How to connect or configure Tor?
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2025 8:38 am
The first time you use Tor, you will see a pop-up window asking you to connect to or configure the Tor network.
tor_dark_web_2
Most people will be able to click "Connect", but if you're using a censored or proxy internet connection, you'll need to configure your local proxy settings. If this is something you need to do, the Tor Project has plenty of tutorials on the basics of setup.
#6 How to use Tor to access something?
The Tor window will look like a normal browser window like Firefox or Chrome. However, to access the sites, you will need to remember the .onion extension. To access these sites, you don’t have to Google them – you will need to find specific links. Also, the addresses of these links tend to be a seemingly random group of letters, so it is not always entirely clear where they are leading you.
The Hidden Wiki is one of the most well-known resources for browsing the dark web, where you will find links to sites of different categories. Another useful resource is the r/onions subreddit. Obviously, be aware that both contain NSFW (Not Safe For Work) material.
tor_dark_web_4
If you’re particularly keen on maintaining your anonymity, The Tor Project includes a number of warnings about what not to do while browsing. We advise you to be extremely careful when using Tor. If you’re concerned mexico whatsapp lead about privacy and online tracking, there are simpler ways to take steps to protect your data. From anonymous search engines like DuckDuckGo and Oscobo to plugins like Ghostery, you have the ability to block trackers used by ad networks.
#7 Who uses Tor?
Police, military, researchers, human rights groups, abuse victims, whistleblowers, journalists, and increasingly anyone else who wants to keep their online activities private or is concerned about cyber-spying. It is very popular among people in internet-censored countries such as Russia and the United Arab Emirates, and counts Human Rights Watch among its past donors. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is a big fan of the network. He also said:
"Without Tor, the streets of the Internet become like the streets of a heavily surveilled city. With Tor, we have private spaces and lives, where we can choose who we associate with, and how."
#8 But then, isn't Tor a bit "borderline"?
Every medium, from a printed page to a standard browser, has the potential to be questionable, but web services don’t actually “do anything” — what their users do. As with technologies like Bitcoin — Tor’s preferred currency — Tor doesn’t incentivize or condone illegal enterprise. On its website, it acknowledges that criminal elements exploit anonymity, but notes, “Criminals can already do bad things … they already have a lot of options available.”
In short, they don't need Tor to carry out their criminal activities. While there are criminals who use this network, there are also many legitimate users, many of whom use Tor to obtain social benefit.
#9 So Tor is completely legal?
Yes, absolutely. The US Navy has no history of creating illegal software, and there is nothing suspicious about wanting to browse privately. No one has ever been arrested or prosecuted solely for using Tor, if you use it only for what it was created for. Tor itself says in its FAQ that "it is not a tool designed or intended to be used to break the law."
tor_dark_web_2
Most people will be able to click "Connect", but if you're using a censored or proxy internet connection, you'll need to configure your local proxy settings. If this is something you need to do, the Tor Project has plenty of tutorials on the basics of setup.
#6 How to use Tor to access something?
The Tor window will look like a normal browser window like Firefox or Chrome. However, to access the sites, you will need to remember the .onion extension. To access these sites, you don’t have to Google them – you will need to find specific links. Also, the addresses of these links tend to be a seemingly random group of letters, so it is not always entirely clear where they are leading you.
The Hidden Wiki is one of the most well-known resources for browsing the dark web, where you will find links to sites of different categories. Another useful resource is the r/onions subreddit. Obviously, be aware that both contain NSFW (Not Safe For Work) material.
tor_dark_web_4
If you’re particularly keen on maintaining your anonymity, The Tor Project includes a number of warnings about what not to do while browsing. We advise you to be extremely careful when using Tor. If you’re concerned mexico whatsapp lead about privacy and online tracking, there are simpler ways to take steps to protect your data. From anonymous search engines like DuckDuckGo and Oscobo to plugins like Ghostery, you have the ability to block trackers used by ad networks.
#7 Who uses Tor?
Police, military, researchers, human rights groups, abuse victims, whistleblowers, journalists, and increasingly anyone else who wants to keep their online activities private or is concerned about cyber-spying. It is very popular among people in internet-censored countries such as Russia and the United Arab Emirates, and counts Human Rights Watch among its past donors. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is a big fan of the network. He also said:
"Without Tor, the streets of the Internet become like the streets of a heavily surveilled city. With Tor, we have private spaces and lives, where we can choose who we associate with, and how."
#8 But then, isn't Tor a bit "borderline"?
Every medium, from a printed page to a standard browser, has the potential to be questionable, but web services don’t actually “do anything” — what their users do. As with technologies like Bitcoin — Tor’s preferred currency — Tor doesn’t incentivize or condone illegal enterprise. On its website, it acknowledges that criminal elements exploit anonymity, but notes, “Criminals can already do bad things … they already have a lot of options available.”
In short, they don't need Tor to carry out their criminal activities. While there are criminals who use this network, there are also many legitimate users, many of whom use Tor to obtain social benefit.
#9 So Tor is completely legal?
Yes, absolutely. The US Navy has no history of creating illegal software, and there is nothing suspicious about wanting to browse privately. No one has ever been arrested or prosecuted solely for using Tor, if you use it only for what it was created for. Tor itself says in its FAQ that "it is not a tool designed or intended to be used to break the law."