Decentr Browser Updates to Version 1.​9.​1

**The Privacy Landscape in 2026** VPNs have become essential tools for digital privacy, encrypting traffic and masking IP addresses to combat tracking. However, choosing between browser-based and device-level VPN protection is crucial. **Key Differences:** - **Browser-based VPNs** protect only web traffic within that specific browser - **Device-level VPNs** secure all internet connections across your entire device The decision impacts how comprehensively your digital activities remain private. Device-level protection covers apps, background processes, and system updates, while browser-based solutions offer lighter, more targeted protection. **Making the Choice** Consider your privacy needs: casual browsing protection versus complete device security. The right VPN type depends on what portion of your digital life requires encryption.

Recent outages at major centralized providers have accelerated the shift toward decentralized workspaces. **Key developments:** - Demand is growing for alternatives that prioritize **resilience, privacy, and user agency** - The transition is no longer hypothetical - it's actively happening - Organizations are questioning their reliance on centralized platforms The focus has shifted from *if* this change will happen to *how quickly* it will be adopted. Decentr's infrastructure, including Datakeeper nodes and sovereign storage protocol, remained operational during recent disruptions. The platform is designed to ensure data sovereignty and eliminate centralization risks. [Read the full analysis](https://decentrnet.medium.com/when-the-tools-fail-why-the-future-of-work-cant-rely-on-centralized-platforms-1afb811918c6)

**Centralized platforms create single points of failure.** When Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 go offline, work stops entirely—and these outages aren't uncommon. **The core problem:** These systems assume constant connectivity, vendor-controlled access, and standardized workflows. When internet fails or trust breaks down, users have no alternatives or control. **Decentralization offers a different approach** by removing dependency on single providers and returning control to users.

**Google's "private" browsing wasn't private at all.** A lawsuit revealed the tech giant tracked users even in Incognito mode, collecting billions of records from 2016-2020. **Key developments:** - Google agreed to delete or de-identify collected Incognito data - Settlement exposes gap between privacy promises and reality - Users discovered their "private" browsing was being monitored **The bigger picture:** This case highlights fundamental issues with current privacy models. As one expert noted, *"Privacy you can revoke isn't privacy at all."* Web3 solutions are emerging that embed privacy directly into protocols rather than relying on corporate promises. These systems aim to make privacy a **default feature** rather than a revocable setting. **What this means:** The settlement serves as a wake-up call that users need verifiable privacy protections, not just assurances that can be quietly ignored. [Read the full analysis](https://decentrnet.medium.com/when-incognito-isnt-invisible-what-google-s-settlement-reveals-about-the-false-promise-of-ddec28e171ef)

**Decentr Privacy Suite Expands with New PDF Tool** Decentr has launched **Secure PDF Reader & Signer**, a privacy-focused mobile app that handles PDF documents entirely offline. The app joins Decentr's growing privacy ecosystem alongside their File Manager and Password Manager. **Key Features:** - **100% offline processing** - no cloud storage or internet required - **Professional digital signatures** with timestamps and legal compliance - **Zero data collection** - even Decentr cannot access user files - **Ad-free and subscription-free** experience **Complete Privacy Control** All document processing stays on the user's device, ensuring total privacy for sensitive files. The app supports viewing, signing, and saving PDFs without any external connections. Available now on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.decentr.securepdfreader&hl=en_SG) as part of Decentr's mission to give users complete control over their digital data. Read more details in their [Medium announcement](https://decentrnet.medium.com/introducing-secure-pdf-reader-signer-8f13985bb625).