Apps and tools for a calm, enjoyable life

Tor Browser

Free

Tor Browser is designed to protect your privacy and anonymity online by routing your traffic through multiple encrypted layers.

Our take

Ultimate Privacy and Anonymity with Tor.

Alright, so let's get into it: the Tor Browser is like your go-to for private browsing. If you're the kind of person who worries about digital footprints, Tor does a solid job of keeping you off the radar. It bounces your connection around a bunch of places—like a game of digital hot potato—so it's tough to track where you're really at. It's a bit like wearing a cloak of invisibility online. But heads up, this can make your browsing slower. If you're okay with trading speed for privacy, though, it's worth a shot.

Using Tor is pretty straightforward, which is nice. You download it, fire it up, and it's ready to go—no crazy setup or tech wizardry required. The interface is simple and familiar if you've ever used Firefox (because, under the hood, it’s built on Firefox). This makes it easy to dive into, even if you're not super tech-savvy. Just keep in mind, some websites might not play nice with Tor because they don't like anonymity. So, sometimes you'll hit some annoying roadblocks.

Security-wise, Tor is pretty robust. It’s like having a bouncer at the door, keeping unwanted eyes out. The browser is designed to strip away tracking cookies and clear your history automatically. This means your browsing session is wiped clean when you close it. However, remember, Tor isn’t a magic bullet. If you log into your accounts, you're still visible to those sites. Plus, it won’t protect you from malware or other nasties, so don’t ditch your regular antivirus or start visiting sketchy sites thinking you’re invincible.

Now, if you’re into streaming or gaming, Tor probably isn’t your best friend. The trade-off for all that privacy is a noticeable hit to speed. You might find yourself staring at the loading circle more than you'd like. Streaming videos or playing games through Tor can be a test of patience. It’s not built for high-speed data transfer. But for just browsing or reading, it's perfectly fine, and the peace of mind it offers might be worth the lag.

In a nutshell, Tor is your browser if privacy is your top priority. It’s not perfect—speed and compatibility have their hiccups—but it’s one of the best tools out there for flying under the digital radar. If you’re willing to put up with a slower pace and a few site restrictions, Tor can be a fantastic companion for secure browsing. Just remember, no tool is a one-size-fits-all solution, so weigh the pros and cons based on what you need online.