Privacy Updates

ARCHIVED 2025-03-04, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20250304_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20250207_rev01

Full text changes — 20250207_rev01 to 20250304_rev01

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

1Post #53 | Feb 6, 2025
1Post #32 | Feb 6, 2025
22
33## [Using custom scriptlets to make the Web work the way you want](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/32-custom-scriptlets/)
44
55Starting 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.
66
7Post #52 | Nov 19, 2024
7Post #31 | Nov 19, 2024
88
99## [Procedural filtering for better adblocking](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/31-procedural-filtering/)
1010
1111Starting with version 1.73, Brave is significantly improving its adblocking capabilities by adding support for procedural cosmetic filtering of page elements.
1212
13Post #51 | Nov 18, 2024
13Post #30 | Nov 18, 2024
1414
1515## [Delete site data instantly with the new Shred button on Brave iOS browser](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/30-shred-button/)
1616
1717Starting 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.
1818
19Post #50 | Aug 21, 2024
19Post #29 | Aug 21, 2024
2020
2121## [Brave brings HTTPS by Default to iOS](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/29-https-by-default-ios/)
2222
2323Starting with version 1.68, Brave will become the first iOS Web browser to try to upgrade all sites to HTTPS by default.
2424
25Post #49 | Jan 18, 2024
25Post #28 | Jan 18, 2024
2626
2727## [Brave browser simplifies its fingerprinting protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/28-sunsetting-strict-fingerprinting-mode/)
2828
2929With desktop and Android version 1.64 in a couple of months, Brave will sunset Strict fingerprinting protection mode.
3030
31Post #48 | Jun 27, 2023
31Post #27 | Jun 27, 2023
3232
3333## [Localhost Resource Permission](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/27-localhost-permission/)
3434
3535Starting 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.
3636
37Post #47 | May 24, 2023
37Post #26 | May 24, 2023
3838
3939## [Request "Off the Record"](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/26-request-off-the-record/)
4040
4141Request 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.
4242
43Post #46 | May 11, 2023
43Post #25 | May 11, 2023
4444
4545## [Forgetful Browsing](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/25-forgetful-browsing/)
4646
4747Forgetful 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.
4848
49Post #45 | Mar 6, 2023
49Post #24 | Mar 6, 2023
5050
5151## ["Google Sign-In" Permission](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/24-google-sign-in-permission/)
5252
5353Starting in version 1.51, Brave will increase user privacy by extending the brower's permission system to cover legacy Google Sign-In...
5454
55Post #44 | Feb 23, 2023
55Post #23 | Feb 23, 2023
5656
5757## [Grab bag 5: "Open in App" annoyances, further pool-party protections, and more...](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/23-grab-bag-5/)
5858
5959Starting 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.
6060
61Post #43 | Feb 9, 2023
61Post #22 | Feb 9, 2023
6262
6363## [HTTPS by Default](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/22-https-by-default/)
6464
6565Starting in version 1.50, Brave will include a new feature called "HTTPS by Default" that improves Web security and privacy by increasing HTTPS use.
6666
67Post #42 | Sep 28, 2022
67Post #21 | Sep 28, 2022
6868
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
7569## [Blocking annoying and privacy-harming cookie consent banners](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/21-blocking-cookie-notices/)
7670
7771New 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.
7872
79Post #40 | Aug 16, 2022
73Post #20 | Aug 16, 2022
8074
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
8775## [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/)
8876
8977Recent versions of Brave on iOS include many new privacy features, ensuring that Brave iOS users have the strongest available protections of any iOS browser.
9078
91Post #38 | Jul 19, 2022
79Post #19 | Jul 19, 2022
9280
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
9981## [STAR: Brave's new system for privacy-preserving data collection](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/19-star/)
10082
10183Brave'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.
10284
103Post #36 | Apr 19, 2022
85Post #18 | Apr 19, 2022
10486
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
11187## [De-AMP: cutting out Google and enhancing privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/18-de-amp/)
11288
11389Brave 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.
11490
115Post #34 | Apr 1, 2022
91Post #17 | Apr 1, 2022
11692
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
12393## [Protecting against browser-language fingerprinting](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/17-language-fingerprinting/)
12494
12595Brave 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.
12696
