The Tor Project has more tips on browsing anonymously.Īlso, remember that browsing in anonymity does not make you immune to viruses and other malware. The browser has the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s HTTPS Everywhere add-on installed by default, which should cover your SSL/TSL needs most of the time.

If you don’t, then anything you do online can be observed by the person running your exit node. There are also some rules of the road you should observe, such as connecting to every site possible via SSL/TSL encryption (HTTPS). Just make sure you do all your anonymous browsing from the Tor Browser itself as other programs on your system are not connected to Tor.īut browsing anonymously on Tor isn’t quite as easy as booting up a program. If your browser shows you coming from a location that is not your own, you are good to go. To make sure you’re connected to Tor go to, which will automatically detect your location based on your Internet Protocol address. Some people like to check the installation file to make sure they’ve downloaded the proper version of the browser and not something that’s been tampered with.

Once you’ve downloaded the installer, you have two options: You can just install the software or you can check the installation file’s GPG signature first. This is a modified version of Firefox along with a bunch of other software that connects you to the Tor network. The easiest way to use Tor is to download the Tor Browser. But if the NSA or other three-letter agency decided to actively target your browsing habits that’s a whole different ballgame. If, like the librarians in Massachusetts, you don’t have an exotic reason for using Tor, it’s still a good tool to keep your browsing private from your ISP, advertisers, or passive government data collection.

Activists masking their location from oppressive regimes and journalists communicating with anonymous sources are two simple examples. While Tor is gaining a reputation as a tool for buying illicit goods online, the software has numerous legitimate uses.

Picture of tor browser logo