The right way to use Tor browser (and why it’s best to)
5 min read

Some time in the past I wrote a chunk on the easiest way to make sure your privateness with an internet browser. Part of that recommendation was to make use of the Tor browser. In easiest phrases, you can not get extra privateness and safety from an internet browser than when utilizing Tor.
Additionally: The very best browsers for privateness
The Tor browser makes use of the Onion community to make sure privateness and safety. What’s the Onion community? First off, Tor is brief for “The Onion Router.” When utilizing the Onion community, all visitors is encapsulated in layers of encryption, which is transmitted by way of a collection of nodes referred to as “onion routers.” Because the visitors passes by way of a node, it peels away a single layer that reveals the subsequent vacation spot for the information. This makes it very troublesome for a 3rd social gathering to hint your web exercise (greater than every other browser).
Each the Tor browser and the Onion community are free-to-use for anybody and the Tor browser is accessible for Android, Linux, MacOS, and Home windows. And though Tor is an internet browser, utilizing it’s barely completely different than utilizing browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Courageous, Safari, and Edge.
Additionally: Your information to the darkish internet and methods to safely entry .onion web sites
Critically, if you wish to actually defend your privateness and safety on-line, Tor Browser is the one method to go. No different browser can match it and also you should not even hassle attempting to get your present default to match what Tor delivers.
That being mentioned, Tor is not excellent. Again in 2020, a variety of safety points have been disclosed for Tor. In fact, Tor being open-source, you might be sure these points have been patched instantly (or, because the article states, refuted by the builders).
Additionally: It is time for open-source customers to open their wallets
In fact, no piece of software program is ideal and so long as your pc is related to a community, it will possibly by no means be 100% protected. Additionally, it’s best to know that when utilizing Tor Browser, community visitors will not be as quick as it’s with different browsers. That slowdown is as a result of layers of safety that should be “peeled” away.
Now that you recognize what Tor is, let me present you the way simple it’s to make use of.
The right way to join Tor to the Onion community
Necessities
The one factor you may want is Tor Browser put in in your desktop or cell gadget. I am going to display Tor Browser on Linux, however the platform you utilize will not matter. You’ll be able to obtain the Tor Browser on your desktop from the official download page. The hyperlink for the Android model will take you to a web page with downloads for .apk recordsdata. On that very same web page, you may discover a hyperlink to the Google Play Retailer Tor entry. I’d recommend putting in Tor on Android from the Google Play Retailer.
Additionally: No browser is ideal. What’s a consumer to do?
When utilizing Linux, you too can set up Tor from the usual repositories, which suggests it needs to be obtainable to put in out of your desktop app retailer.
With Tor put in, let me present you methods to use it.
The very first thing to do is open Tor Browser, which you are able to do out of your desktop menu.
In case you’ve put in Tor on Linux from the usual repository whenever you first launch it, it should routinely obtain the newest model of Tor for you.
As soon as opened, you may see a button labeled Join. Whenever you open Tor, it’s not set to routinely connect with the Onion community. Till you connect with the Onion community, the Tor browser can’t be used. I’d recommend enabling the connection routinely by clicking the checkbox labeled At all times join routinely. As soon as you’ve got completed that, click on Join and Tor will work its magic.
Additionally: This could be my new favourite browser
The connection will not occur instantly, so give the browser time to finish the method. In case you discover Tor can not make the connection, shut the browser and take a look at once more. I’ve had to do that nearly each first time I’ve launched Tor. The subsequent time you open Tor, it should have no drawback connecting.
As soon as Tor is related, you can begin utilizing it as you’d any browser.
Allow automated connection after you are sure Tor works as anticipated. Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I’ve found, nevertheless, that some websites can’t be seen with Tor browser. For instance, when making an attempt to view ZDNET.com, Tor shows a 403 Error: Forbidden. Your shopper doesn’t have permission to get a URL from this server.
Ought to that happen, click on the padlock icon to the left of the URL in query and, from the popup, click on New Circuit for this Website. As soon as the brand new circuit is created, the location ought to load as anticipated.
And that’s the why and the way of utilizing Tor browser. Despite the fact that you may discover it slower than your common browser, the added privateness and safety you get from Tor could be very a lot well worth the discount in pace.
Additionally: The right way to increase your browser’s privateness with DuckDuckGo Privateness Necessities
I exploit Tor after I require heightened safety for a specific website or service (in any other case, I simply use Firefox). Give this browser a attempt to see in case you do not discover the added privateness and safety with the trouble.