The TOR Network, also known by the TOR Project, or simply TOR, allows anonymous communication over the internet. The US Navy developed it in the mid-1990s with the purpose of protecting government communications. It is still used today by many people, including activists, journalists, and everyday internet users who wish to keep their privacy online.
TOR routes internet traffic through a network made up of volunteers, known as “nodes”. TOR encrypts your internet traffic and sends it through a network of volunteer-run servers, also known as “nodes”. This makes it hard for anyone to track your online activities back to you. Onion routing, which layers multiple layers of encryption over each other, creates anonymity.
You will need to install the TOR browser, which is a modified Firefox browser, in order to use TOR. Your traffic will automatically be routed through the TOR network when you open the TOR browser and begin browsing the internet. Other applications can be used with TOR as well, including instant messaging and email.
One of the biggest advantages of TOR, is its anonymity. This is especially useful for countries with internet censorship or government surveillance. It protects you from malicious actors trying to track and steal your online activities.
TOR isn’t the best solution to anonymity. Although it offers a high level anonymity, it isn’t foolproof. If you use TOR to access a website that does not have encryption, the operator of that website or any third parties could still monitor your activities on that site. TOR does not protect against advanced surveillance methods such as IP address tracking or traffic analysis, which can be used even if traffic is encrypted.
The TOR network is a powerful tool to protect your online privacy and allow anonymous communication. It is not the perfect solution but it is an effective tool for those who want to keep their anonymity and privacy online.