All you need to know in 2022
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If you are considering using Tor Browser to protect your online privacy, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Although this is one of the best ways to ensure digital anonymity, It’s not perfect – so before you call, make sure you know what to expect.
For starters, if you want to browse the dark web with the highest level of security and privacy possible, You will need to use Tor with a VPN. While Tor does a lot to preserve your identity, some online threats can only be avoided by using a VPN.
My best choice for this is ExpressVPN, which has features designed with Tor users in mind. Read more about why ExpressVPN is the best choice for Tor below.
Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Now!
What is Tor Browser?
Tor is a free, open source program that helps you stay anonymous on the Internet. At first glance, it works just like a regular web browser. But beneath the surface, there’s a lot going on. Tor randomly routes all your traffic through a network of servers around the world, wrapping it in several layers of encryption to protect it from prying eyes.
You can think of this cipher like layers of onions. In fact, Tor actually refers to “The Onion Router”. Its network is accessible through the Tor browser, which allows you to hide your activity, identity, and location while browsing the web – with some caveats.
Tor’s mission statement, according to its website
If you’ve been wondering how to use the Tor Browser, you’ll be glad to know that it’s relatively simple. All you have to do is download and install the current version for your operating system, then use it like any other web browser.
Do not download Tor Browser from any source other than the official Tor website.
Tor Browser is currently available for Windows, OS X, Linux, and Android.
Noticeable: Tor Browser doesn’t have an iOS version, but its developers encourage iOS users to try Onion Browser, which works a little differently.
To get Tor Browser, you’ll need to wait for the program to download, then save and set it up on your device. This process is just like installing any other software so it shouldn’t cause any problems. Once installed, just open the browser and wait for it to connect to the network.
When you download Tor Browser, you can either connect right away or configure it manually.
However, even Tor’s highest levels of security cannot protect against every threat. In order to maximize your privacy and fully protect yourself from malicious attacks, you will need a reliable VPN. My personal recommendation is ExpressVPN, because it is very fast and has its own onion site in the Tor network.
If you want to use Tor Browser with a VPN, there are a few more steps to get started, which I’ll explain below.
Use Tor safely with ExpressVPN
How to Use Tor Browser to Access the Dark Web
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet where you can access information without revealing your identity. Tor allows you to surf the dark web, Including sites created specifically for them. For example, the New York Times and the CIA now have “balloon” versions of their sites that you can access through Tor.
The dark web is often seen as a haven for illegal activity and suspicious transactions. And although there is more to it, the fact that nothing is tracked makes it easy for those with bad intentions to take advantage of unaware users. Other than exercising common sense, The best way to protect yourself from these dangers is to use Tor with a VPN.
To find the sites you’re looking for — and avoid getting scammed — you’ll need to do some research. Onion sites are not indexed by Google, but you can find directories for them online. Just be sure to double-check each URL before visiting it, and then check it again.
Once you select and check the URLs of the sites you want to visit, using Tor Browser to access the dark web is easy. Think of it like any other browser – but Remember to keep your guards and never volunteer information that could jeopardize your privacy.
To learn more, check out our article on what the dark web is and how to access it.
Is Tor Browser a VPN?
number, Tor Browser is not a VPN. First of all, the main purpose of Tor is to maintain anonymity, while the main purpose of a VPN is to protect privacy. These two things may seem the same, but they are not the same. And while both Tor and a VPN are tools for maximizing your online security, they accomplish this in different ways.
When you use a VPN, all your data is secured with end-to-end encryption. It is then routed through a secure channel to a remote server, which connects you to the website you are trying to visit. (If you’re interested in learning more about VPNs and why we love them so much, check out The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to VPNs.)
If you are using a VPN with Tor, this means that not even your ISP can see that you are connected to the Tor network. This is very important – especially in countries with strict Internet censorship. While Tor itself is not illegal, you may be flagged for suspicious activity if someone discovers that you are using it.
Tor Browser runs on a completely different platform than a VPN, and protects your privacy in a very unique way.
How does Tor Browser work?
Tor Browser uses several complex steps to protect your data. First, the data is encapsulated in cipher layers. Then it is routed through a random relay and encrypted again, and the process is repeated over a decentralized network of nodes.
Each time your data passes through one of the network nodes, an encryption layer is removed to reveal the location of the next relay. When you reach the final relay, or exit node, the last encryption layer is removed and your data is sent to its final destination.
