According to the latest the average internet user spends almost 7 hours per day online, either on a mobile device or on a desktop — equating to roughly 42% of their waking lives. It’s not really a surprise though; we use the web for work, shopping, entertainment, education, and social media. In fact, more than 60% of the world’s population is online. Digital 2021 report , With so much of our time spent in front of our screens, browsers have become goldmines of data. Companies can, and do, use that valuable information to provide you with a customized and convenient user experience on their sites and platforms. It’s also used to power the internet’s business model — targeted advertising, which is when advertisers use your browsing data to follow you around the internet and serve you ads they think are relevant to you. However, if that data falls into the wrong hands, it can be exploited by malicious actors. If you’re concerned about your online activities and information being collected, stored, sold, or exploited, it’s time to get smart about your browsing habits. The first step towards smart browsing is understanding your vulnerabilities. The second step is knowing what to do about it, namely, switching to a . private browser How to Test Your Browser Privacy: Use the Free Tool on Safer.com Your browser knows more about you than the average internet user realizes. It knows not only your browsing history and , but your physical address, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your Domain Name System (DNS) server, your internet speed, the plug-ins and fonts you’ve installed, hardware details, and even seemingly innocuous information like your screen resolution and color depth. cookies To call attention to how this data can be used to track your online activities, the team behind Avast built a free to help you determine what data your browser leaves behind (known as a Digital Footprint) as you navigate the internet. browser privacy test tool Available on Safer.com, this comprehensive web app tests your browser for several privacy threats, providing easy-to-understand explanations and solutions to help you safeguard your digital identity. How to Enhance Your Web Security with Avast Secure Browser If the first step toward protecting your online privacy and security is knowing how large your is and how much of it is exposed by your browser, then the next step is knowing what to do about it — using the best private and secure browser that fits your needs. There’s no shortage of available, so make sure to pick one that you trust to keep your browsing data secure. The most convenient private browsers will have security and privacy tools built right in, so you won’t have to research and install additional extensions and tools. For a good example of one such secure browser, we’d recommend checking out . Developed by Avast, the international company behind the popular Avast Free Antivirus, it combines all the browsing features you want with the privacy and security tools you need. The result? A lightning-fast, convenient, and easy-to-use private browsing solution. digital footprint browsers Avast Secure Browser Avast Secure Browser offers a variety of advanced built-in security and privacy tools to make sure you are safe and protected online. Found in the Security & Privacy Center, some of these tools include: Browse faster by blocking ads that follow you around and slow you down. Adblock: Browse in an isolated desktop session, protecting your financial information from keyloggers and prying eyes. Bank Mode: Websites and ad networks are getting smarter. Instead of relying only on cookies and your IP address to identify you, they’re also using your unique browser configuration to keep tabs on you. Anti-Fingerprinting hides your browser information from sites to help protect your privacy and limit online tracking. Anti-Fingerprinting: Block malicious websites and downloads from infecting your device with viruses, spyware, and ransomware, or stealing your data. Anti-Phishing: g: Protect yourself from online tracking by blocking external requests from third-party platforms, and removing web bugs and tracking scripts. Anti-Trackin Avast Secure Browser’s Extension Guard adds another layer of security between you and the bad guys by allowing only safe and trusted extensions to be installed. Extension Guard: Get notified if your login information has been involved in a data breach, or if your passwords are too weak. Hack Check: : Generate and manage multiple, safe passwords, and automatically log into your accounts with a single click. You can install any password extension from and the Chrome Web Store, including popular extensions like Bitwarden, LastPass, and 1Password. Password Manager Avast Addons : Using Avast Private Mode prevents your browsing history from being stored and dumps any tracking cookies or web cache you pick up during your browsing session, as well as enabling Anti-track, Adblock, and Anti-phishing. Private Mode Giving a website permission to access your camera is putting a significant amount of trust in that website. Webcam Guard lets you decide who you want to give that access to, when, and for how long. Webcam Guard: Scan your device for new viruses, ransomware, and other malware with Avast’s popular antivirus program. Integration with Avast Antivirus*: The Android and iOS versions of Avast Secure Browser feature additional tools for safe browsing on the go: Automatically encrypt your mobile device’s internet connection and unblock the internet with a built-in VPN Built-in VPN*: Add another layer of security by encrypting your DNS queries. DNS over TLS: Avast Secure Browser’s advanced tab grouping feature, called Modes, allows you to group tabs and browser data in multiple sandbox environments, each with their own rulesets. Advanced tab grouping: Limit physical access to the browser app and your data with a PIN code. Your PIN is never stored on any servers, which means no one, not even Avast, knows your secure PIN. PIN lock / Fingerprint unlock: Encrypt downloaded files automatically, then store them locally on your device with the Media Vault. You can also move files from your device’s local storage to the browser’s Media Vault, encrypting and securing the files along the way. Encrypted Media Vault: Built into the mobile browser app so you don’t need to decrypt your files to view them on third-party players. Private media players: Quickly scan QR codes. QR reader: Use your voice to enjoy fast, hands-free searching. Voice search: Manage your VPN connections and perform search queries on your homescreen. Search widget: Block malware and malicious phishing sites from stealing personal data. Web Shield*: Check for browser vulnerabilities and protection gaps on the go. Security Scan: * Avast Secure Brower’s built-in VPN is free with no bandwidth limitations for browsing-only traffic. Because Avast Secure Browser is available for PC, Mac, iOS and Android, you can enjoy the same secure browsing experience on your computer, laptop, and mobile device by syncing your browser history and bookmarks across multiple devices. Take control of your online safety Now that you have the browser privacy test tool and information on what features to look for in a private browser, it’s time to make the switch and get moving toward a safer, more secure browsing experience. Avast Secure Browser makes switching a quick and painless process. You can import all of your browsing history, saved passwords, and bookmarks from your old browser with the push of a button. Safer.com If you value your online privacy, you owe it to yourself to switch to a browser that has your back. Download today and let us know what you think! Avast Secure Browser

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