Tor

Tor Browser (The Onion Router) is a browser designed to protect the privacy and anonymity of users, based on the Onion Routing technology. It allows users to securely access the Internet through the Tor network, hiding their real IP address and browsing activity.

Origins and Background

1. Early Development: The concept of Tor began in the mid-1990s by researchers David Goldschlag, Mike Reed, and Paul Syverson at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to address privacy concerns in Internet use.
2. Non-profit organisation: In 2006, Tor Project, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation dedicated to the development and maintenance of the Tor network.
3. Impact of the Snowden Incident: In 2013, Edward Snowden's leaks sparked public concern about privacy and surveillance, leading to a dramatic increase in demand for Tor. Tor is widely regarded as an important tool for protecting personal privacy.
4. User base: Today, the Tor network consists of thousands of volunteer nodes around the world, serving millions of users, including journalists, activists and ordinary Internet users.

Key Features

• Anonymity: Ensures that users' online activities are difficult to trace through multiple layers of encryption and random node routing.
• Access to Restricted Content: Supports access to general websites as well as specific .onion sites that are often inaccessible through regular browsers.
• Open Source and Transparency: As open source software, users are free to use and modify it, increasing security and trust.

Supported devices and operating systems

1. Windows: Tor Browser runs on Windows operating systems, and users can download and install it directly from the Tor Project website.
2. macOS: The same applies to macOS, users can download a specific version for installation.
3. Linux: Tor Browser supports a variety of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, etc. Users can install it through the official repository or download it directly.
4. Android: Users can use the Tor network on Android devices by installing Orbot (a Tor proxy app) and Orfox (a Tor-based browser).
5. iOS: While there is no official Tor browser, users can use Onion Browser, an open source browser that supports anonymous browsing over the Tor network.
6. Security-specific operating systems: Some Linux distributions that focus on security and privacy, such as Tails and Whonix, have built-in Tor functionality to provide greater anonymity.

Who it's for

• Privacy advocates: Regular users who wish to remain anonymous on the Internet.
• Journalists and activists: Professionals who need secure communication and information gathering.
• Researchers: Academics conducting sensitive investigations or data collection.

Tor Browser provides users with a secure and anonymous way to surf the Internet, and although its use may face problems with slower speeds and limited access to certain features, its privacy-protecting benefits make it the tool of choice for many users.