The need for online privacy is constantly rising, and most people are looking for the best tools to keep their online activities secure and private. Perhaps the Tor browser is winning the race as the best privacy tool as a plethora of online users turn to it to protect their identities.
Tor browser takes your online privacy to the next level as it offers an anonymous and encrypted connection. With Tor, you can easily access the notorious part of the internet called the dark web. But what’s Tor? Is the Tor browser safe?
In this article, you’ll learn how Tor Browser works, how to use it on your device, and whether it’s safe to use.
What is Tor Browser?
Tor (The Onion Router) is a browser that’s focused on helping users anonymize their online activity and stay secure online. With the Tor browser, you can easily access the dark web safely, and you won’t have to keep looking over your shoulders.
Tor encrypts your connections over a series of relay nodes that look similar to layers of an onion, hence the name ‘The Onion Router.” Moreover, it masks your IP address as well as all your online activity by directing the web traffic through a series of routers, making it difficult for third parties to intercept your traffic.
Given that Tor blocks tracking, it has become the best companion online for journalists, whistleblowers, and any other user who wants to keep their privacy online intact. Interestingly, Tor is an open-source platform that’s available to anyone.
How Does Tor Work?
Tor will help you browse the internet privately and securely. But how does it work? Tor encrypts user traffic and then moves it over different relays known as nodes (the entry node, the randomized relay node, and the randomized exit node) that are run by volunteers.
When your traffic travels through each layer, an additional layer of encryption is added (onion-like) until it gets to its destination entirely decrypted.
The routing process masks your IP address and ensures that snoopers or any other third party can’t access your data. Whenever you access Tor, the entry relay can see your IP address, but it won’t see the contents of your data. Ideally, your data travels over three different relays, and none of the relays can access your IP address or data.
Is Tor Safe?
One thing is for sure: Tor can take your online privacy to the next level, but it won’t offer you protection from every danger the internet poses. When your traffic moves through the node relays, it’s decrypted before it gets to the open internet. Perhaps, that’s one of the major weaknesses of Tor, as the person operating the exit node might monitor the traffic and even intercept sensitive data. Besides, hackers might run their nodes and then target to spy on users.
Therefore, like any other software, Tor isn’t bulletproof. However, it offers an exceptional boost to your privacy as it hides your IP address to make tracking difficult. It’s easy to say that it’s safer than the regular browser. The best option to maximize your privacy is to use the Tor browser with a reputable VPN at all times.
How to Stay Safe While Using the Tor Browser
As we’ve said, Tor Browser isn’t bulletproof; therefore, you need to take extra precautions if you want to stay entirely anonymous online. Perhaps, you need to set up a firewall, use a reputable VPN, and install the most updated antivirus to stay a notch ahead of scammers.
However, there are some extra measures that you can take to ensure that you stay safe while you use Tor Browser, and they include:
1. Always Use HTTPS Sites
You should always only visit secure websites; the “S” in HTTPS means that the site is secure, and hence it has an SSL certificate, and all your data is encrypted. Tor might be encrypted by default, and the dark web sites mostly don’t use such certification, but on the surface web, ensure that you stick with the HTTPS sites.
2. Boost Tor Security Levels
You need to be aware of the three security settings available when you use the Tor browser: Standard, Safer, and Safest. When you enable the standard level, it gives you access to every website as it is. When on a safer level, it disables site features that usually have security issues, and might cause some of the sites to lose functionality.
The safest level only allows those features required for basic services, as well as static sites – it does limit functionality too, on some websites. To change your Tor’s security level, you need to click on the shield icon in the top-right corner and then click on settings. Then Tor will get you to the security level automatically, and then you can choose your preferred security level.
Ensure that your personal information is kept personal – never reveal your information, like phone numbers, name, address, social media profiles, and email to anyone or on any website online. Tor won’t keep you anonymous if you freely share your personal information, especially on the dark web.
4. Never Click On Unknown Links
Your hacker might be a click away, and any link you click should ensure that it’s from a trusted source. Also, always download from trusted sources; some links could be infected with malware and viruses.
