Privacy-conscious online users are usually uncomfortable with the idea that someone might be looking at what they do online. The best (most straightforward) bet is to have the best VPN – that’s what most users would turn to for privacy online. However, others would want to take their security and privacy to the next level with tools like Tor.
Still, that’s not the end; you can take another step – a highly advisable option – where you combine the power of a VPN and Tor; a technique known as Onion over VPN. A plethora of services support it as an extra layer of protection for your online activities, meaning you won’t be looking over your shoulders.
But what’s Onion over VPN? Is it safe? How does it work? These are some of the questions that this article will answer. Onion over VPN might seem overly techy to some users, but don’t worry, continue reading as we offer you everything you need to know about it.
Understanding Onion Over VPN
Onion over VPN also known as Tor over VPN incorporates The Onion Router (Tor) power with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to boost the security and anonymity of your online traffic.
The process involves connecting to a VPN server before it connects to Tor. Sometimes, when the process is reversed, the technique is called VPN over Tor but with different implications. To understand how Onion over VPN works, we’ll need to look at how the two components function separately before we cover how the combination works.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a technology that encrypts your online data and sends it via a secure virtual tunnel towards its destination. A VPN encrypts your connection between a user’s device and the server, making it difficult for third parties to intercept. The VPN provider manages the servers – at least you know whoever that’s behind the scenes.
Moreover, a VPN conceals your IP address to make it impossible for hackers to track your location. Besides, it bars your Internet Service Provider from seeing whatever you’re doing online.
What is Tor?
Tor is a free-to-use open-source service popularly known for helping users go around censorship, and protect against ISP monitoring, and hackers. Tor allows you to access all the levels of the internet, including the darknet.
Tor protects by encrypting user traffic three times via a series of nodes to offer anonymity. Tor routes the encrypted data through random volunteer-hosted servers toward its destination. Like a VPN, Tor also masks your IP address from third parties and blocks trackers by isolating each website that you visit, and hence, prevents third parties from tracking every website you visit.
Furthermore, Tor blocks fingerprinting by ensuring that your digital fingerprint is similar to other users. Lastly, Tor clears your browsing history permanently after you close the tabs.
Onion Over VPN in Detail
There’s no denying that the two tools are used to hide a user’s IP address and encrypt web traffic. However, there are several differences between them. Tor’s major focus is to provide anonymity while a VPN majors on internet privacy. Therefore, to enhance your security and privacy, you can combine the two, especially when browsing dark web sites. All you need is to connect to your best VPN before you start using Tor – Onion over VPN.
So, how exactly does your traffic travel? Here’s the route the traffic follows when you use Onion over VPN:
- User data is encrypted by VPN.
- The data is then encrypted by Tor.
- The VPN server receives the data.
- The VPN encrypts the data and passes it to Tor – adds an extra layer of anonymity.
- The data bounces via the Tor network and loses one encryption layer at every node.
- Upon reaching the destination, the data is entirely decrypted.
When the data returns, it takes this route:
- The website, service, or app sends some data.
- Tor encrypts that data.
- Tor relays data.
- The VPN encrypts the data.
- The double-encrypted data is sent to your device.
- Tor decrypts data.
- VPN decrypts the data again.
Is Onion Over VPN Safe?
You might know by now that when you connect to a VPN before turning to the Tor network, an extra layer of security and privacy gets added unlike when you use only the Tor browser. That way, Onion over Tor can increase your safety when on the Tor network.
A Tor browser alone can anonymize your online connection, but it’s very easy for someone to intercept your traffic at both the entry and exit nodes. When connected to a VPN, it seals the gaps and ensures that you’re invisible.
Onion over VPN stops your Internet Service Provider from tracking you and knowing that Tor is in use. It also stops a VPN provider from monitoring all your online activities. Therefore, it’s easy to say that a VPN for Tor is very much necessary as it offers advanced encryption for robust anonymity and security.
However, you should note that Onion over VPN is relatively inconvenient and slow when compared with using only the Tor browser. But in sitations where security and privacy are vital, then you must consider using Onion over Tor.
