Preview: These docs are available early so you can start using them now. Some pages may still be incomplete, outdated, or change as WebLibre develops.

Privacy & Security Overview

WebLibre starts with several privacy protections already enabled. You can keep the defaults, or tighten things further as your needs change.

This page gives you a plain-language map of the main privacy features, what they help with, and what trade-offs to expect.

Privacy Layers

WebLibre protects you in a few different ways. Some features protect your connection, some reduce tracking, and others limit what stays on your device.

Connection Security

These features protect traffic between your device and the network:

  • DNS over HTTPS — Encrypts DNS lookups so your network provider or public Wi-Fi operator cannot easily see the site names your browser is looking up

  • HTTPS-Only Mode — In the app this appears as Block insecure HTTP connections. It upgrades sites to HTTPS when possible and warns or blocks when a site only offers insecure HTTP

  • Tor Integration — Routes browsing through the Tor network when you want stronger identity and network privacy. It is slower than a normal connection, so it is best used when you need it

Tracking Protection

These features reduce how websites, advertisers, and data brokers follow you across sites:

  • Enhanced Tracking Protection — Blocks many trackers, cryptominers, fingerprinting scripts, and other known tracking techniques

  • Bounce Tracking Protection — Blocks a common redirect-based tracking trick where you are briefly sent through a tracker before reaching the real site

  • Query Parameter Stripping and URL Cleaning — Removes many known tracking parameters from links. In Privacy & Security, this appears as Query Parameter Stripping. WebLibre also has a separate URL Cleaner under Settings > Browsing

  • Global Privacy Control (GPC) — Sends a privacy preference to websites telling them not to sell or share your personal data. Some websites and jurisdictions recognize this signal, but support is not universal

Fingerprinting and Identity Separation

Even without cookies, websites can still try to recognize your browser. WebLibre includes features that make this harder:

  • Fingerprint Protection — Reduces how uniquely your browser stands out. Stronger modes can improve privacy, but may cause a few websites to behave oddly

  • Containers — Organize browsing by activity, and with Cookie Isolation enabled they separate cookies, logins, and site data into different browsing contexts

Data Control

These features help you decide what stays on your device and for how long:

  • Incognito Mode — Automatically deletes selected browsing data when you restart the app

  • Auto-Clear History — Automatically removes browsing history older than the time period you choose

  • Auto-Clear Unassigned Tabs — Automatically closes tabs that are not assigned to a container after they get old

  • Clear Data on Exit for containers — In a cookie-isolated container’s settings, you can enable Clear Data on Exit so that container’s cookies and site data are wiped when the app closes

  • Delete Browsing Data — Lets you manually clear tabs, history, cookies and site data, cache, permissions, and downloads whenever you want

Learn more: Data Management

Advanced Hardening

For users who want extra protection beyond the usual privacy settings:

  • Web Engine Hardening — Advanced browser engine security and privacy options. Best left at defaults unless you know what you want to change

  • Fission (Site Isolation) — Runs different sites in separate OS processes for stronger isolation. This improves security, but can use more memory and requires an app restart when changed

A Good Starting Setup

If you want strong privacy without turning WebLibre into a project, this is a sensible setup:

Setting Practical recommendation

Enhanced Tracking Protection

Leave it on Strict unless a website breaks, then try Standard or add a site exception

DNS over HTTPS

Leave it enabled and pick a built-in provider or custom resolver that matches your privacy or filtering needs

Block insecure HTTP connections

Leave it Enabled

Global Privacy Control (GPC)

Leave it Enabled

Query Parameter Stripping

Leave it Enabled

Auto-Clear History

Keep the default or shorten it if you prefer less history stored on your device

Fission (Site Isolation)

Leave it enabled unless you are troubleshooting memory use or compatibility issues on your device

Content-blocking extension

Optional, but useful if you want stronger blocking for ads and unwanted page elements
Many privacy protections are already enabled by default in WebLibre, including strict tracking protection, DNS over HTTPS, HTTPS-only protection, Global Privacy Control, query parameter stripping, and site isolation. Onboarding highlights some choices, but not every engine behavior is surfaced there as a separate setting.

What to Expect

Privacy features improve protection, but they can also change how the web behaves.

  • Stronger settings may break logins, embedded media, payments, or social widgets on some sites

  • Tor is much slower than direct browsing

  • Strong fingerprint protection can make some pages look or behave differently

  • Auto-clearing features may sign you out or remove data you expected to keep

If a website stops working, try relaxing only the setting that seems related instead of turning everything off.