Browsers
GNOME Web privacy rating
Web browser for the GNOME desktop, also called Epiphany, built on WebKitGTK, with ad blocking and Intelligent Tracking Prevention on by default.
Summary
GNOME Web scores 68 out of 100 (grade C) on the browsers criteria. It meets 4 of 8 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and blocks trackers by default. It partly meets no calls to big-tech services and timely security updates. It does not meet independent audit and fingerprinting protection.
Score 68 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- Yes
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Yes
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
No telemetry or analytics in the source code.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Developed by the GNOME community and funded by donations to the GNOME Foundation. No ads.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.
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Yes
Blocks trackers by default Weight 3 of 3
Are third-party trackers blocked by default, without installing extensions?
The ad blocker with uBlock Origin filter lists and Intelligent Tracking Prevention are on by default.
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No
Fingerprinting protection Weight 2 of 3
Does the browser defend against fingerprinting by default?
No fingerprinting protection is documented.
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Partial
No calls to big-tech services Weight 2 of 3
Does the browser work without background connections to Google, Microsoft or Apple services?
There is no Google Safe Browsing, but the default filter lists are downloaded from GitHub, which is owned by Microsoft. Turning off the ad blocker stops these downloads.
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Partial
Timely security updates Weight 3 of 3
Are security fixes from the upstream engine shipped quickly and automatically?
WebKitGTK publishes security fixes regularly, and they are installed through the distribution's package manager or Flatpak.