– a nonprofit based in Seattle, WA, since 2006. It is open source and free software that has been maintained by The Tor Project, Inc. Tor reached its alpha version in September of 2002, while it was released under a free license in 2004 for the benefit of online privacy and free speech around the world. The Tor communication protocol was created by the United States Naval Research Laboratory as a way to protect US intelligence communications on the internet.

But it is important to note that being a Tor user does not mean one has something to hide. Most fraudsters working online are likely to be Tor users because they are trying their best to cover their tracks. Tor is also frequently used to access what is sometimes called the dark web, including Tor hidden services, which are sometimes linked to illegal activity, although not necessarily so. This extra protection is used by people looking to hide their tracks on the world wide web and the internet in general – anyone from activists living under authoritarian regimes to petty criminals or even terrorists, as well as law-abiding individuals for whom privacy is a priority concern. The “onion” metaphor is used to indicate the layers upon layers of encryption applied, rendering it difficult to determine who you are and track your online activities.Įffectively, this means that website admins and other internet users cannot find out information about who and where you are, and what you have been up to online. Specifically, Tor is a communication protocol that uses a network of relays to stop others from tracking you. It stands for The Onion Router and works to hide your IP and location, making less known about you than conventional browsing methods.

Generally speaking, Tor is a privacy tool used to communicate online anonymously.

Free tor browser