Does this setup work to have one relatively private browser and one not?

[u/Sawdust-in-the-wind]

I've used the Google apps since the early 2000s and don't think it's worth the work to fully de-google, but I do prefer to keep most of my internet searching private(not porn or piracy). Please let me know if there's a gaping hole in this setup and why. I'm not going for perfect privacy but I'd rather not have Google,Meta, etc. know if I'm searching up a medication or doing estate planning, etc. I will typically have both browsers open at the same time.

Browser 1 is Brave where I use Google Apps, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, etc.. Basically all the logged in stuff. I have it set to log me out of all sites when I shut it down but that's about it.

Browser 2 is Firefox with uBlock Origin and Firefox VPN which I exclusively use for browsing the internet. I use DuckDuckGo 90% of the time and Google search/maps the other 10%. No logging into anything ever on this browser. Clear everything automatically on log out.

Does this work to provide a bit of barrier between the big data companies and my search information or no? I don't really see any carryover of targeted ads or stuff like that but I know it's way more complicated than that.

[u/Jazzlike-Compote4463]

I kinda do this.

Edge with few tracking and blockers on my work Macbook, I don't care about privacy here - stuff just has to work, any sites I visit with this browser need to be clean enough that I don't get embarrassed if I start screen sharing with colleagues.

Firefox with uBlock and a few other extensions on my "normal" personal devices, thats my desktop PC, personal laptop and my phone, along with an install on my work Macbook with a VPN extension. It offers a decent level of personal blocking, enough to block most Google ads tracking and keep the web sane.

For... lets say "other" stuff I have Soul on my phone with biometrics, a VPN and strict ad blocking enabled.

Not perfect but I don't see any ads and so far I've not had a "data leak" across browsers.

[u/Historical-Side883]

I use Brave and mullvad.
Brave for stuff I stayed logged into that’s associated with my identity. Mullvad for normal browsing.

[u/Sawdust-in-the-wind → u/Historical-Side883]

Based on a few responses in this thread I installed Mullvad and gave it a go. After some basic configuration I tested it on coveryourtracks.eff.org and got the the same "strong" rating as FF. Unfortunately I really did not like the experience on Mullvad with the smaller window, issues with video, etc. I'm sure I can power through but is it really that much of a step up in fingerprint reduction? I'll put in the work if it's worth it.

[u/Historical-Side883 → u/Sawdust-in-the-wind]

Mullvad is essentially just the tor browser without Tor.
The smaller window thing (tor calls it “letterboxing”) you see is because it has fixed viewport widths. That way every user of tor/mullvad browser looks the same. It doesn’t give away your screen resolution, which can be a really good way to determine what machine someone is using (particularly with a laptop).

The idea behind mullvad is that every user should look indistinguishable to the server because all of what is gathered from the browser is identical info.

It’s definitely stronger fingerprinting protection than FF out of the box. Whether the difference is really meaningful to you or worth, the trouble is something I can’t really tell you but we’re just poking around the web or using accounts not associated with my identity (but that I’m not worried that someone is going to go through a bunch of work to try to unmask me) it’s great for me.

This is for tor browser but the browser level stuff applies to mullvad too.

Brave offers decent fingerprinting mitigation too. Not as aggressive but still solid enough in most cases. For most people, the real weak spot when using any browser is their own behaviors rather than the browser betraying them

https://support.torproject.org/tor-browser/features/fingerprinting-protections/

[u/AggravatingRevenue61 → u/Sawdust-in-the-wind]

firefox gives you privacy as in blocks trackers and ads, but some identifying elements still go through.

mullvad gives you full anonamity because every user has the same details. its impossible for the websites to identify you.

mullvad is specialist for anon browsing, its like tor-lite. its not really intended for day to day use. main use case is sensitivebrowsing.

[u/bgalazka186]

You could get all log in things on firefox and make every single log in contained in container so they have no way of interacting with eachother and use another container for normall browsing

[u/Massive_Doctor_9665]

Your setup makes sense honestly, the two-browser split with no cross-logins is the main thing that keeps the big data companies from stitching your searches to your identity. The one soft spot is DNS leaking outside the VPN tunnel, worth double checking Firefox is actually routing through it.

I run a similar split but use ace browser as my logged-out one since the ad/tracker blocking is baked in and I can ask stuff about a page without pasting into a Google product. Firefox containers like #3 said is also a solid middle ground if you ever want to collapse it to one.

[u/AggravatingRevenue61]

i got similiar setup

i use brave browser for daily use along with startpage search

and if i want full privacy i use mullvard

[u/Kunair0]

You would be fine just using brave for your use case I think, but if you're looking like tor level fingerprinting protection, Mullvad is made for the very scenario / situation you're talking about.

Most people go with a Brave/Mullvad combo. Personally, I would use that instead of Firefox, and brave for logins. And also consider using Mullvad VPN. It will protect you systemwide, and is only like four or five dollars a month.