How to use Mullvad Browser, the world's most private browser, step by step

La Online privacy has become a scarce commodity In an environment where governments, tech giants, and advertising companies track virtually every click we make, Mullvad has decided to go a step further. Along with its VPN, it offers its own browser designed to minimize tracking and the creation of a user's digital footprint. Mulvad Browser.

This browser was born from the collaboration between Tor Project and Mullvad VPN It's designed for those who want to browse with minimal tracking, but without relying on the Tor network. Its premise is clear: combine a browser hardened against tracking with a trusted VPN to make it much harder for third parties to link your activity to your real identity.

What is Mullvad Browser and why was it created?

Mullvad Browser is a free and open source browser Developed by the Tor Project team and distributed by Mullvad VPN, it was officially launched on April 3, 2023. It shares many of the Tor Browser's security mechanisms, but with one key difference: it's designed to be used with a VPN (such as Mullvad VPN) rather than the Tor network.

The main purpose of the browser is minimize tracking, mass surveillance, and censorshipIt does this by attacking one of the usual weaknesses of privacy: fingerprinting techniques, which combine device parameters (installed fonts, screen size, hardware APIs, content rendering, etc.) to identify you even if you change your IP address or delete cookies.

According to Mullvad and the Tor Project, the browser has been designed to homogenize behavior and configuration of users, so that your browser is as similar as possible to everyone else's. The less unique you are from a technical point of view, the harder it is for third parties to associate your activity with your profile.

 

The philosophy behind it is the same as that which inspires Mullvad VPN: defend a network free from mass surveillance and data marketswhere your personal information does not become a product that anyone can buy, nor a constant source of control by states and companies.

Privacy by default: what Mullvad Browser protects

 

One of the key features of Mullvad Browser is that it comes with aggressive privacy settings already enableddesigned so that the user doesn't have to struggle with a thousand menus to be relatively protected from the first minute.

To begin with, the browser is configured to work in permanent incognito modeThis means that, by default, it does not retain your browsing history like a conventional browser would, and when you log out, the amount of local traces left on your device is minimized.

Additionally, Mullvad Browser It automatically blocks third-party trackers and cookies.This makes it difficult for advertising networks and large tracking providers to follow your movements from website to website using cookies or embedded elements such as tracking pixels and external scripts.

Another important front is the fight against digital footprints. The browser incorporates specific adjustments and patches to disguise system parameters that are usually used to identify you: the set of available fonts, details of how pages are rendered, information returned by audio, video or graphics APIs, and even data from connected devices.

Mullvad VPN: The ideal browser companion

The browser is designed to be used in conjunction with Mullvad VPN, a virtual private network focused on privacy and with a very particular approach to its users' data.

One of the most striking features of this service is its account system: No email address or personal information is requested. in the registration. Instead, a 16-digit account number is randomly generated that serves as a unique identifier and login credential.

Regarding payment, Mullvad allows anonymous methods such as cash sent by mail and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Monero), in addition to traditional options such as card, bank transfer, PayPal, or Swish. In 2022, they eliminated recurring subscriptions precisely to store even less user-related data.

At a technical level, the service uses strong encryption of type AES-256-GCM, 4096-bit RSA certificates with SHA-512 to authenticate servers, and applies perfect forward confidentiality, making it more difficult to decrypt past sessions even if a key is compromised in the future.

It also integrates protections against DNS and IPv6 leaksIt also offers various obfuscation options to bypass VPN blocks on corporate networks or under state censorship. Additionally, it provides port forwarding for advanced users who require it.

A browser designed to fight against mass surveillance

Mullvad presents its products as a contribution to the defense of a free society where privacy is a real rightIn their view, a digital infrastructure that records all your movements, connections, and habits is a direct threat to civil liberties.

The combination of Mullvad VPN and Mullvad Browser aims to drastically reduce the amount of information that third parties can collect about you: on the one hand, your IP and location are hidden behind VPN servers; on the other hand, the browser limits tracking through cookies, scripts and fingerprints.

