Tor Browser is an open-source web browser developed by the Tor community. It allows users to browse the internet while remaining anonymous, and it is difficult to track user activity on the network due to a forged IP address constructed by the Tor service since the IP is fake and cannot be found anywhere on the network. Tor Browser achieves this by encrypting the IP address of the user. It is used to access parts of the internet that may be blocked or censored in certain regions by the local internet service provider or by the government. The Tor browser is infamously known for granting access to the dark web, where many illegal activities occur.
Role of Tor Browser
- Tor is generally used to access websites that are blocked or censored in some countries. Tor is designed in such a way that its users can bypass these restrictions and access the blocked websites freely without the knowledge of their ISPs or their government.
- Tor grants access to the Dark Web, a part of the internet not indexed by common search engines, because many illegal activities occur in that part due to the anonymity it provides. Some legitimate and privacy-focused websites exist on the Dark Web that are used by ethical groups.
- Many people use it for legitimate purposes, such as protecting their privacy, conducting research, or accessing services safely in countries with restrictive internet policies.
How Tor browser ensures user privacy and security
Tor operates by rerouting the user’s internet traffic through an array of volunteer-operated servers (nodes), with each node sealing and adding one layer of encryption to hide the user’s IP address. This makes it very difficult for anyone to trace the online activity back to the user. Even the ISPs and the government have a tough time finding the IP address. Hence, the term originates from ‘Onion Routing‘. In the process of encryption, there are 3 nodes (onion skins) through which the traffic passes:
- Entry Node: When the Tor browser is connected, traffic enters the network through an entry node. At this point, only the entry node has the user’s real IP address. It’s extremely important to trust this node, as it has access to the user’s unencrypted data.
- Middle Nodes: After passing through the entry node, traffic is sent through many intermediate nodes. Each of the centrally connected nodes decrypts a layer of encryption to disclose the routing information but doesn’t know the source or final destination.
- Exit Node: Finally, the traffic exits the Tor network through an exit node. It is the last point of decryption; from here, the data is sent to its final destination. The websites users visit only see the IP address of the exit node, not the actual IP address.
What is circumvention
Circumvention is the process of bypassing the restrictions imposed by the internet provider or the regional government using some tools that are provided by the browser itself. These tools are also known as “pluggable transports“. According to the official website of Tor Browser, there are currently three stable operating systems, while more are under development. Once the transport setup is completed, you can browse freely without any restrictions.
Types of pluggable transports :
- obsf4: obfs4 reroutes the traffic and fashions it such that it looks random, preventing the network monitors from finding bridges by scanning through the internet connection. Obfs4 bridges are more secure than their predecessors.
- Meek: It routes Tor traffic through a series of web servers, making it appear as ordinary web traffic. It disguises Tor traffic as connections to popular, unblocked websites. It grants a form of obfuscation for Tor traffic, hence making it difficult for censors to differentiate between Tor traffic and regular web traffic.
- Snowflake: It allows proxies to run web servers that allow users in regions with network restrictions to connect to the Tor network. They act as intermediaries, hesitating users to connect to the Tor network even when access to the regular Tor network is blocked. It routes the traffic through WebRTC.
Choosing the right pluggable transport
All three transports listed in Tor Bridge’s menu work in different ways and have widely different methods of communicating with the network. It all depends on your use case and what parameters you prefer.
- If you are using Tor for the first time to circumvent a blocked connection, you should try all transports and check which one works for you.
- If none of them lets you access the blocked website, you must request a bridge or manually enter bridge addresses.
Using the pluggable transports
Follow the below steps to setup a pluggable transport in the Tor browser:
- Using the Tor Browser for the first time
- Download the Tor browser from the official website of the Tor community.
- Click “Configure Connection“.
- Under the “Bridges” section, locate the option “Choose from one of Tor Browser’s built-in bridges“.
- Click on the “Select a Built-In Bridge” option.
- From the menu, select a pluggable transport.
- After selecting, scroll up and click “Connect” to save your settings.
Already a user of the Tor browser?
- Click on “Settings” in the hamburger menu.
- Click on “Connection” in the sidebar.
- Under the “Bridges” section, locate the option “Choose from one of Tor Browser’s built-in bridges” and click on the “Select a Built-In Bridge” option.
- From the menu, select a pluggable transport.
- Settings will be automatically saved once you close the tab.
In summary, the Tor Browser offers users privacy and security by routing their internet traffic through a network of encrypted servers, making it difficult to trace their IP addresses. One of its key functions is circumvention. Making Tor Browser a valuable tool for accessing blocked websites and ensuring privacy in restrictive online environments.