Source: unsplash

As a UX designer, I understand the importance of user privacy online. After all, if it ends up in the hands of fraudsters, it could cause irreparable harm. That’s why we ensure user privacy in our products and allow users to control and determine their data privacy.

From this point of view, I’m always interested to see what new vendors have to offer for applications that ensure data privacy online. In this article, I’ve compiled ten free tools that can be used on any platform.

But before I do, I want to make the following points:

1. There is no better tool for privacy. The best way to improve privacy is to use multiple devices. But first, make sure they are compatible and non-conflicting.
2. Keeping your data private should always be your priority.
3. Most of the applications we use daily are not optimised for privacy. This means there’s always a need for browser tools and extensions that focus on privacy.

Secure Web Browsers

Brave

Source: brave.com

Brave is a secure browser with built-in features to block ads, trackers and cross-site cookies that are used to track your online activity. Brave also blocks fingerprinting so advertisers and data collectors cannot identify and follow you.

One of the benefits of Brave is that it has no performance issues. It runs faster than the vast majority of browsers.

Puffin

Source: puffinbrowser

Puffin is one of the most secure browsers, but its downside is that only the mobile version is free. Its advantage is that it uploads websites to its servers rather than the client side. It is difficult for malicious online content to harm your device.

UnGoogled Chromium

UnGoogled Chromium is an open-source browser based on Chromium but without Google’s web services. Because of this, it is privacy-oriented. It is a browser for users who do not want to trust Google with their personal information.

Secure Messaging & Email

Signal

Source: signal.org

Signal has an open-source protocol. Every message or call is encrypted by default, which means any call or message you make is safe. The app does not use invasive scripts or trackers. It does not collect data on location, contacts, purchase history, device data, and more.

The Bridge

Source: thebridgeapp.org

The bridge is an app that works only in offline mode. It is designed for Bluetooth messaging, which makes it ideal for secure communication.

ProtonMail

Source: proton.me

ProtonMail is one of the best secure email applications. In the free version, you get one email address and 1 GB of memory, and you can receive up to 150 emails daily. This is usually more than enough. The advantage of ProtonMail is that all messages are end-to-end encrypted. The platform uses a zero-trust security model and has two-factor authentication with hardware security keys, boasting built-in PGP support.

Windscribe

Source: windscribe.com

Windscribe is the best way to ensure privacy through a VPN. If you confirm your email address, you can use the app for free on multiple devices (10GB of monthly data).

ProtonVPN

Source: protonvpn.com

ProtonVPN is one of the few free VPNs without data restrictions. The free plan includes 3 locations and excellent streaming access. You’re limited in speed, but otherwise, the app works decently.

Password Managers

Avira Password Manager

Source: avira.com

Avira Password Manager offers a free plan with a password generator, autofill and sync across multiple devices. It even protects your credit cards. I recommend it to avoid spending money on a reliable password manager.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome has a great built-in password manager that’s completely free. Try using it to store your passwords.

So, if security is your priority, these ten tools will help keep user data from “prying eyes”. And it’s free.