Brave Shred button lands on Android

Brave is bringing its unique 'Shred' button to Android, a privacy feature previously exclusive to iOS. This functionality, now live in version 1.89 of the Brave Android app, allows users to quickly delete data stored by specific websites. This combats first-party tracking that can monitor visits or enable data sharing with partners.

The Shred button offers site-specific data erasure, meaning users can clear information from one site without affecting their logged-in status on others. This granular control is a key differentiator from similar features in competing privacy browsers. Brave has focused on unifying the user experience across its mobile platforms, ensuring consistent privacy controls.

Clearing the digital trail

Users can initiate a manual shred from the tab switcher, contextual menu, or within Brave's Shields settings. This action closes all tabs for the targeted site and erases its locally stored data, including cookies, local storage, and network caches. Brave notes its enhanced control over storage on Android allows for more comprehensive cleanup of site-visible data compared to iOS.

Beyond manual deletion, Brave introduces 'Auto Shred' on Android. This feature replaces the older 'forget me when I close this site' functionality. Auto Shred can be set to automatically clear data when all tabs for a site are closed or upon browser restart. A 30-second delay is included after tab closure to allow for accidental closures to be restored.

Brave emphasizes its commitment to making privacy simple and effective. The company is also exploring future enhancements, such as the ability to shred tab groups.