Anonymous Browsing: Brave browser integrates VPN and firewall service

Brave releases the in-browser firewall and VPN service for desktop users, which debuted last year on the Android and iOS apps. The browser operator, who promises data protection and anonymity when searching, announced this in a blog entry. Desktop users will be able to click the “VPN” (Virtual Private Network) button in the right corner of the browser bar. After purchasing the subscription for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, a drop-down menu will open below the button, allowing users to select the region of the VPN server. An email address is required for purchase. The service is already available in Germany and is scheduled to appear in other countries in the next few days.

In the browser extension drop-down menu, Brave promises a download rate of up to 500 Mbit/s. Subscribers can connect five devices to the VPN, whether Android, desktop operating systems or iOS. According to the blog entry, the firewall should ensure that “unwanted trackers, malicious data traffic and other malware” are blocked. Brave Software works with the third-party provider Guardian for the VPN and firewall service. The American start-up was founded by security researcher Will Straach and sold to cybersecurity software provider DNSFilter at the end of last year.

Brave Software isn’t the only browser operator to have a VPN built in. In 2016, Opera integrated a free VPN. Mozilla followed in 2019, offering a VPN subscription in Germany for around EUR 9.99 per month. In addition, Google has recently included a VPN service in the Google One tariff.

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