Best anonymous browsers of 2020 : free and paid privacy software and tools

An rising drawback with utilizing the web is the sheer quantity of personally-identifiable knowledge that web firms now attempt to gather from their customers.

For firms similar to Fb and Google, the purpose is to assist them higher perceive customers to allow them to higher goal promoting at them. Nonetheless, companies on the whole have turn into used to see consumer monitoring as a respectable means of discovering out extra about potential prospects. 

The result’s that particular person web customers can find yourself with dozens of monitoring scripts obtain to their browser which observe which web sites are being visited. 

Normally that is all put in with out even asking for permission, and it is turn into such an actual concern now that the European Union launched GDPR as an attempt to empower users with a choice of which cookies and scripts they actually consent to.

The problem is that a lot of businesses seek to comply with the letter of the law rather than the spirit of it, with the result that most websites now come with a popup asking if you will accept cookies or not, without offering an actual opt-out from any tracking.

While there are browser settings and plugins that aim to help internet users better control their privacy, often more extreme measure are now required.

Other options include using a anonymous proxy server, or even a VPN – Virtual Private Network – in order to provide you with an anonymous web surfing experience. 

For more information on VPNs, check out our best free VPN guide or see our guide to setting up and maintaining a VPN.

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Best paid anonymous software

1. ExpressVPN
2. Surfshark
3. Hotspot Shield
4. Norton 360 Deluxe
5. Panda Dome Essential

The best VPN service right now is ExpressVPN. It’s the best all-round option for speed, privacy and unblocking websites. A close second place and third place are Surfshark, whose downright simplicity to download and operate make it a really appealing option, and  IPVanish that handles P2P and torrenting particularly admirably. Read more about these VPN services and the competition below.

1. ExpressVPN

Runs on almost any platform

Enterprise-level encryption

Speedy VPN servers in 94 countries 

Superb 24/7 live customer support

Fewer simultaneous connections than some

Get 3 months free with an annual plan on TechRadar’s #1 rated VPN
ExpressVPN delivered outstanding performance in our speed tests and excellent customer support plus a 30 day money back guarantee.

ExpressVPN offers access to more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 countries, alongside maybe the widest platform support you’ll find anywhere.

We’re not just talking about native clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, plus iOS, Android and even BlackBerry. There’s custom firmware for some routers, DNS content-unblocking for a host of streaming media devices and smart TVs, and surprisingly capable VPN browser extensions for anything which can run them.

All that functionality could sound intimidating to VPN newbies, but ExpressVPN does more than most to help. An excellent support website is stuffed with detailed guides and tutorials to get you up and running. And if you do have any trouble, 24/7 live chat support is on hand to answer your questions. It really works, too – we got a helpful response from a knowledgeable support agent within a couple of minutes of posting our question.

The good news continues elsewhere, with ExpressVPN delivering in almost every area. Bitcoin payments? Of course. P2P support? Yep. Netflix unblocking? Naturally. Industrial-strength encryption, kill switch, DNS leak protection, solid and reliable performance and a clear no-logging policy? You’ve got it.

Downsides? Not many to speak of. The ExpressVPN service supports five simultaneous connections per user (increased from three), and it comes with a premium price tag. But if you want a speedy service, crammed with top-notch features, and with all the support you need to help you use them, ExpressVPN will be a great fit. While they don’t have a free trial, ExpressVPN has a no-questions-asked 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the service.

Read our review of ExpressVPN here.

2. Surfshark