So I just downloaded Brave on all my devices and I saw they have a firewall and VPN subscription. It says it would cover not just the browser but all of my other apps as well, which seems pretty neat.
My question: is it worth it? I’m not broke or anything so it’s not a question about the cost, but is it really going to do what it says and do it well? I was trying to find answers on this sub but couldn’t find anything close enough to my question.
Also, I don’t really understand the BAT and wallet concept so if anyone could do a quick ELI5 that’d be awesome.
Thanks!
In my opinion, the VPN is useful but the Firewall less so. If you frequently login to public wifi spots at airports and hotels, a VPN is a must. You just don’t know if anyone’s listening in on those types of connections, so it is best to be safe.
The Firewall in my opinion is less useful. If you’re using other apps that connect to cloud services, most likely they’re able to track you regardless of whether you have a firewall or not.
Given the above reasons, I really wish they had split the Firewall and VPN into separate packages. Outside VPN services are only $5 bucks a month, which makes Brave’s $10 dollar Firewall + VPN a bit too expensive compared to the competition.
If you’re looking for a VPN service, I personally would recommend Mullvad, but as with all things privacy related, do your own research and don’t just listen to people online!
well instead of the brave firewall you could also buy a normal antivirus. or just use microsoft defender firewall or whatever it is, it’s probably good enough. as far as vpn goes, there are many VPN providers out there, so if you need it, check which one has best speeds and prices. but you also have to understand that TOR (a browser, which is built in brave and you open it by pressing ctrl + shift + n while in brave) is much better than any VPN
Well, I can’t answer whether or not it is “worth” it to you, given that I don’t know what type of “value” you place on these features. However, at minimum, yes – the Firewall + VPN does work as it says it does.
ELI5 BAT and wallets:
The Basic Attention Token (BAT) was developed to address this. BAT, an ERC20 token built on top of Ethereum, will be the token of utility in a new, decentralized, open source and efficient blockchain-based digital advertising platform.
In the ecosystem, advertisers will give publishers BATs based on the measured attention of users. Users will also receive some BATs for participating. They can donate them back to publishers or use them on the platform.
This transparent system keeps user data private while delivering fewer but more relevant ads. Publishers experience less fraud while increasing their percentage of rewards. And advertisers get better reporting and performance.
We hav a user friendly FAQ on the official BAT website that should answer any additional questions you may have: https://basicattentiontoken.org/faq/#meaning
I believe the Firewall + VPN service is only for iOS so the point about Microsoft Defender, etc. is a bit moot.