I pay for VPN. It is not Brave’s. I use Brave Browser for its Privacy & Security, that I see as much more important than Convenience.
Lots of info and tips, follow . . .
WAN IP: “http://wanip.info/”
WAN IP and other info about your presence on the Internet: “https://ipleak.net/”
Manually set DNS server numbers:
Best free or public DNS servers - Quick list:
https://privacysavvy.com/security/business/best-free-public-dns-servers/
How to change DNS settings on your PC running Windows 10
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-your-pcs-dns-settings-windows-10
How to change DNS settings on your Linux machine
https://www.linux.org/threads/question-on-manually-setting-my-dns-server-address.53227/
Change DNS settings on Mac
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/change-dns-settings-on-mac-mh14127/mac
Private Browsing
https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/sections/360002520512-Private-browsing
What is a Private Window?
https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017840332-What-is-a-Private-Window
Private Browsing Only - iOS
https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360053278131-How-do-I-manage-Shields-and-other-Privacy-options-on-iOS
Toggling this option On will tell the browser to only open private windows when the browser is launched. The browser will behave this way until the setting is toggled Off. Please see our Private Browsing section for more information on what Private windows are and how they function.
The --incognito
switch, is used in the following command, so when starting up Brave Browser, the browser shows a New Private Window (Windows OS, 64-bit architecture, example):
"C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe" --incognito
I almost always use a Brave Browser New Private Window
, for desktop and laptop computers. And, Private Browsing Only
mode for iOS devices.
In order to reduce influence by websites:
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to: brave://settings/content
Scroll down to Additional permission . . . and set:
- Protocol handlers:
Don't allow sites to handle protocols
- File editing:
Don't allow sites to edit files or folders on your device
- Clipboard:
Don't allow sites to see text or images on your clipboard
- Window management (later BB versions):
Don't allow sites to manage windows on all your displays
- Window placement (older BB versions):
Don't allow sites use info about your screens to open and place windows
Scroll down to Content . . . and set:
- Pop-ups and redirects:
Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects
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
PS. I have data backup routines for:
- bookmarks
- passwords
- the all-important BraveSoftware folder:
Linux OS: /home/[username]/.config/BraveSoftware/
Mac OS: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/
Windows OS: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\
My backups all have names that are chonological, so I can reach back in time and use a backup of, for example, bookmarks:
20241203-1455_Tuesday_bookmarks_bkup.zip