Video summary

Mullvad Browser: Is it Good?

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product Reviewed

Mullvad Browser is a privacy-focused browser by Mullvad. It is built as a fork of Firefox, developed in collaboration with the Tor project—but it does not use Tor’s network.

Key Features Mentioned

Fork of Firefox

  • The browser is a direct fork of Firefox.
  • The speaker frames this as a deliberate choice compared to Chromium-based forks, with an opinion that Google is “bad” while Mozilla is “not bad” (not presented as fact).

Privacy-Focused Defaults (Aim: strong privacy without breaking usability)

  • No session persistence by default

    • Disables remembering history and cookies after closing the browser, resulting in a fresh session each time.

  • Identity Reset

    • Resets browser identity without fully closing and reopening the browser.
    • Intended to reduce linkage between browsing sessions and topics/sites.

  • Anti-fingerprinting / fingerprint resistance

    • Enables the Firefox setting: privacy.resistfingerprinting.

Examples of described hardening include:

- Forces **time zone to UTC**
- Reduces **font/access** to limit what can reveal installed fonts
- **Standardizes window size / resolution**
    - Includes an example of “weird borders/gray bars” seen on sites such as *verge.com*
    - Mentions a component sizing approach around **~200 pixels**
- **Generalizes OS and app version numbers** to blend into a larger pool
- Masks **webcam/microphone availability** unless permission is granted (the claim is that the browser won’t even “know” they’re present)
- Masks **keyboard layout**
- Masks **hardware/performance APIs** (the speaker mentions game pads, implying broader coverage)

Built-In VPN Option (Optional)

  • Uses a Mullvad browser extension for VPN routing, providing additional IP protection.
  • The speaker notes there is no free tier for Mullvad VPN and suggests swapping to another provider with a free tier (e.g., Proton VPN).
  • VPN use is optional and works inside the browser, rather than system-wide.

Telemetry and “Phones Home” Minimized

  • Disables Firefox telemetry by default.
  • Disables various Firefox “suggested” features (such as recommendation-driven experiences).
  • Still mentioned as making some external connections, including:
    • Browser updates
    • The Mullvad VPN extension
    • Components like NoScript/uBlock Origin
    • Some certificate/SSL related behavior
    • Domain updates

Transparency

  • The speaker praises Mullvad for publishing a blog post that lists:
    • What is enabled
    • What is disabled
    • What external connections occur
  • This is presented as more transparent than typical Firefox behavior.

Pros (As Stated)

  • Strong privacy defaults with reduced fingerprinting risk
  • Better usability than “extreme” privacy browsers
    • The speaker contrasts with approaches like LibreWolf/Waterfox/IceCat that can break sites
  • Identity Reset adds flexibility versus always closing/restarting
  • Extensive, practical anti-fingerprinting measures
  • Integrated VPN option for privacy layering convenience
  • Transparency via published documentation

Cons / Downsides Mentioned

  • Cookie/history clearing causes inconvenience
    • Closing and reopening means logging into sites again (example: YouTube).
    • The behavior can be changed via settings, but defaults create login friction.
  • Trust question
    • The browser and VPN are run by a company, so users still must “place trust” in Mullvad.
  • Not truly “Tor”
    • Despite Tor collaboration, it does not use the Tor network.
    • Tor-only use requires the Tor Browser.
    • The speaker advises not to overvalue the “Tor” aspect.

Comparisons Made

Mullvad Browser vs Other Firefox Privacy Forks

  • Compared to LibreWolf/Waterfox/IceCat
  • Mullvad is described as trying to “thread the needle”: privacy-first defaults while avoiding common functional breakages (DRM/web compatibility issues were cited as typical for hardened setups).

Mullvad Browser vs Regular Firefox

  • To replicate Mullvad-like protection in Firefox, users would need to manually enable many settings (privacy, anti-fingerprinting, telemetry).
  • Regular Firefox may be better if you want convenience and normal cookie/tracking behavior.

Mullvad Browser vs Tor Browser

  • Mullvad is not Tor Browser.
  • The Tor network features are absent.

User Experience Notes (From the Speaker)

  • By default, closing the browser gives a “fresh” identity each time.
  • Some websites may show visual effects related to fingerprint resistance (e.g., “weird borders/gray bars”).
  • Identity Reset can reduce the need to close/reopen for identity separation.

Ratings / Numerical Scores

  • No explicit numerical rating or score was given.

Unique Points Mentioned About the Product (Consolidated)

  1. Fork of Firefox; contrasted with Chromium-based forks.
  2. Privacy-first goal to minimize tracking without sacrificing functionality.
  3. Tor collaboration exists, but no Tor network usage.
  4. Default deletes cookies and history on close.
  5. Identity Reset resets identity without closing the browser.
  6. Enables privacy.resistfingerprinting.
  7. Fingerprinting mitigations include:
    • UTC time zone
    • Reduced font exposure
    • Window size/resolution standardization (mentioned ~200px component)
    • Generalized OS/app version reporting
    • Webcam/mic masked until permission
    • Keyboard layout masked
    • Performance/hardware API masking (including mention of game pads)
  8. Optional built-in Mullvad VPN via extension.
  9. Mullvad VPN has no free tier (alternative suggested: Proton VPN).
  10. Disables Firefox telemetry and many recommendation/suggestion features.
  11. Still includes some external connections (browser updates, VPN extension, uBlock/NoScript, etc.).
  12. Praised for transparency via a blog post listing enabled/disabled items and connections.
  13. Inconvenience: frequent relogins due to default cookie clearing.
  14. Trust consideration: company-operated rather than purely community-backed (with open-source/community comparisons mentioned).

Speaker-Specific Views (Attributions)

  • Single main speaker throughout; no clearly distinct additional speakers.
  • The speaker’s opinions included:
    • Privacy/usability “balance” is better than more extreme privacy browsers.
    • Mullvad is relatively trustworthy compared to many VPNs, but still requires trusting a company.
    • Personal preference leans toward LibreWolf over Mullvad, but “close.”
    • Recommendation not to over-focus on the “Tor” aspect.

Overall Verdict / Recommendation

Recommended for users who prioritize privacy over convenience.

Mullvad Browser is presented as a strong, practical anti-fingerprinting and anti-tracking Firefox fork with helpful extras like Identity Reset and an optional integrated VPN, plus strong transparency. The main tradeoff is convenience friction, especially re-logging due to default cookie clearing.

It’s not a Tor replacement—Tor use still requires the Tor Browser.

Original video