Why You Shouldn’t Use Brave Browser to Access the Dark Web

Brave is a free and open-source web browser that allows you to browse the dark web without using Tor Browser. Now, while it sounds like a useful option to access the dark web, it is not a good alternative to the official, tried and tested methods.

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It is not built for anonymity

The desktop version of Brave offers a way to surf the dark web via the “Private window with Tor” setting. This feature opens a new browser window that allows you to access the dark web through a proxy that goes through the Tor network.

Brave is a privacy oriented web browser. However, Tor Browser is designed to browse the dark web anonymously.

Privacy and anonymity These are two terms that are often used in conflict, but they are different. Essentially, Tor masks your identity by removing it digital fingerprint informationencrypting your data, and sending your anonimized internet traffic through multiple relays throughout the world. However, Brave does not delete identifying information by default. Therefore, browsing the dark web via the Tor proxy in Brave makes you more visible than just using Tor Browser.

While Brave is great for most privacy enthusiasts, it doesn’t do a good job of keeping you completely anonymous compared to the Tor Browser.

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Limited Tor functionality

Brave is primarily designed for browsing the clearnet – the public, regular part of the internet indexed by search engines. Its Tor mode, introduced later as a secondary feature, is not a core focus. In the past, the browser had an issue where users’ dark browsing history was exposed to ISPs. Although this has long been resolved, I recommend using the official Tor Browser for maximum security and privacy.

Brave’s fingerprint protection is not as effective as Tor Browser’s. I tested this using CreepJSan open-source tool to check how identifiable your device is online. With the Tor Browser, the tool could identify my browser and approximate my operating system, but it revealed little else. However, using Brave’s Private Window with Tor, CreepJS discovered more details, including my time zone, exact operating system, GPU, and screen resolution.

While this information may not seem very sensitive, a malicious actor can combine it to track you on websites, as cookies work. Tor reduces this risk by standardizing user agent strings, screen sizes, and fonts for all users. It is much more difficult to spot individuals when they all look identical.

Using a single browser like Brave for clearnet and darknet activities is generally not recommended. Brave’s normal browsing windows and Tor windows actually look identical. Mistakes can happen and risk exposing sensitive data to malicious actors.

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Brave recommends the Tor browser for complete anonymity

Perhaps the biggest reason to use the Tor Browser instead of Brave is because the Good company he himself recommends Tor Browser for users whose “personal security depends on maintaining anonymity”. Since Brave does not include all the privacy protections of the Tor Browser, it is difficult to guarantee the same level of anonymity from the browser.

In this, if you need to browse the dark web safely and anonymously, Tor Browser is highly recommended. It focuses on protecting your identity, and your activity on the Internet (on the dark web) is completely masked. It is also cross-platform, easy to install, and quite easy to use.

Brave is still an alternative if you don’t mind being a little exposed while surfing the dark web. For example, if you are just checking something or looking for a dark web page. However, for anything that requires more privacy, Tor Browser is the best option. For more protection, consider enabling “Block fingerprinting” below Settings > Shieldsby installing the NoScript addon, and using another browser for clearnet access while Tor mode is enabled.