# 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.

- Website: https://apps.gnome.org/Epiphany/
- Source code: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany
- Platforms: Linux
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Browsers](https://privacyratings.com/browsers/)
- Also rated: [Evolution](https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/evolution/) (Email clients), [Geary](https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/geary/) (Email clients), [Authenticator GNOME](https://privacyratings.com/two-factor-authentication/authenticator-gnome/) (Two-factor authentication), [SeaHorse](https://privacyratings.com/pgp-tools/seahorse/) (PGP tools), [Impression](https://privacyratings.com/os-installers/impression/) (OS downloaders and bootable USB tools), [Disk Usage Analyzer](https://privacyratings.com/disk-usage-analyzers/disk-usage-analyzer/) (Disk usage analyzers), [GNOME Boxes](https://privacyratings.com/virtual-machines/gnome-boxes/) (Virtual machines), [Déjà Dup](https://privacyratings.com/file-sync/deja-dup/) (File sync and backup), [Pika Backup](https://privacyratings.com/file-sync/pika-backup/) (File sync and backup), [File Roller](https://privacyratings.com/archivers/file-roller/) (File archivers), [Papers](https://privacyratings.com/pdf-tools/papers/) (PDF readers and editors), [Orca](https://privacyratings.com/accessibility/orca/) (Accessibility), [Rhythmbox](https://privacyratings.com/media-players/rhythmbox/) (Media and podcast players), [Fragments](https://privacyratings.com/torrent-clients/fragments/) (Torrent clients), [Switcheroo](https://privacyratings.com/file-converters/switcheroo/) (File converters)
- Grade: C (68/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | GPL-3.0. | https://github.com/GNOME/epiphany/blob/main/COPYING |
| No trackers or telemetry | Yes | No telemetry or analytics in the source code. | https://github.com/GNOME/epiphany |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Developed by the GNOME community and funded by donations to the GNOME Foundation. No ads. | https://donate.gnome.org/en/ |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| Blocks trackers by default | Yes | The ad blocker with uBlock Origin filter lists and Intelligent Tracking Prevention are on by default. | https://github.com/GNOME/epiphany/blob/main/data/org.gnome.epiphany.gschema.xml |
| Fingerprinting protection | No | No fingerprinting protection is documented. |  |
| No calls to big-tech services | Partial | 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. | https://github.com/GNOME/epiphany/blob/main/data/org.gnome.epiphany.gschema.xml |
| Timely security updates | Partial | WebKitGTK publishes security fixes regularly, and they are installed through the distribution's package manager or Flatpak. | https://webkitgtk.org/security.html |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/browsers/gnome-web/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/browsers/gnome-web.md