Tor Browser Guide

What is Tor Browser?

Tor Browser is a free, open-source web browser designed for anonymous communication. It routes your internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer network of relays, making it extremely difficult to trace your online activity back to you.

The Tor network encrypts your traffic multiple times and bounces it through at least three relays before reaching its destination. This process, called onion routing, provides strong anonymity protection.

Key Features

• Multi-layer encryption - Traffic is encrypted multiple times as it passes through the network
• IP address masking - Websites see the exit node's IP, not yours
• Access to .onion sites - Special domains only accessible through Tor
• Built-in privacy protections - Blocks trackers, fingerprinting, and third-party cookies by default
• No installation required - Can run from USB drive

Video Tutorials

Curated video guides from trusted privacy-focused channels:

Download & Installation

• Download from Official Source

  Go to torproject.org/download and select your operating system. The site is available in multiple languages.

• Verify the Signature (Recommended)

  Download the .asc signature file and verify using GPG. This ensures the file hasn't been tampered with.

  gpg --verify tor-browser-linux64-*.tar.xz.asc
• Extract and Run

  Extract the archive and run the start-tor-browser script. No installation required - it runs as a portable application.

  tar -xvf tor-browser-linux64-*.tar.xz
  cd tor-browser
  ./start-tor-browser.desktop
• Connect to Tor Network

  Click "Connect" to join the Tor network. If you're in a censored country, click "Configure" to set up bridges first.

Security Levels

Tor Browser has three security levels. Access via Shield icon > Settings > Security.

Bridges & Censorship Circumvention

If Tor is blocked in your country or network, use bridges - unlisted relays that help you connect.

Types of Bridges

• obfs4 - Most common, makes Tor traffic look like random data
• meek-azure - Routes through Microsoft Azure, looks like visiting microsoft.com
• Snowflake - Uses WebRTC, appears as video call traffic

Getting Bridges

• Built-in: Tor Browser includes some bridges by default
• Web: bridges.torproject.org
• Email: Send email to bridges@torproject.org with "get transport obfs4" in body
• Telegram: @GetBridgesBot

GitHub Resources

Official repositories and useful tools:

Best Practices

• Never maximize the window - Screen size can be used for fingerprinting
• Don't install additional extensions - They can compromise anonymity
• Don't open downloaded files while online - They may reveal your real IP
• Don't use Tor for regular accounts - Separates your anonymous and real identity
• Keep Tor Browser updated - Security fixes are released regularly
• Use Safest security level - Especially for sensitive browsing
• Never login to personal accounts - Google, Facebook, etc. will link your identity

Common Issues

Connection Problems

• Can't connect - Try using bridges, check if Tor is blocked on your network
• Slow speeds - Normal for Tor. Try a new circuit (New Identity button)
• Captchas everywhere - Many sites flag Tor exit nodes. Use .onion versions when available

Site Compatibility

• Sites not loading - Enable JavaScript temporarily (not recommended for darknet)
• .onion not found - Check URL is correct, site may be down, try mirrors
• SSL errors - Check system time is correct, may indicate MITM attack