So as the title mentions, I'm wondering how much is too much?

I am currently using Brave with the setting to:

  • Aggressively block trackers & ads
  • Only connect with HTTPS
  • Block fingerprinting
  • Block cross-site cookies

In addition to that, I have installed the following extensions:

  • uBlock Origin
  • Ghostery
  • Decentraleyes
  • DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials

So my question is: Is this overkill? If so, what should/could be removed that may be redundant? I want as much coverage as possible, but not have things bloated.

  • Skimmer@lemmy.zip
    ·
    11 months ago

    Please never do this! Read this thread from the developer of uBlock Origin. Using multiple content blockers together like this can and will cause issues, as well as will increase fingerprinting, etc, and there's no gain or benefit at all from doing so.

    I would disable Brave's built-in ad/tracker blocking (leave the rest of the Shields' functionality enabled), and would solely use uBlock Origin, and remove the other extensions. (You could even just stick to Brave's built in ad/tracker blocking if you want to, but I just prefer uBlock Origin for its advanced features and compatibility)

    As far as Decentraleyes goes, its essentially abandoned. You can use LocalCDN instead if you wish to do so, though its privacy benefits are debated. I mainly use it since I use uBlock Origin in Hard mode (which it complements uBo very nicely in both Medium or Hard Mode), and for the performance boost it gives, but its up to you. Ghostery and DDG Essentials should definitely be removed. (While DDG Essentials isn't only content blocking, its other features are also just completely redundant and unnecessary with Brave)

    • NaN@lemmy.sdf.org
      ·
      11 months ago

      DDG extension lets you enable and manage their private email forwarding service. It can also be done through their mobile browser but less convenient.

  • Sebo@lemmy.one
    ·
    11 months ago

    My rule for this is if tor uses it its pretty dam good aka No script + Ublock Orgin

  • lemmy689@lemmy.sdf.org
    ·
    11 months ago

    I've tested a few browsers using Eff's Cover Your Tracks website. The best is TOR, but Brave with no extensions is second, it said it provided a randomized fingerprint. Tried it with Firefox with uBlock and it said my comp had a unique fingerprint. Mullvad browser faired slighty better, cant recall the score, but at least it wasn't unique. I tried it with Librewolf also with a load of extensions and it was a poor score as well. So, imo, you don't need extensions with Brave. I think my settings are the same as yours.

  • HughJanus@lemmy.ml
    ·
    11 months ago

    You don't need any of those.

    The functions and lists of uBlock are built into Brave. Most of the rest are redundant. You're just having the opposite effect that you're trying to achieve. These extensions are just used to fingerprint you.

      • HughJanus@lemmy.ml
        ·
        11 months ago

        Depends on which browser. On Brave the only ones I use are Proton Pass and ViolentMonkey. You can search/install/run scripts in ViolentMonkey to do the same thing as any other extension.

  • AphoticDev@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    ·
    11 months ago

    The only privacy add-on you need is uBlock Origin with script blocking and advanced mode enabled, installed on Firefox. Better yet, LibreWolf, although a few websites will be broken by LibreWolf. There are no other privacy add-ons that are necessary beyond uBlock Origin.

    I mean, you can install them if you want, but they won't do anything.

  • edric@lemm.ee
    ·
    11 months ago

    You can have what Brave does except block ads/trackers, which uBO can cover anyway, but on Firefox or Librewolf instead. For extensions, ditch Ghostery.

      • edric@lemm.ee
        ·
        11 months ago

        Ghostery used to sell (or just send back) user data to advertisers. While it was opt-in, that isn’t really a good look for a privacy tool. I stopped using it when that news broke out long ago, but I think now they are also showing ads of their own(?). Either way, uBO does almost everything now. I have Decentraleyes too, along with ClearURLs, and Privacy Badger (which supposedly is redundant to uBO now too).