Are you looking for a way to browse the Internet without leaving a trail of cookies and tracking pixels? One way is by using the Tor browser. Tor stands for “The Onion Router” because the layers of encryption are comparable to the layers of an onion. Tor works by connecting you to a relay network that anonymously moves you around the Internet. The Tor Project describes it as, “similar to using a twisty, hard-to-follow route in order to throw off somebody who is tailing you — and then periodically erasing your footprints.”
According to CSOOnline, “If you’re investigating a competitor, researching an opposing litigant in a legal dispute, or just think it’s creepy for your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the government to know what websites you visit, then the Tor Browser might be the right solution for you.” Tor allows you to access .onion sites (such http://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion) that are not available through other browsers. If you want to read news and features anonymously, Tor can provide access to these “hidden” .onion sites. The downside is that some web services block the Tor browser and even when allowed, it can be very slow.
The Tor network has a reputation for being a tool used by criminals, but it is also used by journalists and others living within repressive regimes, as well as “regular” people who don’t want their data collected and sold by their ISP. There is nothing illegal about using the Tor network in most countries, including the United States. However, merely using Tor can make one an attractive target for the government. The National Security Agency (NSA) looks for so-called “dumb users,” who may not be knowledgeable about online security and “through whom the NSA can gain footholds in the Tor network.”
So should you use Tor? Lifehacker says that if you are a typical user who doesn’t need to worry about the government spying on your activity, Tor is just going to slow down your Internet connections. They recommend that you secure your internet rather than anonymize it, such as when you’re using public Wi-Fi. Using a VPN to encrypt your connections when you are not using your home network can also protect you. Lifehacker also points out that, “nothing is 100% anonymous or secure, whether you’re using Tor, a VPN, or anything else.”
You can download the browser from the Tor Project. Be sure to pay attention to the tips and warnings on that page.
