Between
government surveillance programs and websites that track users’
location and browsing habits, anonymity is hardly a given on today’s
web. But there are a few solutions available for those looking to go
incognito. Among the most ambitious initiatives in this vein is the Tor
Project.
At
the core of the Tor Project is a distributed network, in which several
layers of connected routers act as separate “nodes,” transmitting
information while guaranteeing users’ anonymity. In practice, this means
users can connect through the network to prevent websites from
pinpointing their location.
There
are multiple ways to go online using the Tor network, but the most
popular is the Tor Browser, a free program that allows users to surf the
web through the distributed network. For total anonymity, users are
advised to deactivate all of their extensions, including Flash and
JavaScript, keeping in mind that this limits access to certain sites and
services.
It
is also possible to connect to the Tor network when using other
browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Firefox, after making some
fairly advanced tweaks to the network settings. Other programs that
allow users to connect to the Tor network include the TorChat anonymous
messaging service and a dedicated BitTorrent client.
Following
Edward Snowden’s revelations on the NSA’s surveillance programs, a
growing number of users worldwide have migrated to the Tor network,
including everyday people concerned about online privacy. Nonetheless,
the network still has a somewhat shady reputation, as it is also used by
drug traffickers and arms dealers, among others seeking to avoid the
law.
According to Karen Reilly, director of development at Tor, 2.5 million users access the web through the network daily.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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