Each relay decodes only enough data to detect the location of the previous and next relays, each path is randomly generated, and none of the relays is logged. Tor also deletes your browsing history and cookies for you after each session.
This makes it nearly impossible for your activity to be traced back to you – completely anonymity achieved, right?
Well, approx. There are still some vulnerabilities in the system, but you can cover many of them by using a VPN with Tor.
Use Tor safely with ExpressVPN
How secure is Tor Browser?
While Tor offers a much higher level of anonymity than a regular web browser, it is not 100% secure. Your location will be hidden and your traffic cannot be tracked, but some people can still see your browsing activity – at least part of it.
The volunteers who run each server your data passes through are anonymous, so you never know who runs things behind the scenes. This is usually not a problem, because all of them can only see the location of the previous and next relays… except for the last.
The final relay, called the exit node, removes the last layer of data encryption. It can’t access your original location or your IP address, but An exit node can spy on your activity if you visit an unsecured website. One way to avoid this is to use a VPN via the Tor method.
remembers: Even in the Tor browser, you should be careful not to voluntarily identify yourself or your location (by disclosing your name, email address, or other information).
What are the disadvantages of the Tor browser?
Aside from some security issues, the main drawback of Tor is that it is very slow. This is a corollary to the fact that your data must travel through several relays before reaching its destination. This is the price you pay for anonymity.
For this reason, I do not recommend using Tor Browser for streaming or downloading. Its founders also highly discourage torrenting – not only because of the speed, but also because it can expose your IP address and put your privacy at risk.
If you really want to stream or torrent while maintaining privacy, I recommend using a VPN instead of Tor (see our best VPNs for torrenting anonymously here).
Another disadvantage of using the Tor network is that it can draw unwanted attention to you. Even though your ISP can’t see your activity, they can see that you’re connected to Tor. This may be enough to arouse suspicion, and it may also turn you into a target of government censorship.
In addition, it is important to remember that Tor Browser is just a browser. It cannot encrypt any of your other activities, So if you use other apps, you won’t have any extra protection. This is another reason why I would suggest combining Tor with a VPN to cover all your bases.
Use Tor safely with ExpressVPN
Using Tor Browser with a VPN
Tor Browser and VPNs can both help you stay anonymous and maintain privacy online – but nothing is better than using them together. The main reason to do this is that adding a VPN can cover some of the vulnerabilities and security bugs in the Tor system.
for example, If you don’t want your ISP to know that you’re using Tor, or you don’t want your in and out nodes to be able to see your IP address, your best bet is to use a VPN at the same time.
There are two main ways to integrate Tor with a VPN, each with advantages and disadvantages. The method you choose will mainly depend on your security priorities. I will explain the arguments for each option below.
Tor over VPN
With this method – also called “Onion over VPN” – you connect to the VPN first and then access the Tor network through it. This is the easiest way to combine the two tools; All you have to do is open Tor as you would any other browser. For most people, it will provide more than enough security and privacy.
When you use Tor over a VPN, the VPN encrypts your data, hides your IP address, and routes your traffic through one of its secure servers before connecting to the Tor network. This means that All your traffic – not just browser activity – is protected, Tor servers run by volunteers cannot access your IP address.
Another benefit is that Your ISP will not be able to see that you are using Tor, because VPNs hide your activity from them. Furthermore, your VPN provider will not be able to see your activity within the Tor network.
However, if your VPN service keeps logs of your activity, they will be able to see your IP address and the fact that you are using Tor. If you want to avoid this, Make sure to choose a VPN that has a strict no-logs policy, such as ExpressVPN.
There is another downside to Tor over a VPN: It does not protect you from malicious exit nodes, Because your traffic is not encrypted by the time it reaches its destination.
VPN via Tor
The second method of integrating Tor with a VPN is a bit more complicated. It involves connecting to Tor first, then going through your VPN. In order to do so, You will probably have to manually configure the VPN to allow this.
However, there is one big advantage of this method: Protects you from malicious checkout knots. Instead of going directly from the exit node to the final destination, your data from the exit node is routed through a secure VPN server – so that no one running the node can see your IP address or any other information.
This makes VPN over Tor an ideal way to communicate sensitive information.
Furthermore, it keeps your IP address hidden from your VPN provider, even if they log your activity (although with the best VPNs for Tor, that’s not a problem anyway).
But there is also a big downside: Your ISP – as well as third parties such as government agencies – will still be able to see that you’re using Tor, Although your activity itself is hidden.
Noticeable: Tor developers do not advise …
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