Why you shouldn't use Brave browser to access the Dark Web?

Brave is a free and open-source web browser that lets you browse the dark web without using the Tor Browser. While Brave may seem like a convenient option for accessing the dark web, it is not a good alternative to the tried and tested official methods.

3. Brave is not built for anonymity

The desktop version of Brave offers a way to browse the dark web through the 'Private Window with Tor' setting. This feature opens a new window in the browser that lets you access the dark web through a proxy running over the Tor network.

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

Privacy and anonymity are two terms that are often confused, but they are actually different. Tor essentially hides your identity by removing your digital fingerprint, encrypting your data, and sending your anonymous internet traffic through multiple relays around the world. However, Brave does not remove your identifying information by default. So browsing the dark web through the Tor proxy in Brave makes you more conspicuous than just using the Tor Browser.

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

2. Limited Tor functionality

Brave is primarily designed for browsing the clearnet—the public, regular part of the Internet that search engines index. Its Tor Mode, introduced later as a side feature, is not its core focus. In the past, the browser had issues with users' dark web browsing history being detected by their ISPs. While that issue has long since been fixed, you should use the official Tor Browser for maximum security and privacy.

Brave's fingerprinting protection isn't as effective as Tor Browser. We tested it using CreepJS, an open-source tool that checks how well your device is identifiable online. With Tor Browser, it was able to identify the browser and estimate the operating system, but didn't reveal much else. However, using Brave's Private window with Tor, CreepJS detected more details, including the time zone, exact operating system, GPU, and screen resolution.

While this information may not seem too sensitive, bad guys can combine it to track you across websites, much like cookies do. Tor reduces this risk by standardizing user agent strings, screen sizes, and fonts for all users. It's much harder to spot an individual when everyone appears exactly the same.

In general, it is not a good idea to use a single browser like Brave for both clearnet and darknet activity. Brave's regular browsing window and the Tor window look practically identical. Bugs can occur, and you risk exposing sensitive data to bad guys.

1. Brave recommends Tor Browser for complete anonymity

Perhaps the main reason to use Tor Browser instead of Brave is because Brave itself recommends Tor Browser for users 'whose personal security depends on maintaining anonymity.' Since Brave doesn't include all of the privacy protections of Tor Browser, it's difficult to guarantee the browser will provide the same level of anonymity.

Among them, if you need to browse the dark web safely and anonymously, Tor Browser is recommended. It focuses on protecting your identity and your internet activity (on the dark web) is completely hidden. 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 browsing the dark web, for example if you're just checking something out or researching a dark web site. However, for anything that requires more privacy, Tor Browser is a better choice. For more protection, consider enabling "Block fingerprinting" in Settings > Shields , installing the NoScript add-on, and using a different browser to access the clearnet while Tor is on.

Micah Soto

Update 30 December 2024