127Post #32 | Mar 8, 2022
97Post #16 | Mar 8, 2022
12898
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
13599## ["Unlinkable bouncing" for more protection against bounce tracking](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/16-unlinkable-bouncing/)
136100
137101Brave 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.
138102
139Post #30 | Jan 7, 2022
103Post #15 | Jan 7, 2022
140104
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
147105## [Grab bag 3: fixing pool-party, improving fingerprinting protections, more debouncing, and less Chromium](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/15-grab-bag-3/)
148106
149107Brave 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.
150108
151Post #28 | Dec 22, 2021
109Post #14 | Dec 22, 2021
152110
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
159111## [Partitioning network-state for privacy](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/14-partitioning-network-state/)
160112
161113Brave now includes network-state partitioning features, protecting Brave users from an even greater range of online tracking techniques.
162114
163Post #26 | Dec 15, 2021
115Post #13 | Dec 15, 2021
164116
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
171117## [Preventing pool-party attacks](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/13-pool-party-side-channels/)
172118
173119Brave 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.
174120
175Post #24 | Nov 18, 2021
121Post #12 | Nov 18, 2021
176122
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
183123## [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/)
184124
185125Brave 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.
186126
187Post #22 | Oct 14, 2021
127Post #11 | Oct 14, 2021
188128
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
195129## [Debouncing](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/11-debouncing/)
196130
197131Brave 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.
198132
199Post #20 | Sep 21, 2021
133Post #10 | Sep 21, 2021
200134
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
207135## [Custom filter list subscriptions](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/10-custom-filter-lists/)
208136
209137Starting 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.
210138
211Post #18 | Sep 1, 2021
139Post #9 | Sep 1, 2021
212140
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
219141## [Improving privacy by improving Web compatibility](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/9-web-compat-blocking/)
220142
221143Brave 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.
222144
223Post #16 | Jul 21, 2021
145Post #8 | Jul 21, 2021
224146
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
231147## [Grab bag 2: permission lifetimes, bounce tracking, and fingerprinting protections](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/8-grab-bag-2/)
232148
233149Brave 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.
234150
235Post #14 | Feb 1, 2021
151Post #7 | Feb 1, 2021
236152
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
243153## [Ephemeral third-party site storage](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/7-ephemeral-storage/)
244154
245155This 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.
246156
247Post #12 | Jul 20, 2020
157Post #6 | Jul 20, 2020
248158
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
255159## [Fighting CNAME trickery](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/6-cname-trickery/)
256160
257161Trackers 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.
258162
259Post #10 | Jul 20, 2020
163Post #5 | Jul 20, 2020
260164
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
267165## [Grab bag: query stripping, referrer policy, and reporting API](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/5-grab-bag/)
268166
269167In 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.
270168
271Post #8 | May 18, 2020
169Post #4 | May 18, 2020
272170
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
279171## [Fingerprinting defenses 2.0](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/4-fingerprinting-defenses-2.0/)
280172
281173Brave'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.
282174
283Post #6 | Mar 5, 2020
175Post #3 | Mar 5, 2020
284176
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
291177## [Fingerprint randomization](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/3-fingerprint-randomization/)
292178
293179Brave 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.
294180
295Post #4 | Feb 20, 2020
181Post #2 | Feb 20, 2020
296182
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
303183## [Third-party cosmetic filtering](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/2-third-party-cosmetic-filtering/)
304184
305185Brave 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.
306186
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
313187Post #1 | Jan 23, 2020
314188
315189## [Web resource replacements](https://brave.com/privacy-updates/1-web-resource-replacements/)
316190
317191Problem: 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.