The company's message is clear: A free internet is one without mass surveillance, without systematic censorship. And without data marketplaces where your online life is commodified without your control. Maintaining reasonable anonymity online is not just a matter of convenience, but a fundamental component of an open, democratic society.

Using a reliable VPN like Mullvad is already a big step; combining it with Mullvad Browser strengthens the blocking of third-party cookies and more sophisticated tracking technologiesmaking it difficult for advertisers and data brokers to build accurate profiles of your habits.

How Mullvad VPN works and why it fits with Mullvad Browser

When you activate Mullvad VPN, your traffic leaves your device through an encrypted tunnel to one of their VPN serversFrom there, continue to the website or service you want to access. The website you visit only sees Mullvad's server IP address, not your actual IP address.

Your internet provider is also limited: You can see that you are connected to MullvadBut it doesn't reveal which websites you visit, what content you consume, or what services you use. This cuts off one of the classic ways operators and third parties who buy or request these records monitor and collect data.

For websites and the trackers they integrate, your public IP address ceases to be a reliable identifier, especially when combined with a browser that minimize the exposure of unique device dataThat's precisely where Mullvad Browser comes in, hardening the browser's layer against tracking.

Mullvad VPN primarily uses the protocol WireGuard, known for its efficiency and speedThis helps maintain good speeds without draining the battery on mobile devices. WireGuard has become a de facto standard in many modern services precisely because of this balance between security and performance.

In recent comparisons, Mullvad is recognized for its strong commitment to privacy and transparencyHowever, it's also noted that other providers like NordVPN offer larger server networks and a wider range of additional features. Even so, many analysts continue to highlight Mullvad as one of the best options for those who prioritize anonymity and simplicity.

Install Mullvad Browser on Windows step by step

On Windows, Mullvad Browser is installed using a executable file (.exe) that is downloaded from the official website from Mullvad. Once downloaded, simply double-click to start the installation wizard.

During the process, the installer will ask you to choose the Installation type: Standard or AdvancedThe Standard option is recommended, as it places the browser within your user folder and facilitates both updates and future uninstallations.

If you choose the Advanced installation, you can activate the mode of Portable (Standalone) installationThis places the browser in a folder on the Desktop, similar to previous versions that barely modified the system. However, Mullvad recommends not changing the default installation path to locations like "C:\Program Files", as this could cause errors when updating or uninstalling.

For environments where silent deployments are needed, it is possible add the parameter "/S" to the executable to perform an installation without dialog boxes, which is useful in businesses or automated scripts.

Once installed in Standard mode, you can open Mullvad Browser using the shortcut from the Desktop or from the Start MenuIn the case of a standalone installation, the shortcut will be located within the "Mullvad Browser" folder that is created on the Desktop.

 

Managing Mullvad Browser as the default browser and uninstalling it on Windows

On Windows, it is only possible to set Mullvad Browser as default browser if Standard installation has been chosenTo configure it, you can search for "Default apps" in the Start menu and, within that settings section, select Mullvad Browser in the web browser section.

If you need a more detailed guide, Mullvad suggests Follow the instructions that Mozilla provides for Firefox. as the default browser, simply replacing Firefox with Mullvad Browser at each step.

When you uninstall it in Standard mode, the program does not automatically remove your profile folders (bookmarks, settings, etc.)If you want to delete them, you need to note their location before uninstalling. You can do this by going to about:profilesLocating the profile that indicates it is in use and opening the associated folders using the "Open Folder" buttons.

If you wish to save bookmarks and preferences, Don't delete those directoriesIf, on the other hand, you want to leave the system completely clean, you can delete these directories manually once you have uninstalled the browser from "Add or Remove Programs" or from the Start menu access itself, by right-clicking and choosing Uninstall.

In the case of standalone installations, There is no uninstaller The user profile is contained within the program's own folder, so simply close the browser, delete the "Mullvad Browser" folder from the Desktop, and empty the Recycle Bin to remove it completely.

