Privacy Updates

ARCHIVED 2025-02-07, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20250207_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20241202_rev01

Full text changes — 20241202_rev01 to 20250207_rev01

COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED

1Post #31 | Nov 19, 2024
1Post #53 | Feb 6, 2025
22
3## [Using custom scriptlets to make the Web work the way you want](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/32-custom-scriptlets/)
4
5Starting with desktop version 1.75, advanced Brave users will be able to write and inject their own scriptlets into a page, allowing for better control over their browsing experience.
6
7Post #52 | Nov 19, 2024
8
39## [Procedural filtering for better adblocking](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/31-procedural-filtering/)
410
511Starting with version 1.73, Brave is significantly improving its adblocking capabilities by adding support for procedural cosmetic filtering of page elements.
612
7Post #30 | Nov 18, 2024
13Post #51 | Nov 18, 2024
814
915## [Delete site data instantly with the new Shred button on Brave iOS browser](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/30-shred-button/)
1016
1117Starting with iOS version 1.71, Brave is rolling out a way to quickly delete browsing data that sites can use to identify you across visits. It's called Shred.
1218
13Post #29 | Aug 21, 2024
19Post #50 | Aug 21, 2024
1420
1521## [Brave brings HTTPS by Default to iOS](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/29-https-by-default-ios/)
1622
1723Starting with version 1.68, Brave will become the first iOS Web browser to try to upgrade all sites to HTTPS by default.
1824
19Post #28 | Jan 18, 2024
25Post #49 | Jan 18, 2024
2026
2127## [Brave browser simplifies its fingerprinting protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/28-sunsetting-strict-fingerprinting-mode/)
2228
2329With desktop and Android version 1.64 in a couple of months, Brave will sunset Strict fingerprinting protection mode.
2430
25Post #27 | Jun 27, 2023
31Post #48 | Jun 27, 2023
2632
2733## [Localhost Resource Permission](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/27-localhost-permission/)
2834
2935Starting in version 1.54, Brave for desktop and Android will include more powerful features for controlling which sites can access local network resources, and for how long.
3036
31Post #26 | May 24, 2023
37Post #47 | May 24, 2023
3238
3339## [Request "Off the Record"](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/26-request-off-the-record/)
3440
3541Request OTR is another in Brave's suite of features that support the privacy needs of individual users, protecting far beyond the "standard" threats browsers typically watch out for.
3642
37Post #25 | May 11, 2023
43Post #46 | May 11, 2023
3844
3945## [Forgetful Browsing](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/25-forgetful-browsing/)
4046
4147Forgetful Browsing is similar to, but more powerful and protective than, popular browsing extensions and private browsing modes. It's another example of Brave offering the most powerful privacy features of any popular browser.
4248
43Post #24 | Mar 6, 2023
49Post #45 | Mar 6, 2023
4450
4551## ["Google Sign-In" Permission](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/24-google-sign-in-permission/)
4652
4753Starting in version 1.51, Brave will increase user privacy by extending the brower's permission system to cover legacy Google Sign-In...
4854
49Post #23 | Feb 23, 2023
55Post #44 | Feb 23, 2023
5056
5157## [Grab bag 5: "Open in App" annoyances, further pool-party protections, and more...](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/23-grab-bag-5/)
5258
5359Starting in version 1.49 on Android and desktop (available since version 1.44 for iOS), Brave will hide "open in app" annoyances that appear on many websites.
5460
55Post #22 | Feb 9, 2023
61Post #43 | Feb 9, 2023
5662
5763## [HTTPS by Default](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/22-https-by-default/)
5864
5965Starting in version 1.50, Brave will include a new feature called "HTTPS by Default" that improves Web security and privacy by increasing HTTPS use.
6066
61Post #21 | Sep 28, 2022
67Post #42 | Sep 28, 2022
6268
69## [Blocking annoying and privacy-harming cookie consent banners](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/21-blocking-cookie-notices.en-in/)
70
71New versions of Brave will hide-and, where possible, completely block-cookie consent notifications. Brave's approach is distinct and more privacy-preserving than similar systems used in other browsers.
