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More blogs The Two Contenders
In this article, we will compare a normal browser with a secure browser. We will show you the advantages (and disadvantages) of the secure browser. Let's get right into it!
Our first contender is Chrome. With over 66% percent of the market share, Chrome is a browser not specifically focused on privacy and security, but rather on user convenience. Google has built a few privacy features into Chrome, but many of them are insufficient and sometimes even hidden behind settings.
Our second contender is Incogniton, a privacy-focused browser. It offers enhanced security, allows you to create multiple profiles that websites won't be able to link to each other, meaning that you can't be tracked across the web.
Don't just take our word for the superior protection offered by Incogniton. In this article, we will show reproducible steps that demonstrate where Chrome falls short in terms of privacy and security.
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is a technique used to track users across the web by collecting unique information about their devices and browsers. This information can include details like screen resolution, installed fonts, browser version, and more. By combining these data points, websites can create a unique "fingerprint" for each user, allowing them to track your online activity even if you clear your cookies or use incognito mode.
There are many ways to fingerprint, but in this article, we will focus on the three techniques demonstrated here on bscan.info:
- Font
- Audio
- Canvas
The image below shows the results of opening two profiles for each browser on the main page of bscan.info.
As you can see in the image, the two Chrome profiles have identical fingerprints, while the Incogniton browser maintains unique fingerprints for each profile. This means that the two Chrome profiles can be linked to each other by trackers, while the Incogniton browser keeps your online activities separate and private.
Hiding IP Address
When you are using a VPN or proxy, you don't want your real IP address to be exposed via your browser. Unfortunately, websites have multiple ways of trying to detect your real IP; one such example is WebRTC. We wrote a blog about how WebRTC works: click here for that blog. The TL;DR is: it's a technology that allows for direct communication between two computers, used for things like file transfers and video calls.
Let's look at how our competitors handle IP masking and what techniques they employ to ensure user privacy. The image below shows the results from bscan.info's main page when using a proxy:
In the image, you can see that Chrome fails two leak tests. I even had to black out my real IP address acquired through WebRTC.
Incogniton, on the other hand, passes all tests. This is because it spoofs WebRTC tests, meaning that browsers receive a fake result. It also ensures the timezone is matched with the proxy's actual location.
Other Details
The two methods above are the most complex ways browsers can fingerprint you. Simpler methods are also used; these include things like:
- Screen size
- Browser Language
- User Agent
By default, Incogniton alters all of these, and you can also easily change them in the settings.
Chrome, on the other hand, does not allow you to change these settings easily. You can use extensions to do this, but they are not always reliable and can be detected by websites.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Incogniton is a browser specifically designed to protect your privacy and security. It offers features like multiple profiles, WebRTC spoofing, and easy customization of fingerprinting parameters. Chrome, on the other hand, is a browser not specifically designed for privacy and security, and it falls short in many of these areas.
Chrome is fine for general browsing, but if you are looking to stay untracked, Incogniton is a better pick than Chrome.
