A tor browser is a software application that allows you to access sites on the hidden “dark web”—the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. It’s also used by human rights activists and political dissidents to evade censorship, as well as people who want to communicate privately online. Tor is also a popular way for journalists to avoid being spied on by interested parties and protect their sources.
Standard web browsers only allow you to access “clear web” content—websites that are indexed by search engines, like YouTube and Wikipedia. Tor, on the other hand, can access all layers of the internet, including the dark web. It does so by encrypting your data and sending it through multiple stopping points (called nodes) on its journey to the destination site. Each node decrypts a portion of the data package and sends it to the next node, adding another layer of encryption in the process. This layered encryption is what gives the browser its name, The Onion Router.
When paired with a VPN service, Tor offers excellent security and privacy. However, it is important to note that it’s not foolproof. For example, law enforcement agencies can still use a variety of tools to track down Tor users, including the ability to identify them by examining their browsing history or by using cookies. To minimize the risk of tracking, we recommend that you always connect a VPN before opening Tor, and take steps to avoid leaking other information that could be used to identify you, such as signing in to an account on a website or using traceable financial information when making transactions. what is a tor browser