72
73Post #41 | Sep 28, 2022
74
6375## [Blocking annoying and privacy-harming cookie consent banners](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/21-blocking-cookie-notices/)
6476
6577New versions of Brave will hide-and, where possible, completely block-cookie consent notifications. Brave's approach is distinct and more privacy-preserving than similar systems used in other browsers.
6678
67Post #20 | Aug 16, 2022
79Post #40 | Aug 16, 2022
6880
81## [Grab bag 4: privacy improvements for our iOS browsers make them best-in-class with leading protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/20-grab-bag-ios.en-in/)
82
83Recent versions of Brave on iOS include many new privacy features, ensuring that Brave iOS users have the strongest available protections of any iOS browser.
84
85Post #39 | Aug 16, 2022
86
6987## [Grab bag 4: privacy improvements for our iOS browsers make them best-in-class with leading protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/20-grab-bag-ios/)
7088
7189Recent versions of Brave on iOS include many new privacy features, ensuring that Brave iOS users have the strongest available protections of any iOS browser.
7290
73Post #19 | Jul 19, 2022
91Post #38 | Jul 19, 2022
7492
93## [STAR: Brave's new system for privacy-preserving data collection](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/19-star.en-in/)
94
95Brave's new system STAR protects user privacy by ensuring the data users contribute are never unique to that user. This property, sometimes called k-anonymity, ensures that the data collector can only see a submitted value if the same value has also been submitted by some number of other users.
96
97Post #37 | Jul 19, 2022
98
7599## [STAR: Brave's new system for privacy-preserving data collection](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/19-star/)
76100
77101Brave's new system STAR protects user privacy by ensuring the data users contribute are never unique to that user. This property, sometimes called k-anonymity, ensures that the data collector can only see a submitted value if the same value has also been submitted by some number of other users.
78102
79Post #18 | Apr 19, 2022
103Post #36 | Apr 19, 2022
80104
105## [De-AMP: cutting out Google and enhancing privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/18-de-amp.en-in/)
106
107Brave is rolling out a new feature called De-AMP, which allows Brave users to bypass Google-hosted AMP pages, and instead visit the content's publisher directly.
108
109Post #35 | Apr 19, 2022
110
81111## [De-AMP: cutting out Google and enhancing privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/18-de-amp/)
82112
83113Brave is rolling out a new feature called De-AMP, which allows Brave users to bypass Google-hosted AMP pages, and instead visit the content's publisher directly.
84114
85Post #17 | Apr 1, 2022
115Post #34 | Apr 1, 2022
86116
117## [Protecting against browser-language fingerprinting](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/17-language-fingerprinting.en-in/)
118
119Brave has further strengthened its fingerprinting protections by preventing users from being identified based on preferred browser language. Starting with version 1.39, Brave randomizes how your browser informs sites of what language(s) you've set as default, and what fonts you have installed on your system.
120
121Post #33 | Apr 1, 2022
122
87123## [Protecting against browser-language fingerprinting](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/17-language-fingerprinting/)
88124
89125Brave has further strengthened its fingerprinting protections by preventing users from being identified based on preferred browser language. Starting with version 1.39, Brave randomizes how your browser informs sites of what language(s) you've set as default, and what fonts you have installed on your system.
90126
91Post #16 | Mar 8, 2022
127Post #32 | Mar 8, 2022
92128
129## ["Unlinkable bouncing" for more protection against bounce tracking](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/16-unlinkable-bouncing.en-in/)
130
131Brave is shipping a new, powerful privacy-protecting feature called Unlinkable Bouncing. This feature protects your privacy by noticing when you're about to visit a privacy harming site, and instead routes that visit through a new, temporary browser storage.