5. Update Antivirus Software
If you want to keep your privacy and security online, you need to install the best antivirus on your devices. Ensure that your antivirus is kept up-to-date to tackle all the potential threats that you might come across online.
6. Use Tor Over VPN
Even without the Tor browser, you need to install the best VPN when you want the best online experience. A VPN helps to encrypt your online traffic before it gets to Tor, hence protecting you from vulnerabilities within Tor’s entry and exit nodes. Tor over a VPN offers the safest Tor experience that you may want.
Why Use Tor?
Why would most people want to use Tor? The answer is pretty simple: for privacy. Perhaps, anonymity is the best description for the Tor browser – it does it the best. Here are some of the benefits people get from using the Tor browser:
- Bypassing censorship – In some countries, freedom of expression and speech are limited. Moreover, access to some websites is blocked; however, with Tor, you can get around such restrictions and access any website you want and communicate without worrying that Big Brother could be watching.
- Access to illegal content – It’s clear that Tor websites feature content and information that you won’t find on other browsers. Such content includes copyrighted material, objectionable images and films, and government documents.
- Journalism and whistleblowing – The Tor browser offers the best anonymity that most journalists seek to cover exclusive stories without fear of reprisal. Also, whistleblowers need Tor to protect them when tipping off about stories and other things in society.
- Health privacy – there’s no denying that health issues require the highest level of privacy. Whether it’s hiding health records from insurance companies, family members, or any other third parties, you want to keep your medical records anonymous.
- Illegal trading – Tor browser is the best entry into the dark web, famously known for illegal business. It’s the home to cybercriminals like hacking experts and data brokers who sell and buy personal information.
How to Use Tor Browser on Different Devices
Tor Browser is available for a variety of devices to ensure that you have the best browsing experience with the device you have at hand. All you need to do is download it from the Tor official website, install it, and use it to access the .onion sites as well as the public internet. Here’s how to use Tor Browser on different devices:
On a Windows PC
The best thing about Tor is very easy to install and use. For instance, on your Windows
PC;
- Get to the Tor project website and proceed to the Tor browser download page. Once there, you click on the Windows icon.
- Once you download it, install it where you want it on your Windows PC.
- Launch your Tor browser and click Connect.
On Android
- On your Android, you can download Tor Browser from your Google Play Store or you can opt to get it from the Tor Project website.
- Once it’s downloaded, you tap install and open Tor to get going.
- Once it’s in your device, you can consider altering your default browser settings to achieve maximum privacy.
On Mac
- On the Tor browser download page, click the Apple icon to download your Tor browser for macOS.
- Proceed and drag the Tor browser icon over the application icon to the right.
- Launch your Tor browser app and then click Connect.
How to Uninstall Tor Browser
Just like installing Tor on your device, if you decide to uninstall it, the process is pretty easy. For instance, on Windows, you simply locate your Tor folder from the download location and right-click the Tor browser folder, and then delete. Then you can empty the recycle bin.
On Mac, you get the apps, right-click the Tor browser, and then move it to the trash. To ensure you remove all the deleted files, empty the trash.
To uninstall Tor Browser on Android, you need to find the Tor Browser app on the app screen long-press the Tor Browser icon, and then tap uninstall. Tap uninstall again to confirm the process (depends on the Android device).
FAQs
Is Tor illegal in the US?
Tor is legal in the US and most countries across the world. However, some countries like China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have restricted the use of Tor, and it’s illegal in those countries.
Is Tor anonymous?
Tor browser is anonymous but not 100% perfect – it hides your location as well as your browsing history, but the entry node can tell your IP, and the exit node can tell the data you’re sending. However, it’s not a concern unless one entity owns the nodes.
Can I use Tor with a VPN?
Yes, you can. To double down your security, it’s always recommended to use a VPN when browsing the internet, especially the dark web. Tor has some vulnerabilities at the entry and exit nodes, therefore, when you use a VPN with Tor, you eliminate those concerns with a VPN’s encryption.
Written by Jason Wise
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