Installing and managing Mullvad Browser on macOS

On macOS the process is typical of many applications: first you download the .dmg file from Mullvad's websiteOpen it by double-clicking and dragging the Mullvad Browser icon to the Applications folder in the window that appears.

Once copied, the browser can be opened from the Launchpad or directly from the Applications folderIt's a very familiar flow for any Mac user, with no strange steps or exotic settings.

To set it as the default browser on macOS, you need to Open Mullvad Browser, go to the menu in the upper right corner and enter SettingsWithin the General section you will find the "Make default" button and, when you press it, the system will ask you if you want to use Mullvad Browser as your main browser; simply accept.

If at any point you decide to remove it, the uninstallation process goes through Exit the browser completely. (File → Exit or Command + Q), open the Applications folder, right-click on Mullvad Browser and choose "Move to Trash".

To also delete user data, you must go to ~/Library/Application Support, locate the folder MullvadBrowser and send it to the trash as well. Finally, you just need to empty the Dock's trash to remove both the app and its associated data.

Mullvad Browser on Linux: Installation with and without repository

On Linux, Mullvad offers two main ways to install the browser: via official repository or direct downloadFor Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora users, the recommended option is to use the Mullvad repository, which simplifies updates and, in some cases, adds extra layers of security.

In Debian or Ubuntu-based systems, the first step is usually install curl (not the Snap version)Download the repository key and add the corresponding entry to the APT source file. After updating the indexes with sudo apt update, the package can be installed mullvad-browser from the newly added repositories.

In Fedora, the configuration involves using dnf config-manager to add the Mullvad repository. In recent versions, the option is used --from-repofile with the URL of the .repo file, whereas in previous versions it was used --add-repo with the same address. Once added, all you need to do is sudo dnf install mullvad-browser.

If your distribution is not directly supported, you can opt for the installation without repositoryThis involves downloading a file .tar.xz from the official website (or with a command) wget (pointing to the latest version for Linux x86_64) and extract it manually to your Downloads folder or another folder of your choice.

Decompression can be done from the terminal with tar Alternatively, you can extract the browser through a graphical environment (such as GNOME) by right-clicking the file and selecting "Extract Here" or similar options. This will create a "mullvad-browser" folder from which you can launch the browser directly.

The Mullvad VPN app and its relationship with Mullvad Browser

Mullvad offers its own VPN applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and AndroidIn addition, it allows manual configuration with WireGuard and OpenVPN for those who prefer to use official clients for these protocols. This enables seamless integration with Mullvad Browser on almost any device.

On Android, for example, Mullvad distributes an app that It uses WireGuard as the primary protocol. To connect quickly and with minimal battery consumption. From there, you can protect your mobile traffic and then use browsers hardened against tracking, such as Mullvad Browser on desktop or, failing that, similar configurations on mobile.

The app incorporates a Very limited telemetryDesigned to avoid linking to your account number, IP address, or other identifiable information. Application logs are never sent automatically; they only leave the device if the user explicitly chooses to share them with technical support.

The system also performs version checks every 24 hoursThese checks are performed solely to determine if an update is available and if the version currently in use is still compatible. At no point are these checks used to track user activity.

When using the split tunneling function, the app can read the List of applications installed on the device This allows you to decide which traffic goes through the VPN and which doesn't. This list is only accessed within the split tunneling configuration view and is never sent from your device to Mullvad's servers.

Overall, Mullvad's strategy consists of minimize the data stored and processed both in the VPN service and in the client apps, reinforcing that policy with a browser that, by design, aims to leave the smallest possible footprint on the web.

Anyone who chooses to rely on Mullvad Browser along with Mullvad VPN takes an important step towards a more anonymous browsingreducing the technical and commercial footprint that everyday digital life usually leaves, without having to completely give up the convenience and speed of a well-maintained conventional browser.