132
133Post #31 | Mar 8, 2022
134
93135## ["Unlinkable bouncing" for more protection against bounce tracking](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/16-unlinkable-bouncing/)
94136
95137Brave is shipping a new, powerful privacy-protecting feature called Unlinkable Bouncing. This feature protects your privacy by noticing when you're about to visit a privacy harming site, and instead routes that visit through a new, temporary browser storage.
96138
97Post #15 | Jan 7, 2022
139Post #30 | Jan 7, 2022
98140
141## [Grab bag 3: fixing pool-party, improving fingerprinting protections, more debouncing, and less Chromium](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/15-grab-bag-3.en-in/)
142
143Brave continues to ship the most aggressive and broad privacy protections available in any popular browser. Starting in Brave 1.35, Brave includes protections against all known practical forms of "pool-party" attacks.
144
145Post #29 | Jan 7, 2022
146
99147## [Grab bag 3: fixing pool-party, improving fingerprinting protections, more debouncing, and less Chromium](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/15-grab-bag-3/)
100148
101149Brave continues to ship the most aggressive and broad privacy protections available in any popular browser. Starting in Brave 1.35, Brave includes protections against all known practical forms of "pool-party" attacks.
102150
103Post #14 | Dec 22, 2021
151Post #28 | Dec 22, 2021
104152
153## [Partitioning network-state for privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/14-partitioning-network-state.en-in/)
154
155Brave now includes network-state partitioning features, protecting Brave users from an even greater range of online tracking techniques.
156
157Post #27 | Dec 22, 2021
158
105159## [Partitioning network-state for privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/14-partitioning-network-state/)
106160
107161Brave now includes network-state partitioning features, protecting Brave users from an even greater range of online tracking techniques.
108162
109Post #13 | Dec 15, 2021
163Post #26 | Dec 15, 2021
110164
165## [Preventing pool-party attacks](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/13-pool-party-side-channels.en-in/)
166
167Brave has identified a new category of tracking vulnerability, forms of which are present in all browsers. We call this category of attack "pool-party" attacks because the attack uses collections (or "pools") of limited-but-shared resources to create side channels.
168
169Post #25 | Dec 15, 2021
170
111171## [Preventing pool-party attacks](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/13-pool-party-side-channels/)
112172
113173Brave has identified a new category of tracking vulnerability, forms of which are present in all browsers. We call this category of attack "pool-party" attacks because the attack uses collections (or "pools") of limited-but-shared resources to create side channels.
114174
115Post #12 | Nov 18, 2021
175Post #24 | Nov 18, 2021
116176
177## [Brave and UC San Diego announce SugarCoat, a new solution to strengthen the protection of Web users' privacy while not breaking websites](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/12-sugarcoat.en-in/)
178
179Brave is pleased to announce SugarCoat, the result of a year-long research collaboration with University of California San Diego to create a new system to improve Web privacy without sacrificing compatibility at Web scale.
180
181Post #23 | Nov 18, 2021
182
117183## [Brave and UC San Diego announce SugarCoat, a new solution to strengthen the protection of Web users' privacy while not breaking websites](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/12-sugarcoat/)
118184
119185Brave is pleased to announce SugarCoat, the result of a year-long research collaboration with University of California San Diego to create a new system to improve Web privacy without sacrificing compatibility at Web scale.
120186
121Post #11 | Oct 14, 2021
187Post #22 | Oct 14, 2021
122188
189## [Debouncing](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/11-debouncing.en-in/)
190
191Brave is releasing additional protections against certain forms of bounce tracking. We call these new protections "debouncing". As of desktop version 1.32, Brave will protect users against bounce tracking by recognizing when the user is about to visit a known tracking domain, skipping visiting the tracking site all together, and instead directly navigating the user to the intended destination.
192
193Post #21 | Oct 14, 2021
194
123195## [Debouncing](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/11-debouncing/)
124196
125197Brave is releasing additional protections against certain forms of bounce tracking. We call these new protections "debouncing". As of desktop version 1.32, Brave will protect users against bounce tracking by recognizing when the user is about to visit a known tracking domain, skipping visiting the tracking site all together, and instead directly navigating the user to the intended destination.
