Tor Network (The Onion Router)

The Tor network (The Onion Router) is a volunteer-operated overlay network that sends traffic through a chain of three relays, with layered encryption, so that no single relay knows both who you are and what you are accessing. The Tor Browser is the usual way to use it.

Why it matters

Tor helps people avoid surveillance and censorship, and it hides a visitor's real address from the destination site. Each relay peels off one encryption layer, like an onion: the entry relay knows your IP but not the destination, the exit relay sees the destination but not your IP, and the middle relay connects them. The cost is speed, since traffic takes a longer path. Websites also see requests from the exit relay's address, and many block or challenge such addresses, which matters for abuse filtering and IP reputation. Tor also hosts ".onion" services reachable only within the network.

Example

A site's access log shows a request from an IP address that is publicly listed as a Tor exit node. The logs cannot show the visitor's location. Many sites limit login attempts or require extra verification from such addresses.

Common misconceptions

• Tor does not encrypt traffic beyond the exit relay; use HTTPS for end-to-end protection.
• It is not the same as a VPN, which routes through one provider that sees your traffic.
• It is not a guarantee of anonymity if you log in to personal accounts or reveal details.

Related

• VPN
• Proxy server
• IP address
• Encryption

यह पेज सामान्य जानकारी है, जिसे हमारी संपादकीय टीम ने लिखा है और दस्तावेज़ीकरण बदलने पर अपडेट किया जाता है। सर्वर और प्रदाता अलग-अलग होते हैं, इसलिए बदलाव पहले सुरक्षित तरीके से जाँचें। देखें: संपादकीय नीति और अस्वीकरण.