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sf.me > Blog > Switching to Mullvad Browser
Posted on: 26 October 2024
Reading time: 2 min Category: Software && Updates
I have recently switched my browser setup. I now use Mullvad browser for browsing and Librewolf for accounts. Mullvad has been serving me well so far, and I would like to use this post to raise awareness to it. First, I would like to start by explaining what it is.
The Mullvad browser is a web browser developed in collaboration between the Tor Project and Mullvad VPN. It is essentially based on the Tor browser, having all of the privacy features that it has, apart from connecting to the Tor (Onion) network. It comes with an extension of Mullvad's own VPN, which is paid, but not required to use the browser. It is available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS.
The main goal of Mullvad browser is to make it difficult for advertisers and third-parties to track you across the internet. It works on reducing your browser's fingerprint, which is how unique you are based on various pieces of metadata like your screen resolution, fonts, user agent and more. These factors alone don't play a major role in identifying you across the web, but the intersection of fractional pieces of metadata can narrow a user down to a small group of probable users.
For instance, there are millions of people separately whose screen resolution is 1280x720, operating system is Windows 10, browser is Firefox-based, originating from the United States, use different browser extensions, have 8GB RAM and have last year's version of JavaScript. These data points alone play no significant role. However, if you narrow the group of people down to people who match all of these factors, then it becomes trivial to find who is who. This is done by associating all the known data with a unique fingerprint designed to imitate you, which can then be used to track you.
Mullvad has uBlock Origin built-in, which is perhaps the only extension most people need. In my experience, the browser works surprisingly well! I expected it to be rigorous, but as long as you are on the Standard or Safer options, it is usable for daily activities. It is basically my previous setup with a LibreWolf browsing profile out of the box..
All in all, I love the Mullvad browser. It simplified my setup, which will simplify the process of migrating to new computers, as I have one less thing to worry about.