If you’d like to secure your internet when using public Wi-Fi, using HTTPS or even a VPN is a better alternative. You also won’t be able to use browser plugins when using Tor. Tor’s triple-layered encryption makes the browser much slower than your normal internet connection and isn’t necessary for everyday web browsing. Should I Use Tor?įor most internet users, you likely don’t need to anonymize your internet activity. Law enforcement agencies have several ways to identify illegal activity, even if it’s performed using Tor. While there are many legitimate reasons to protect your identity online, you should never use Tor to bypass the law. However, using Tor for illegal activities does not make the activities any less illegal.

Using the Tor Browser is completely legal in most countries, including the United States. It’s also possible for your identity to be discovered by using malware to reveal your IP address. Similarly, downloading add-ons or plug-ins may compromise your anonymity. If you make or sign into accounts online, your identity will no longer be private. In general, using the Tor browser keeps your information private, but Tor only conceals your initial online browsing requests. Journalists sometimes use the Tor browser to communicate with sources to protect sensitive information.Ī new way to protect your data and devices with Microsoft 365 Learn More What Tor Doesn’t Do Tor can also help people get around censorship restrictions in certain countries and can hide IP addresses. What is the Tor Browser Used For?įor people who want to keep their browsing activity away from advertisers, internet service providers, or websites, using the Tor Browser provides privacy. If someone tries to identify you based on your browsing activity, they’ll only find the last server your data traffic moved through, making it difficult or impossible to pinpoint your identity. This network disguises your identity by encrypting your traffic and moving it through different Tor servers, or nodes. After downloading the Tor Browser, everything you do in the browser will go through the Tor network. By erasing your browsing history automatically with every session and encrypting your web traffic, using Tor can stop people and companies from learning your location or tracking your online habits.

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