!safesearch

curated tools & resources for digital content access, privacy, and productivity

Security & Privacy

Essential tools and practices for protecting your digital presence and staying safe online.

Adblocking

How important is using an adblocker?

Sites generally contain ads, some of which can be harmful, often leading to unwanted pages or fake download buttons. Real download buttons are usually small, often text-based or subtly integrated into the site's design. Fake ones are frequently large, brightly colored, use generic terms like 'Download Now', and may appear multiple times on a page. It can be hard to tell them apart, so it's important to always have an adblocker.

Desktop Browsers:

Mobile:

Antivirus

How can I safely scan files and determine if detections are false positives?

Before installing any file, it's recommended to scan it with a multi-engine scanner to check for potential threats.

  • VirusTotal - Multi-engine file and URL scanner
  • Scan Guide - Guide to interpreting scan results
  • Triage - Sandbox environment for analyzing Android apps
  • Malwarebytes - Supplementary malware scanner

Browsers

Which web browser should I use?

Firefox and Brave cover most needs — Firefox for extension support and customization, Brave for built-in ad blocking with minimal setup.

Desktop:

  • Firefox - Open-source browser with extensive customization
  • Brave - Privacy-focused Chromium browser with built-in ad blocking
  • LibreWolf - Privacy-hardened Firefox fork
  • Ungoogled Chromium - Chromium without Google integration

Android:

  • Firefox - Supports extensions including uBlock Origin
  • Brave - Built-in ad blocking
  • Cromite - Privacy-enhanced Chromium fork

iOS:

  • Brave - Built-in ad blocking
  • Safari - Native browser with content blocking support
  • AdGuard - Content blocker for Safari

Privacy Tools

Why should I care about privacy?

Privacy is about controlling your personal information, not just keeping things secret. Non-sensitive data is used by companies to track your behavior, target ads, and influence your choices.

Email:

Search Engines:

Security Checks:

Base64 Decoding

How do I decode Base64?

If you see a string of text that looks like this aHR0cHM6Ly9leGFtcGxlLmNvbS8 you can use a Base64 decoder to view it. Some strings may need to be decoded twice.

Entertainment

Discover and access movies, TV shows, anime, music, games, and books.

Movies & TV Shows

Cineby and NEPU are the most reliable free HD streaming options; 1337x and ExtraTorrent cover the majority of torrent releases.

Streaming:

  • Cineby - HD streaming with multiple sources
  • NEPU - Clean interface with subtitle support
  • XPrime - High-quality streaming

Torrenting:

Specialized:

Track & Discover:

  • Simkl - Track what you watch across platforms
  • Trakt - Automatic tracking and recommendations
  • Letterboxd - Social film discovery and reviews

Anime

HiAnime and AnimeKai are the most reliable streaming options; Nyaa is the standard tracker for downloads and fansubbed releases.

Streaming:

  • AnimeKai - Modern interface with quality options
  • Miruro - Fast streaming with subs/dubs
  • HiAnime - Large library with multiple servers

Downloading:

Torrenting:

  • Nyaa - Primary anime torrent tracker
  • Hayase - Modern anime torrent search

Track & Discover:

  • MyAnimeList - Comprehensive anime database and tracking
  • AniList - Modern tracking with social features

Music

SpotX provides an ad-free Spotify client on Windows; lucida is the best source for high-quality music downloads.

Desktop Streaming:

  • SpotX - Modified Spotify client for Windows
  • Monochrome - Web-based music player

Downloading:

Android:

iOS:

Track & Discover:

Gaming

FitGirl Repacks and SteamRIP cover most PC game downloads; the Emulation Wiki is the starting point for any console emulation setup.

PC Games:

Emulation & ROMs:

Download Tools:

Track & Discover:

Books & Reading

Anna's Archive is the largest freely available collection, covering ebooks, academic papers, manga, and comics in one place.

Ebook Downloads:

Audiobooks:

Manga:

Comics:

Desktop Readers:

Android Readers:

Track & Discover:

Software & System Tools

Windows installation, software resources, and torrenting guides.

Windows

How can I download and activate Windows?

Official Windows ISOs are freely available from Microsoft; activation can be done at no cost using open-source scripts from massgrave.dev.

Installation:

Optimization:

Software:

Torrenting

Do I need a VPN to torrent?

Downloading files through torrenting can expose your IP address to copyright holders and your ISP, so using a VPN is essential in most countries.

VPN Setup:

What is Port Forwarding? Do I need it?

Port forwarding (having an open port) is recommended for torrenting. While not strictly required, it benefits the overall torrent swarm, can improve download speeds, and improves connectivity for torrents with few seeders. Learn more in the Port Forwarding Guide.

Mobile

Apps and tools for Android and iOS devices.

Android Apps

APKMirror is the safest source for unmodified APKs; Mobilism covers modded and premium apps; Obtainium keeps apps updated directly from their source repositories.

App Sources:

iOS Sideloading

TrollStore offers permanent installation for iOS 14–17; SideStore covers most devices on iOS 16+. Check the sideloading guide to find the right method for your iOS version.

Tools & Guides:

Resources

General tools and best practices for safe browsing and downloading.

Useful Tools

A collection of browser tools and reference resources for common tasks encountered when accessing and managing digital content.

Best Practices

Stay Safe:

  • Always scan downloaded files with VirusTotal before running
  • Use trusted sources and check community recommendations
  • Keep backups of important data
  • Use VPN when torrenting in most countries

Protect Your Privacy:

  • Use unique passwords for each service
  • Enable two-factor authentication where possible
  • Don't share personal information on untrusted platforms
  • Verify URLs to avoid phishing sites