I’ve used Tor browser for years, but now I’m using it on my Android phone – here’s why

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Tor Browser offers the ultimate in privacy.
• You can use Tor Browser on your Android device.
• This privacy-centric web browser is free to install and use.

I’m all about security and privacy. On my desktop computer, I use Linux because I trust its ability to protect me. But Linux can’t help me when I’m mobile, and although Android does a pretty good job of keeping my data secure, there’s always a way to improve it.

Recently, I’ve taken to using Tor Browser as my default on Android. Although this browser isn’t without its faults, I know I can trust it to keep me private and anonymous, which is much more than I can say about Chrome.

If you’re unsure as to what Tor Browser is, let me explain.

What is Tor Browser?

Tor Browser is a web browser that’s available for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. The goal of Tor Browser is to keep you anonymous, private, and protected. How Tor works is by connecting to the Tor Network (aka the “Onion Router”), which routes all of your network traffic through a system of volunteer-based relays, while encrypting your data and obfuscating your location, IP address, and browsing habits.

Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web — and it isn’t incognito mode

Tor Browser cannot be beaten for privacy and security. Although the VPN you’re using might be faster, it isn’t as private as the Tor Network. You should always use Tor when you want maximum privacy. Always.

Even better, you can combine your VPN with Tor for the ultimate private connection via your web browser.

The key reasons why you would want to use Tor Browser on Android include:

• Anonymity and privacy: It hides your IP address and location from websites, ISPs, and the government.
• Bypassing censorship: It allows you to access content or websites that are restricted by local laws or service providers.
• Accessing .onion sites: It is required to access specialized, hidden onion services, which are anonymous, decentralized websites accessible only through the Tor browser. These sites are often used for privacy, journalism, or bypassing censorship.
• Tracking prevention: Tor prevents trackers from collecting data and clears cookies/history after each session.

Also: How to clear your Google Search cache on Android (and why it’s a must for me)

I’ve used Tor Browser for a long time on the desktop, but only recently have I adopted it as my default on Android.

Getting Tor for Android

You can install Tor Browser directly from the Google Play Store for free — just open the Google Play Store app, search for Tor Browser, and tap Install.

Once installed, open Tor Browser from the App Drawer, and you’re ready to go.

Using Tor on Android

Using Tor on Android is simple. When you open the browser, you’ll be presented with a page that asks you to connect to the Tor Network. 

You can either connect manually (every time you open Tor Browser) or enable it to connect automatically by tapping the On/Off slider for “Always connect automatically” until it’s in the On position.

Once you’ve connected to the Tor Network, you can use Tor Browser as you would any web browser.

The caveats

Nothing is perfect, and Tor Browser has a few caveats to consider.

First, some sites will not allow you access when using Tor Browser. The reason for this is that you might connect to a Tor Network relay that masks your IP address and location in a country that isn’t allowed access. For example, I tested Tor Browser on various sites, when connected to the Tor Network, and found that sites like ms.now refused access. If I disconnected from the Tor Network, I could access the sites just fine.

Also: 6 obscure browsers that are better than Chrome

As well, you cannot easily change relays (as you can with the desktop version). If you want to change relays, you have to disconnect from the Tor Network and reconnect. Even then, you aren’t guaranteed that you’ll connect to a relay in a country that is permitted to access the sites you use. It’s kind of a crap shoot, and there’s no way of easily finding out the location of your Tor relay.

Finally, like a VPN, using the Tor Network will slow down the connections to websites. When compared to a VPN, the Tor Network is noticeably slower. That’s the tradeoff you make for the added privacy.

Even with the slowdown and inconsistent ability to connect to sites, I’ve opted to make Tor Browser my default. I find the hassle is worth the added privacy.

If you’re looking to up your privacy game on Android, I would highly recommend using Tor Browser. You don’t have to make it your default. Instead, you can use Tor Browser only for the sites that require an added layer of privacy.