You shouldn’t use them if you want to remain anonymous.

Some software that runs inside your browser, like Flash apps, are usually not protected by Tor.

(Or you could use a platform like Tails OS, which comes with full Tor encryption built in.) It’s possible to configure Tor to anonymize all Internet traffic, but that requires a fair bit of technical expertise.

If you are using the Tor browser bundle, only your Web activity will be anonymized.

Tor doesn’t anonymize Internet activity in apps other than the ones it’s specifically configured to protect.

It’s possible for people monitoring your Internet connection to know that you are using Tor, even if they can’t trace your IP address.

That’s because torrent clients will usually reveal your true IP address even if you attempt to configure them not to.

It’s not recommended for use with BitTorrent or other torrent clients.

Using a VPN or HTTPS encryption on top of Tor will protect against this. Anyone monitoring your connection could still read things like usernames and passwords that are transmitted in plaintext.

It can be used at the same time as a VPN service or other proxy so that you have multiple layers of privacy protection.īut if you choose to use Tor you should also understand what it doesn’t do.

That means the code can be inspected by anyone, which reduces the risk that it contains malicious backdoors.

It makes it very difficult to identify your true IP address.

It supports all major operating systems.

For most people, downloading and installing the Tor browser bundle is all it takes to get started.

It’s relatively easy to set up and use.

Here’s a concise summary of things to know about Tor.Īs an online privacy solution, Tor offers lots of advantages. But to use it effectively, you should understand what it does and what it doesn’t do. Tor lets you browse the Internet anonymously.

Using tor safely