you for the follow up. Still curious to know about the Beta build: