Last updated 6th December 2024
Best Anonymous Browser
We may not be living in a George Orwell novel. However, sure enough, every step we take in the online realm is being watched by Google, Apple, Facebook, websites’ cookies, and data collectors who sell your information to advertisers for big bucks.
Among this information are our personal and financial data, which need serious protection. While there isn’t a one hundred percent solution, untraceable browsers can enhance your privacy online to a great extent.
For those who are hyper-aware of being tracked and don’t want to reveal their IP address or personal information, we’ve gathered the best anonymous browsers that’ll protect you from devious trackers and third-party observers.
The 3 Best Anonymous Browsers in 2021
Without further ado, let’s explore my top picks of anonymous browsers and know more about their pros and cons to help you make the right decision!
Tor
Our top choice is built for anonymity, not just privacy, which gives it an edge over its competitors. Tor, which stands for “The Onion Router,” is an anonymous browser developed by the US navy to make it hard for anyone to trace the source of information and link it with the user.
The browser works by scattering your internet traffic and communications on many servers so that no hacker can put his hands on your IP address and the website you’re browsing at the same time. Regarding privacy, it’s way better than other browsers, which depend on just hiding your activity and erasing the information after the session ends.
However, it comes with some drawbacks, like not being able to visit some sites with specific plugins. Moreover, it can be a tad slow since it has to bounce your information to multiple tunnels prior to opening your desired website.
Pros
- Completely untraceable
- Easy to use
- Works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
Cons
- Slower than other anonymous browsers
- Blocks Javascript on which many websites rely
Brave
One advantage that Brave gets over Tor is its speed. It’s one of the fastest and most reliable ways to anonymize online activity by implementing several functions to help shield your PC or mobile phone against malware and spyware.
The open-source browser blocks web cookies, tracking scripts, and other trackers that spy on your private data so that you can have an unsupervised surfing experience. Moreover, it doesn’t save a history of your visits, and it clears your cache and cookies the moment you close the browser.
Brave takes a lot from Chrome in terms of the interface and functionality. Hence, it’ll feel familiar for those who are used to the said browser. What’s more, it has a built-in ad blocker, which means you’ll only see blank spaces in the areas that used to be occupied with ads on websites.
Pros
- Speedy performance
- Highly effective privacy protection
- Supports a wide range of platforms
Cons
- Ad blocker is hard to use on mobile phones
Comodo Dragon / IceDragon
In more than one sense, Comodo is similar to Brave. Like the previous option, it doesn’t use a specialized onion network, yet it blocks cookies and other site data from cross-site tracking by default.
The browser launches the incognito mode automatically and ensures that your downloads stay private. In addition to that, it uses domain validation technology, which means it distinguishes between sites with strong and weak SSL certificates to help you avoid phishing and fraud sites.
It also comes with extra bells and whistles, including antivirus software, which is installed automatically when you click the download button.
The thing we really love about Comodo is that it offers two interfaces. Both versions sport top-notch security features. Yet, the Dragon version is similar to that of Firefox, while the IceDragon one mimics Chrome in a big way, which gives the users the freedom to choose the interface they’re used to.
One thing that we’re skeptical about is that Comodo asks to collect some information about the user’s operating system and plugins. While this may not directly affect your privacy, we’re not sure about the intentions behind the collection of this data.
Pros
- Domain validation
- Secure antivirus and firewall
- Untraceable downloads
- Two user-friendly interfaces
Cons
- The license implies the possibility of collecting some data
To Sum Up
At the end of the day, you can’t guarantee full anonymity, but you can at least try.
Right now, we think the best anonymous browser out there is Tor. If you overlook its mediocre speed, it’s the most secure option for all platforms, and its ease of use makes it the ultimate choice for privacy-conscious users.
Brave is another secure option to go through your personal accounts with speed and perform bank transfers without worrying about your data getting leaked.
Finally, Comodo would be a great option if you’re looking for a familiar interface to switch to while guaranteeing a secure internet browsing experience.
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