Having read the Privacy Tools blog about using the Mullvad browser as the default browser, I decided to give it a try. My main issue is that, after setting it up as my default browser, my 1Password links try to open in Mullvad. Having done some research, I’ve concluded that I’m not willing to compromise Mullvad’s functionality in order to use the Firefox 1Password extension. However, I did come across a potential solution offered by the Choosy app. It allows me to set it as my default browser, and I can set a rule that opens all my links in Mullvad by default, except those originating from 1Password, which open in my Brave browser.
Do any of you foresee any drawbacks to using this type of solution? I note that the Choosy app is not open source.
I haven’t heard of this app before so I can’t speak to the security of it, but on first blush it seems fine. If you need to modify your workflow a little bit, you could just use Brave for those apps that you want to be logged into and the Mullvad to catch the links that you happen to click on as you go. However, it doesn’t work as intricately as what you have set up, so I can see that friction being annoying.
The way I see it, the main risk is trusting the Choosy app. Look for a similar app that is open source/doesn’t use the internet. On Android (GrapheneOS), I use URLCheck + Brave + Vanadium and I’ve denied internet access for URLCheck.
Mullvad browser, while excellent, is not really meant to be used as your default daily driver. It really is meant to be used for select use cases unless you absolutely have a need to use it as it everyday.
The set up you’ve explained works but I would still try to avoid bundling a non FOSS app with 1Password unless your threat model allows it.
I personally would simply harden FF as much as possible and use it as best as you can for whatever your needs and use cases are. And keep Mullvad browser for select use cases only.
The general recommendation in the privacy communities is that if you want to achieve maximum privacy without using Tor, your best bet is to use Mullvad Browser for your general, everyday browsing because it is the only browser besides Tor that can combat against advanced fingerprinting, while offering a great, ephemeral browsing experience. Then, you could use something like Brave or hardened Firefox for the sites where you need to log in. While this setup may not work for everyone, it is still very much recommended.
So, I would say that Mullvad Browser can definitely be used as your default browser, and it is even recommended. The use case that you’re describing for Mullvad Browser seems closer to Tor for me, because most people don’t use Tor all the time or even for all of their general browsing, and instead use it for only something very specific, since Tor has many usability trade-offs that would make it a pain to use for most of your browsing. On the other hand, while Mullvad Browser also has some trade-offs, such as the default private mode, they shouldn’t matter in a use case, where you only use Mullvad Browser for your general browsing and don’t log into your accounts.
I make use of Mullvad as a default browser. I will say there was a bit of an adjustment getting accustomed to what sites work and what didn’t. I use a hardened FireFox for things involving video.
I do not use a password extension on any of the browsers I use. I often do not log into sites because I am not interested in or need the personalized attention/interaction and have no interest in making data collection easier. Only recently, after a decent amount of time using Mullvad, did I run into an issue in which I had to change my default browser to Firefox for a situation, but, that was not much of an issue switch and return back.