Brave is essentially just Chrome with an adblocker, a bunch of bloatware, and a bunch of controversies.

Brave took BAT donations in YouTuber’s names without their consent, with them keeping the money if the YouTubers didn’t claim it. https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/2019/01/13/brave-web-browser-no-longer-claims-to-fundraise-on-behalf-of-others-so-thats-nice/

Brave’s search engine crawler hides itself from websites by pretending to be Googlebot, and Meta (Facebook) buys API access from them to train their AI. https://stackdiary.com/brave-selling-copyrighted-data-for-ai-training/

The business model of Brave rewards as a whole is to block all other ad networks to replace them with their own, which is unfair as only YouTubers and websites that have joined can make money from most Brave users.

If Brave actually cared, they would create an acceptable ads style feature which was free for everyone and allowed simple contextual banners while blocking ads which track you, take up most of the page, or have NSFW content.

Their approach is monopolistic as they have full control and can strangle YouTubers and websites by dropping pay at any time.

And Brenden Eich has said on Twitter that he plans to release “Brave Origin”, which is a paid version of Brave without the bloatware. That name is ironic as he is admitting that his browser is commercialised and bloated, which is similar to when gorhill gave uBlock way to Chris Aljoudi who commercialised it, which led him to create uBlock Origin.

If you use Brave, ditch it and look at using Librewolf or Helium instead, which both include no ads nor tracking and don’t have Brave News, Rewards, Wallet, Talk etc bloatware.

  • Engywook@lemmy.zip
    625·
    14 hours ago

    Nope, Brave is way better than FF has ever been. I will keep using it and promote it if someone asks me. I don’t care about the supposed scandals of Brave or political opinions of Eich, that’s not my business and he’s not my friend nor an acquaintance of mines.

    And no, using Librewolf still gives market share to Gecko, this to Mozilla. No way I’d touch that thing. What’s more, I’d gladly donate to make Mozilla disappear, if I could. Now, feel free to downvote me to hell. I won’t bother to reply to anyone. Better yet, I’ll just block the annoying people that will surely feel obliged to insult me.

      • Captain Beyond@linkage.ds8.zone
        3·
        11 hours ago

        Vivaldi being proprietary makes it worse than Brave, even with Brave’s controversies. But I would still rather use Librewolf, but there is even Ungoogled-Chromium if you really need it.

        There is definitely a space for a “deBraved” browser that keeps the good parts. That would be the best chromium browser.

        • Gravitywell.xYz@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          7 hours ago

          Its just as open source as the other chromium based browsers

          https://vivaldi.com/source/

          They also have very valid reasons for keeping the features that make the UI unique closed, seeing how many open source projects like ffmpeg get completely taken advantage of its a smart move.

          Youll find that parts of brave arent actually open source either, such as their built in AI or the build in crypto wallet.

          At some point you gotta ask if its worth having open source purity tests when even the flagship products are shoveling AI and other garbage no one wants into their browser.

          Librewolf might pass that purity test for now, but without mozilla librewolf likely would not continue, vivaldi does not have this problem.

        • Gravitywell.xYz@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          7 hours ago

          Its just as open source as the other chromium based browsers

          https://vivaldi.com/source/

          They also have very valid reasons for keeping the features that make the UI unique closed, seeing how many open source projects like ffmpeg get completely taken advantage of its a smart move.

          Youll find that parts of brave arent actually open source either, such as their built in AI or the build in crypto wallet.

          At some point you gotta ask if its worth having open source purity tests when even the flagship products are shoveling AI and other garbage no one wants into their browser.

          Librewolf might pass that purity test for now, but without mozilla librewolf likely would not continue, vivaldi does not have this problem.

    • typhoon@lemmy.world
      1·
      13 hours ago

      For Android, Vanadium in GOS is a better option than Brave.

      For computers, I have to say that this comment has some foundation. Why?

      For general navigation (things that don’t require login): Use Mullvad Browser

      For logins (things that don’t require total privacy and require better security: email, bank account, etc): For now use Brave (or Trivalent if you are using SecureBlue, or Ungoogled Chromium if you are techy savvy enough to keep the uBO extension working reliably)

      With this premise, of privacy and security in PC, is difficult to outcome Brave for the later in terms of convenience.

      Brave is open source, if you have a problem with something on it please bring it to us. The bloatware can be managed via settings (although very annoying and not sure when enshifitication will become unbearable).

      For those recommending Vivaldi, Vivaldi is not completely open source. So, no, I can’t trust it.

    • FG_3479@lemmy.worldOP
      35·
      14 hours ago

      I recommend looking at Helium and Cromite as alternatives.

      As for Firefox, I don’t like it too, and I’ve wrote a similar post about it on this sub but it got downvoted by -66 points.

      • Engywook@lemmy.zip
        312·
        14 hours ago

        Nope, Brave has better isolation, better privacy and a great adblock. Period. Don’t care about downvotes. Only losers care for imaginary internet points.