TOR or The Onion Router is a tool used for anonymous browsing on the internet. It is used by journalists, activists and supporters of data protection as a means of escaping prying eyes.
So, what makes Tor different from Chrome, Firefox, or Safari? And most importantly, should you use it?
In a normal Internet connection, you are directly connected to the website you are trying to visit. That website can see who you are and that you are trying to access its server using your IP address. Tor ,however, passes your data through a network of different routes using layers of encryption (hence the “Onion” metaphor). Each node your data passes through is like passing through shells of yet another layer of encryption.
The last node through which your data passes is known as the exit node and constitutes the final layer of encryption and then delivers your data to the desired server. The origin point, as well as the intermediate nodes, are completely unknown.
With Tor, one can create private conversations and pages that are only accessible through Tor. You can probably see now why this browser is such a favorite place for Black Market transactions.
However, not all activities are illegal and secret! Tor can be used by journalists to reach a source, by activists living in a country where the Internet is banned, or by police officers working undercover on a case.
Nevertheless, nothing is perfect, so even though onion routing makes it difficult for hackers and spies to locate your activities, as a scenario it is not unlikely. There are ways that attackers can see your activity on the Internet and extract data from vulnerable entry and exit points, especially if users are not diligent.
So, should you ultimately use the Tor browser for your Internet browsing?
If you are a regular everyday internet user and just want to surf Facebook and Twitter, you probably don't need Tor because you are giving away your personal information anyway. Of course, if you have something more dangerous in mind, you should definitely use Tor!