Onion Over VPN vs. VPN Over Tor
A VPN and the Tor browser can be used in reverse, where you launch the Tor browser before connecting to a VPN. Ideally, it’s the opposite of Onion over Tor, and it’s known as VPN over Tor.
In this reversed scenario, user traffic is sent via the Tor network and then routed through an encrypted VPN tunnel. In this case here, the exit nodes won’t see the content of the traffic, but the guard nodes can see the user’s public IP address.
However, it should be noted that the Tor Project alone doesn’t recommend the use of a VPN over Tor because it undermines user anonymity. Also, it’s complex to set up and it’s less anonymous compared to Onion over VPN.
Benefits of Onion Over VPN
Cybercriminals are always evolving and becoming increasingly difficult to spot. Therefore, that’s why you need to use Onion over Tor as it offers the following benefits:
- Strong encryption: In case a Tor node fails, you can be assured that your traffic via a VPN server makes it encrypted.
- You can always access the Tor network from anywhere across the globe, even in geo-blocked regions.
- Your Internet service provider won’t know that you’re using Tor.
- Your VPN provider can’t see the websites you visit or the activities you do there.
- You’ll easily be able to access the dark web/.onion sites.
- You can have the peace of mind to surf the internet securely and anonymously.
- You can easily switch to your normal browser when performing non-critical tasks.
Drawbacks of Onion Over VPN
Like all online security and privacy tools, there’s nothing perfect, and so is Onion over Tor. It too has some drawbacks:
- It’s clear that your VPN provider will see you’re using the Tor network and will see your actual IP address.
- In case a Tor exit node gets compromised, it can expose your data.
- Routing traffic via a VPN and the series of hops in the Onion network can have a negative impact on your general browsing experience.
How to Use Onion Over VPN
It’s not difficult to use Onion over Tor. All you need is your best VPN provider and the Tor browser and follow these steps:
- Install the best VPN that supports the .onion over VPN – perhaps, NordVPN is the best option given that it features an efficient inbuilt Onion over VPN feature.
- Login and connect to a server closer to your physical location for a faster connection.
- Install the Tor browser and open it while connected to the VPN server.
- Start browsing securely in an Onion Over VPN.
Onion Over VPN vs. Double VPN
There are several privacy solutions that you can use to stay secure and private online. For instance, using several VPNs simultaneously is another option that you can use to increase your privacy.
Using several VPNs means that your traffic passes through several servers and it’s encrypted twice. The best part is that most Tor VPNs have this feature and the most common names assigned to it are double VPN, nested VPN, multi-hop, and several others.
Onion Over VPN Safety Precautions
Onion over Tor offers the necessary security, privacy, and anonymity. However, it should be noted that it can’t offer you protection from yourself. Therefore, it means that you must be the one in control of your online activities. Here are some of the precautions that you need to take seriously when using Onion over VPN:
- Never click on any link online that you don’t know the source.
- Ensure that you check the security and legitimacy of URLs of the sites that you visit; always ensure that they start with https:// with the correct name.
- Install effective and reliable antivirus software to help you detect and remove potential threats that might slip through your connection.
- Don’t submit personal information on any website.
FAQs
Who should use Onion over VPN?
Perhaps, you can use Onion over Tor, but for a casual browser that only wants to avoid the ever-annoying cookies and ads, Onion over VPN can slow you down, and better off with a VPN. However, if you’re working with sensitive information, then you need to use Onion over VPN. Also, people like journalists, political activists, whistleblowers, and residents in autocratic governments are best suited to use Onion over VPN.
Can a free VPN work for Tor?
Not all free VPNs are what they claim they are, therefore, you need to avoid them as much as possible. Most of them have inadequate security features and others even sell user data to generate income.
Why is Onion Over VPN slow?
Combining both can slow you down given that they both need to encrypt data and then route it via a series of nodes. Also, the encrypted data must be decrypted when it reaches its destination, which is entirely time-consuming.
Is Onion over VPN safe?
Yes- it’s safer than when you use the Tor browser without a VPN that encrypts your data before it leaves.
Written by Trevor Cooke
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