Tor

What Is Tor?

Tor, originally known as The Onion Router, is a decentralized network that ensures anonymity by encrypting internet traffic and directing it through a series of servers before reaching its final destination. The network also has its own “.onion” domain, which enables users to access websites and services exclusively available through Tor. The Tor Project, a nonprofit organization, maintains the network and has developed Tor Browser, an open-source internet browser that automatically routes traffic through Tor.

The Tor network functions by routing each user’s traffic through three random nodes, or relays, before transmitting it to its intended endpoint. Each stage of the journey is encrypted independently, and each relay only knows the traffic’s previous origin and its immediate next destination. As a result, no node can possess the complete path of any traffic, as per the network’s design.

The network is primarily known for its role as a gateway to dark web sites and marketplaces accessible via “.onion” addresses. One of the most infamous marketplaces was Silk Road, which has since been closed down. Silk Road allowed users to anonymously purchase illegal goods, such as drugs and counterfeit driver’s licenses, using Bitcoin (BTC). However, Tor is also used by journalists, activists, dissidents, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and others who require online anonymity for their safety and security.