126198
127Post #10 | Sep 21, 2021
199Post #20 | Sep 21, 2021
128200
201## [Custom filter list subscriptions](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/10-custom-filter-lists.en-in/)
202
203Starting in version 1.31, Brave will support custom filter list subscriptions, allowing users to further control how unwanted network requests and in-page elements are blocked in Brave. This work is part of Brave's goal of providing best-of-breed content filtering tools, and keeping people in control of their Web browsing.
204
205Post #19 | Sep 21, 2021
206
129207## [Custom filter list subscriptions](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/10-custom-filter-lists/)
130208
131209Starting in version 1.31, Brave will support custom filter list subscriptions, allowing users to further control how unwanted network requests and in-page elements are blocked in Brave. This work is part of Brave's goal of providing best-of-breed content filtering tools, and keeping people in control of their Web browsing.
132210
133Post #9 | Sep 1, 2021
211Post #18 | Sep 1, 2021
134212
213## [Improving privacy by improving Web compatibility](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/9-web-compat-blocking.en-in/)
214
215Brave is disabling filter list blocking for first-party subresources to improve privacy for typical Brave users. Advanced users still have the ability to deploy more aggressive privacy protections, even those that might break sites.
216
217Post #17 | Sep 1, 2021
218
135219## [Improving privacy by improving Web compatibility](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/9-web-compat-blocking/)
136220
137221Brave is disabling filter list blocking for first-party subresources to improve privacy for typical Brave users. Advanced users still have the ability to deploy more aggressive privacy protections, even those that might break sites.
138222
139Post #8 | Jul 21, 2021
223Post #16 | Jul 21, 2021
140224
225## [Grab bag 2: permission lifetimes, bounce tracking, and fingerprinting protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/8-grab-bag-2.en-in/)
226
227Brave users can now choose to give sites temporary access to permission-protected capabilities to better protect their privacy. Common examples of permission-protected browser capabilities include web cameras, microphones, location information, and motion sensors, among others.
228
229Post #15 | Jul 21, 2021
230
141231## [Grab bag 2: permission lifetimes, bounce tracking, and fingerprinting protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/8-grab-bag-2/)
142232
143233Brave users can now choose to give sites temporary access to permission-protected capabilities to better protect their privacy. Common examples of permission-protected browser capabilities include web cameras, microphones, location information, and motion sensors, among others.
144234
145Post #7 | Feb 1, 2021
235Post #14 | Feb 1, 2021
146236
237## [Ephemeral third-party site storage](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/7-ephemeral-storage.en-in/)
238
239This post presents "ephemeral site storage", a new strategy for managing third-party storage in Brave, designed to improve Web compatibility, while maintaining the same level of privacy protection.
240
241Post #13 | Feb 1, 2021
242
147243## [Ephemeral third-party site storage](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/7-ephemeral-storage/)
148244
149245This post presents "ephemeral site storage", a new strategy for managing third-party storage in Brave, designed to improve Web compatibility, while maintaining the same level of privacy protection.
150246
151Post #6 | Jul 20, 2020
247Post #12 | Jul 20, 2020
152248
249## [Fighting CNAME trickery](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/6-cname-trickery.en-in/)
250
251Trackers are constantly working on new techniques for evading privacy tools, and keep deploying new ways to evade privacy-protecting tools like the Brave browser. This post discusses a recent technique trackers use, CNAME cloaking, and a new feature in Brave that keeps Brave users protected.
252
253Post #11 | Jul 20, 2020
254
153255## [Fighting CNAME trickery](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/6-cname-trickery/)
154256
155257Trackers are constantly working on new techniques for evading privacy tools, and keep deploying new ways to evade privacy-protecting tools like the Brave browser. This post discusses a recent technique trackers use, CNAME cloaking, and a new feature in Brave that keeps Brave users protected.
