Humans are inherently curious creatures. That gives us such a great capacity for intelligence and personal growth. This curiosity can lead us to various places, from discovering cures for deadly diseases to speed-running video games. No matter if the end result is mundane or heroic there’s a high chance that it was curiosity that led you down that path. In the online world, there’s nothing more enticing for curiosity than the dark web.
For those unfamiliar with the term, the dark web is considered a section of the internet that’s restricted to the general public. It can only be accessed through special software, such as certain web browsers. These dark web browsers are considered uniquely capable of running dark web sites because they keep your anonymity to the maximum. If your curiosity is getting the better of you here are the best dark web browsers that allow you to access such a restrictive part of the internet.
Best Dark Web Browsers
1. Tor Browser
Let’s start with the biggest name on the list. Tor Browser is the go-to dark web browser for anyone that wants to access the depths of the internet, it comes with built-in anonymity features that ensure your safety online. The mission of the Tor browser is for the general public to have free open-source access to online anonymity. It’s a fully independent dark web browser that doesn’t require much setup. That being said it’s still just a tool. Browsing the dark web requires expertise and a certain degree of inside knowledge. Tor browser can block trackers, defend you against malicious surveillance, and encrypt data. That way your data is protected in both the incoming and outgoing forms. Tor browser considers personal privacy a baseline of online rights, which is why in these days of browsers and websites’ constant tracking it’s becoming an increasingly popular option for everyday people.
2. Freenet
If you’re looking for a way to directly connect to secure networks, Freenet might be your cup of tea. It’s based on a peer-to-peer connection model that’s routed through various proxies to ensure a secure and anonymous connection. Unlike the tor browser, this dark web browser does take something in exchange. While you’re using Freenet, it takes some of your browser space and processing power in exchange. Therefore you’re serving as a proxy to someone just as you’re using someone else’s machine as a proxy for yourself. But as your machine is a part of a vast network there’s no way for any data to be traced back to you.
3. Opera
Unlike other dark web browsers on this list, Opera is quite different than the rest. It usually serves as a regular browser for surface-level users. But it hosts full capabilities to access the dark web. This makes it a fully functional dark web browser. By fiddling with certain settings you can reroute your Opera browser to the tor browser network. That way you have a safe dark web browser already on your computer. And as Opera comes preinstalled with a VPN you’ll even have an extra layer of security for your dark web browsing adventures. Having a dark web browser that can serve as both a regular browser and a proxy to the tor browser is incredibly useful. That’s because having the tor browser directly installed on your machine may raise suspicions.
Conclusion
Choosing your preferred dark web browser may seem like a difficult decision. But in the end, if you want a simple well-rounded experience Tor Browser is your tool. That being said anonymous browsing on the dark web is never fully safe, even with the tor browser. So make sure you utilize VPNs and other protective methods. While the dark web is a mixed bag of content, it most definitely has a larger population of users with malicious intentions. One wrong link and your IP might be compromised, or worse. When it comes to the dark web make sure to take every precaution possible.
