Tor 2.3.25-15

Tor is a free and open-source software that aims to provide online privacy and anonymity. It works by routing your online traffic through a series of computers, called nodes or relays, that are operated by volunteers around the world. Each relay only knows the previous and next hop in the chain, so your traffic is encrypted and its origin and destination are hidden.

There are many reasons why someone would use Tor. It can help protect your online privacy by disguising your IP address, making it harder for advertisers, governments, or hackers to track you. Tor can also help bypass censorship and access websites that are blocked in your country or region. In some cases, using Tor can be a matter of life or death for activists, journalists, or dissidents who face persecution in their countries.

Absolutely! Using Tor is legal in most countries around the world, although there might be some restrictions or regulations depending on where you live. However, Tor has also been used by criminals to conduct illegal activities such as drug trafficking, child pornography, or cyberattacks. It’s important to remember that Tor is just a tool, and like any tool, it can be misused. The Tor Project does not condone illegal activities and works with law enforcement when necessary to target criminals who abuse the network.

Tor provides a high degree of anonymity, but it’s not perfect. There are several ways in which an adversary could try to attack the network or identify users. For example, an attacker could try to run a malicious relay that collects traffic data or try to deanonymize users by correlating their traffic patterns. In addition, using Tor does not protect you from all types of attacks, such as malware infections or social engineering. It’s important to understand the limitations of Tor and take additional measures to protect your privacy and security.

Tor is slower than a regular internet connection, as each relay adds a delay to your traffic. The actual speed depends on many factors, such as the number of relays in the circuit, their distance from each other, and their bandwidth capacity. On average, users can expect a speed of around 100 KB/s to 1 MB/s for normal browsing or emailing. Streaming videos or playing online games might be more difficult with Tor, as they require higher bandwidth and lower latency.

Tor provides encryption by default, but it’s important to use secure protocols and applications when communicating sensitive information. For example, HTTPS is a good way to encrypt your web traffic and prevent eavesdropping or man-in-the-middle attacks. PGP or other encrypted email software can help protect your emails from being read by third parties. It’s also recommended to disable plugins or scripts that could reveal your identity or compromise your security.

Yes, there are several ways to use Tor on mobile devices, such as installing the official Tor Browser for Android or using Orbot, a proxy app that routes all your mobile traffic through the Tor network. However, keep in mind that using Tor on mobile might consume more battery and data than usual, and some features might not be available due to technical limitations.

The Tor Project is a non-profit organization that relies on donations and grants to sustain its efforts. Some of its major funders include the National Science Foundation, the US State Department, and various private foundations and individual supporters. The Tor Project has a transparent funding policy and publishes annual reports on its finances and expenditures.

Yes, definitely! The Tor Project welcomes contributions from individuals and organizations who share its mission of promoting privacy and freedom online. There are many ways to get involved in the community, such as donating money, running a relay, contributing code or translations, or spreading awareness about Tor. Check out the Tor Project's website for more information on how to help.

The Tor Project is constantly working to improve and innovate its technology to provide better security and privacy for its users. Some of its current priorities include developing a next-generation onion service protocol, integrating more privacy features into the Tor Browser, and enhancing usability for non-technical users. The Tor Project also collaborates with other organizations and communities in the field of online privacy and open-source software to strengthen its impact worldwide.