The Brave browser will soon begin blocking “open in app” pop-ups, which lead users to areas where browser privacy protection features are not available, exposing them to data collection. This will be implemented in version 1.49 for Windows and Android, with the feature already available on iOS since v1.44.
The “Fanboy’s Mobile Notifications List” will be used to hide these annoyances, and the feature can be deactivated in the settings menu. The next version of Brave will also include better protections against pool-party attacks.
Pool-party attacks enable persistent tracking of browsing behavior across websites by abusing features in the implementation of browsers, allowing attackers to circumvent privacy protections. Brave had updated its defenses against these attacks in version 1.35, but sites are employing alternative methods that bypass existing protections.
Partial support for procedural cosmetic filters is also planned for version 1.49. These filters specify which page elements should be hidden when blocking ads. Brave will initially support two of the most popular procedural cosmetic filters, with more planned for future releases. Brave is a privacy-focused browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
It is also known for its Basic Attention Token (BAT) cryptocurrency, which rewards users for watching privacy-respecting ads. In a recent survey of 50,000 people conducted by the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, Brave was the second most popular browser, with 15% of respondents using it. Brave has also announced that it will introduce a new search engine called Brave Search, which will focus on privacy and user data protection.
