Would like to get input on this Snowhaze all-in-one mobile browser option for iOS. (There is reportedly an Android mobile version in the works.)
Is this like “putting all your eggs in one basket” or a better approach to help ensure full privacy coverage without conflicts?
Disclaimer: I am not associated with this company and neither is the company I consult with. Thanks!
The good:
The bad:
Bottomline:
I think SnowHaze is an interesting project which cleverly works within iOS limitations. The code and VPN infrastructure should be subject to a (possibly crowd-funded) third party security audit and/or penetration test. Until such time that its many promises can be independently verified, I personally will not be using it regularly.
I’ve been using it for a few weeks now exclusively over Safari.
I personally don’t think the Indy-clunkiness of the app is bad enough to switch back, but it is noticeable.
I would not use it as a secure vpn, however, for the reasons the other poster mentioned.
But, the security features (ESPECIALLY customizable tabs, e.g I can have a tab with java script disabled and one where it is enabled) are good enough for me to stick with it over Safari or chrome.
I have been experimenting with it the past couple of weeks, so I’ll throw in my two cents. Overall I like it a lot because it is clear that the developers are competent and understand what a true privacy-focused user is looking for.
In my opinion, it compares very favorably it to Brave, Firefox Focus, and other iOS “privacy” browsers because of the sheer number of options that the app lets you customize. None of the other mentioned apps provide the same level of control regarding blocking scripts, fingerprinting, cookies, tracking elements, and more. It all seems really granular to me, with good descriptions accompanying each setting so you have an idea what each one means. I also like that most of the features can be enabled/disabled globally or on a per-site or per-tab basis.
Now, I don’t use the VPN primarily because I already pay for another service, which has a longer history and provides more features, but I did sample SnowHaze’s VPN service as a trial, and it seemed to work well enough. It’s really basic, though, as there are very few servers and few standout features.
Lastly, in terms of actually using the browser, it is about average. It isn’t as quick or smooth as Safari (nothing is, honestly), but it is no worse than the competition.
I’ve been using it for a bit. UI is ugly imo, and there are quite a few features missing: new tab, share sheet, and request desktop site.
The privacy features though…script control, ad blocking, the works. It offers similar features to Brave, but way more stable. With Brave, I keep crashing, losing tabs, freezing up. Also, their fingerprinting protection is broken. Did I mention the IP leaking over WebRTC?
Where the Snowhaze team really stands out is how they respond to feedback. There was a thread over on r/privacy a while ago where they did a Q and A. Someone mentioned a bug, and they quickly rolled out an update.
I wouldn’t use it on Android, to be sure. Firefox and Ublock Origin would be all I needed. The adblock rules would be more customizable, addons would be supported, no need to deal with Apple’s policy on browsers.
But on iOS? They’re the best there is. Nothing combines stability, script control, and anti-fingerprinting like they do. Oh, and by the way Liz, Startpage used to be the default search engine for them.
Until such time that its many promises can be independently verified, I personally will not be using it regularly.
Good feedback, u/FormerObject. It sounds like you’ve downloaded SnowHaze - at least to test the browser. Any thoughts on the browser experience?
Thanks for the input, u/extra_ecclesiam. So you are using the base option without the VPN? Does that just give you the browser?
I’m a little confused because I see there are so many options. Is it possible to pick and choose?
Thanks u/Graphitii. Great info, and the link was very helpful. I’m bookmarking the Operational-Security website for future reference, too.
I believe SnowHaze offers 10 search engine options, including Startpage.com. It’s good to have choice.
Yes, I am only using the base option.
I have my settings to use everything they give you: ad-block, js disabled, private browsing by default, try https first for all sites, the works.
If something isn’t working on a site I trust, I just create a new tab with js or whatever I need enabled and use that, keeping the defaults as they are.
Im not currently using the vpn for the reasons already listed, but I may get the premium subscription either way just to support them. From what I can see, the things that they just give in the base subscription far exceeds any current standard for a browser (disappointing as that may be for the state of browsers).