Price | Free |
Version | 99.0.0b3-Release__11.5_ |
Category | Communication |
Developer | The Tor Project |
Source | iOS, Android, Windows |
Rating | (4.2) |
The open-source browser Tor, which stands for “The Onion Router,” offers anonymous web browsing. It quickly erases your browsing history after each session and encrypts all of your data.
Additionally, it gives you access to the network of obscure and unindexed websites known as the dark web. Tor’s ability to provide unlimited internet access has caused it to be fully blocked in some countries.
The U.S. Navy first created the network to allow military units to communicate anonymously online. The project was abandoned by the military in 2006. Then a non-profit has subsequently taken over management of it.
Linux, Mac, and Windows versions of the Tor Browser are also available for mobile devices. You can download desktop versions from the Tor Project website.
Additionally, visit the Google Play Store or F-Droid to find OrBot or OrFox for Android. While iOS users can get OnionBrowser from the Apple App Store.
These features are reasons as to why you may want to download and use Tor Browser yourself.
Tor strives to increase your online security and privacy to a certain extent. The browser uses the extensive and global server network of Tor to protect your connection and mask your IP.
Your information travels through various Tor servers, or “nodes,” when using the Tor browser. At each node, the traffic is strongly encrypted before being gradually decrypted one layer at a time.
As a result, whoever is attempting to locate you based on your internet activity will likely run across the server that last received your data. In other words, using this browser makes it exceedingly difficult or impossible to identify Tor users.
The Tor browser is more preferable than a standard web browser for anonymous web browsing.
Many people use the Tor browser to view geo-restricted content, visit websites that aren’t available on the surface web, and bypass censorship. The term “the black web” refers to a space where unregulated websites, pirated material, and unlawful goods can be found.
To avoid censorship, many journalists and political activists use the Tor browser in addition to the dark web. Thanks to Tor’s anonymity, they are able to write articles and spread news about important occurrences. This additionally shields them from being observed by outside parties.
In most countries, especially those with little restriction, using the Tor browser itself is fully legal. As is using any other Tor project software. Thus, you will have no issue finding this browser and using it as much as you would like.
However, there are still rules to follow. Some Tor users do, however, take part in illicit activity. It is still illegal to engage in these acts, even when using the Tor browser. As a result, we strongly suggest that you avoid engaging in them.
For the vast majority of readers of this article, using Tor Browser is entirely legal. Tor, however, is either prohibited or restricted by national authorities in several nations.
The anonymity service is forbidden in China. As a result, the Great Firewall prevents Tor traffic from passing through.
Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are among the nations putting great effort into preventing their citizens from utilizing Tor. Venezuela most recently stopped allowing any traffic on Tor.
We have put together a few pros and cons that you should be aware of when it comes to using Tor Browser.
The greatest anonymous web browsing is provided by Tor Browser. You may access .onion websites with Tor Browser, which are only accessible within the Tor network. It’s a fantastic browser that enables you to maintain the secrecy and privacy of your online activity.
Hence, it can be used by anyone who doesn’t want anyone knowing what their site history is.
In addition to this, Tor Browser is compatible with various devices. Hence, you won’t struggle to be able to find the software to download onto your phone, laptop or PC.
The first thing to note with Tor Browser is that it isn’t legal in every country, so this is something to be aware of. Also, you have access to the dark web and other illegal activities. It is still illegal if you participate in these illegal activities using the Tor Browser.
Additionally, it is known that Tor Browser has much slower internet speeds. Tor can significantly slow down your internet speeds because it routes your traffic through numerous nodes (servers) throughout the globe.
Thus, it can be difficult to watch videos at times as the speeds can make the videos take longer to load etc.
If you want to stay anonymous on the internet, then you may want to consider installing Tor Browser. It allows you to keep all your search history hidden from anyone trying to collect your data. It is fairly accessible, but certain countries have prohibited the use of this software.
We hope this article has given you a better insight into Tor Browser. Hopefully, now you have a clearer idea on what it is and what it can do.