156258
157Post #5 | Jul 20, 2020
259Post #10 | Jul 20, 2020
158260
261## [Grab bag: query stripping, referrer policy, and reporting API](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/5-grab-bag.en-in/)
262
263In order to stay one step ahead of online trackers, Brave regularly releases new privacy features and improvements. This post discusses three recent changes in Brave that each help make the web a more privacy, and person, respecting platform.
264
265Post #9 | Jul 20, 2020
266
159267## [Grab bag: query stripping, referrer policy, and reporting API](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/5-grab-bag/)
160268
161269In order to stay one step ahead of online trackers, Brave regularly releases new privacy features and improvements. This post discusses three recent changes in Brave that each help make the web a more privacy, and person, respecting platform.
162270
163Post #4 | May 18, 2020
271Post #8 | May 18, 2020
164272
273## [Fingerprinting defenses 2.0](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/4-fingerprinting-defenses-2.0.en-in/)
274
275Brave's goal is to both be the best browser for protecting your privacy, and the best browser for day-to-day, full-featured Web use. This post describes new privacy features being developed in Brave to better protect user privacy, without breaking privacy-respecting, user-serving websites.
276
277Post #7 | May 18, 2020
278
165279## [Fingerprinting defenses 2.0](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/4-fingerprinting-defenses-2.0/)
166280
167281Brave's goal is to both be the best browser for protecting your privacy, and the best browser for day-to-day, full-featured Web use. This post describes new privacy features being developed in Brave to better protect user privacy, without breaking privacy-respecting, user-serving websites.
168282
169Post #3 | Mar 5, 2020
283Post #6 | Mar 5, 2020
170284
285## [Fingerprint randomization](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/3-fingerprint-randomization.en-in/)
286
287Brave now protects users from being fingerprinted by making them appear subtly different to each website. Browser fingerprinting protection is available today in our Nightly version. These new protections both provide the strongest fingerprinting protections of any popular browser, and work without introducing bothersome permission prompts or breaking websites.
288
289Post #5 | Mar 5, 2020
290
171291## [Fingerprint randomization](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/3-fingerprint-randomization/)
172292
173293Brave now protects users from being fingerprinted by making them appear subtly different to each website. Browser fingerprinting protection is available today in our Nightly version. These new protections both provide the strongest fingerprinting protections of any popular browser, and work without introducing bothersome permission prompts or breaking websites.
174294
175Post #2 | Feb 20, 2020
295Post #4 | Feb 20, 2020
176296
297## [Third-party cosmetic filtering](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/2-third-party-cosmetic-filtering.en-in/)
298
299Brave is releasing a new system for hiding unwanted, privacy harming page elements. These include empty page space caused by blocking trackers, and third-party ads that cannot be blocked at the network layer.
300
301Post #3 | Feb 20, 2020
302
177303## [Third-party cosmetic filtering](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/2-third-party-cosmetic-filtering/)
178304
179305Brave is releasing a new system for hiding unwanted, privacy harming page elements. These include empty page space caused by blocking trackers, and third-party ads that cannot be blocked at the network layer.
180306
307Post #2 | Jan 23, 2020
308
309## [Web resource replacements](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/1-web-resource-replacements.en-in/)
310
311Problem: Blocking Trackers Sometimes Breaks Sites. One of many ways Brave protects your privacy on the Web is by blocking requests to trackers. By blocking these requests, Brave prevents you from being followed around the Web, and from ad companies, data brokers, and other privacy-harming parties from recording your online activity.
312
181313Post #1 | Jan 23, 2020
182314
183315## [Web resource replacements](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/1-web-resource-replacements/)
184316
185317Problem: Blocking Trackers Sometimes Breaks Sites. One of many ways Brave protects your privacy on the Web is by blocking requests to trackers. By blocking these requests, Brave prevents you from being followed around the Web, and from ad companies, data brokers, and other privacy-harming parties from recording your online activity.