The Pirate Bay has launched a new web browser that helps users navigate around ISP blocks.
To celebrate its 10th birthday, the ‘Piratebrowser’ is aimed at people in countries where ISPs have blocked access to fliesharing websites.
"Do you know any people who can’t access TPB or other torrents-sites because they are blocked? Recommend PirateBrowser to them," suggests the blog which announced the release.
The browser, which runs on Firefox, is also championed as an anti-censorship tool, listing Iran and North Korea alongside the UK as countries expected to find PirateBrowser useful.
"It’s a simple one-click browser that circumvents censorship and blockades and makes the site instantly available and accessible. No bundled ad-ware, toolbars or other crap, just a Pre-configured Firefox browser."
However, users are warned that the browser does not guarantee their ability to use the internet with complete anonymity, with the recommendation that they continue to use a virtual private network (VPN) service "if you are looking for something more secure".
In the UK, five leading ISPs – Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, O2 and Everything Everywhere – were ordered to block access to The Pirate Bay in April 2012 by the high court, after a case brought by music industry body the BPI. PirateBrowser is The Pirate Bay’s latest attempt to get around these restrictions imposed by ISPs.
