Jan 12, 2023 / By Securium Solutions
Hello everyone, in this blog we are going to learn about Tor and its works.
First, I should explain a little bit about Tor. The Onion Router (TOR) is free, open-source software that allows users to browse the internet anonymously. It was initially developed by the US Navy in the mid-1990s and has since become a popular tool for individuals and organizations who wish to protect their privacy online. In this blog post, we will discuss how TOR works and how it can be used to protect your online privacy.
It works by routing internet traffic through a network of volunteer-run servers, known as “nodes”. Each node only knows the IP address of the node immediately preceding it and the node immediately following it. This creates a chain of encrypted connections that makes it difficult for anyone to track a user’s internet activity.
Node is of two types on tor:
1.Relays
2. Bridge
Relays are the servers whose lists are intended to be public. By default, Tor uses relays to maintain our anonymity.
Nodes through traffic travel
When a user connects to the internet through TOR, their traffic is first sent to a “Guard Relay” which acts as the initial point of contact with the Open source network. The traffic is then passed through a number of “relays” before reaching its final destination, known as the “Exit Relay”. The traffic is encrypted at each stage of the journey, so even if someone were able to intercept it, they would only be able to see the encrypted data.
The problem is that relays lists are public. Then any website owner can simply download it from Tor Project’s official website and block users to serve them. To use the bridge we have to request to Tor project. We can get it simply by following ways:
– Go to Tor browser settings then connection and request a bridge.
– You can go to https://bridges.torproject.org/options/, take a bridge, and paste it into browser settings. Bridges enhance anonymity and help us to escape from censorship.
One of the most unique features of TOR is that it allows users to create “hidden services.” These are websites that are only accessible through the TOR network and do not reveal their location to anyone trying to access them. This allows organizations and individuals to host websites and services without fear of them being shut down or targeted by malicious actors.
In addition to protecting privacy, the TOR browser can also be used to bypass internet censorship. Because the traffic is routed through a number of different nodes, it is difficult for governments or other organizations to block access to specific websites or services.
It is important to note that while the Dark web browser provides a high level of anonymity, it is not completely foolproof. It is still possible for a determined attacker to track a user’s activity by exploiting vulnerabilities in the TOR software or by compromising one of the nodes in the network. However, TOR remains one of the most effective tools available for protecting your online privacy.
Overall, TOR is a powerful and widely used tool for ensuring online privacy. It allows users to browse the internet anonymously and access blocked content, it enables the creation of “hidden services” and even with its vulnerabilities, it is still considered a good choice for those who want to keep their online activities private.
Author
Saurabh Kumar
Securium Solution Cyber Security Intern
