Brave is an open-source web browser built on top of the Chromium web browser and has an aim to revolutionise our internet by changing the way the advertising ecosystem works.
When we normally browse the internet, we are bombarded by adverts. Not only that, but internet companies also use cookies to track us and our preferences. This data is sold to advertising companies so that they can tailor their adverts just for us. The internet companies make a huge amount of money by selling the personal data they collect on you.
Brave works by filtering out these advert tracking cookies and prevent the adverts from showing in your browser. Instead, it works with companies who want to advertise and will pay you to see a limited number of non-intrusive adverts. This is even optional and you can control how many adverts you will see.
Behind the scene, Brave has a cryptocurrency called Basic Attention Token (BAT) that is something similar to a loyalty points scheme. The more you see their ads - their more points you get. The BAT you earn has real value that you can exchange for cash.
Not only that, but you can also tip participating websites for their content in BAT right from your browser. This effectively cuts out the middle man of the advertising companies and stops your personal data being sold around the internet. You can choose how much you want to tip the content creator so effectively the better content will earn more.
So if all of that wasn't good enough, here are my top ten reasons for using Brave.
1. Data privacy
My private data should be mine and the idea that companies and tracking and profiling everything I do it not acceptable. The ad cookie-blocking feature in Brave has to be my number one reason.
2. Paying content creators
I like the idea of tipping content creators as I know for many this is not only a source of income but that people invest a lot of time in creating good content that should be appropriately awarded. (You can even tip peakd.com)
3. Browsing speed
When you don't load all those annoying ads on a web page, it is amazing how quickly the page loads. My family love this feature best (and they don't all understand the data privacy implications). My Brave browser says it has saved 2.5 hours so far which would have been spent loading unnecessary adverts.
4. Brave Rewards
Get paid for browsing through BAT cryptocurrency.
5. Tor private browsing
The desktop version of Brave has the built-in capability of using Tor which gives additional privacy protection for your web browsing by tunnelling it through different nodes. If you want to browse privately at work without being tracked where you are going - this feature if for you.
5. Crypto Wallet built-in
Brave has a built-in crypto wallet in the desktop browser that allows you to access Ethereum and ERC-20 based tokens straight from your browser.
6. Chrome Extensions
Most of the Chrome extensions work in Brave. So why still use Chrome when Brave has all these advantages and will do pretty much everything that you would have done in Chrome?
7. Binance Partnership
Binance has announced that they have now partnered with Brave in a move that will bring access to the Binance exchange from a widget built into the browser. This is great news and a fantastic way of promoting Brave adoption.
"You deserved a better Internet"
brave.com
So if you haven't got Brave - download it and have a go.