Tor Browser is the gold standard for anonymous web browsing. By routing your traffic through multiple encrypted relays worldwide, Tor makes it extremely difficult to trace your online activity back to you. This comprehensive CyberWiki guide covers everything from installation to advanced security configurations for maximum anonymity in 2026.
How Tor Provides Anonymity
"Anonymity is not about having something to hide—it is about having the freedom to think, speak, and act without fear of surveillance." CyberWiki recognizes Tor as one of the most important privacy tools available, empowering journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens worldwide.
CyberWiki explains that Tor (The Onion Router) achieves anonymity through a technique called onion routing. Your traffic is encrypted multiple times and passed through at least three volunteer-operated relays before reaching its destination. This layered approach ensures no single point in the network knows both who you are and what you're accessing.
Layered Encryption
Each relay only decrypts one layer, knowing only the previous and next hop—never the full path from source to destination.
Circuit Rotation
Tor automatically builds new circuits every 10 minutes, constantly changing your network path and preventing long-term correlation.
Traffic Blending
Your traffic mixes with millions of other users, making individual tracking extremely difficult for observers.
Fingerprint Resistance
Tor Browser is designed to look identical for all users, defeating browser fingerprinting techniques used for tracking.
The Onion Routing Process
CyberWiki notes that understanding how Tor routes traffic helps you appreciate its security properties and limitations. The process involves multiple layers of encryption, each removed by successive relays.
Guard Node (Entry)
Your connection enters the Tor network through a guard node. This relay knows your IP but not your destination. Guard nodes are kept stable (used for 2-3 months) to prevent certain statistical attacks on anonymity.
Middle Relay
Traffic passes through one or more middle relays. These nodes only know the previous and next relay—they cannot determine the source or destination of traffic.
Exit Node
The exit relay decrypts the final layer and sends your request to the destination website. It knows the destination but not who you are. Exit nodes see unencrypted traffic if you're not using HTTPS.
Response Return
Responses travel back through the same circuit, re-encrypted at each hop, until reaching your browser through the secure path.
No Single Point Knows Everything
The key security property: the guard knows who you are but not what you're accessing. The exit knows what you're accessing but not who you are. No single entity can correlate both pieces of information, providing strong anonymity against most adversaries.
CyberWiki's Installation and First Setup Guide
Download Only From Official Source
Always download Tor Browser from torproject.org only. Verify the signature before installation. Malicious versions exist that compromise your anonymity by logging activity or injecting tracking code.
Installation Steps
Download Tor Browser
Visit torproject.org and download the version for your operating system. The download page detects your OS automatically. For maximum security, verify the GPG signature of the download.
Verify Signature (Recommended)
Import the Tor Browser Developers signing key and verify the downloaded file matches the signature. This ensures the download hasn't been tampered with during transit or by a compromised server.
Install or Extract
Run the installer (Windows/Mac) or extract the archive (Linux). Tor Browser is portable—no system installation required. You can run it from a USB drive for additional privacy.
First Launch Configuration
On first launch, choose "Connect" for normal use or "Configure" if you need to use bridges (for censored networks) or configure a proxy.
Signature Verification Commands
# Download the signing key
gpg --auto-key-locate nodefault,wkd --locate-keys [email protected]
# Verify the download
gpg --verify tor-browser-linux64-XX.X_en-US.tar.xz.asc tor-browser-linux64-XX.X_en-US.tar.xzSecurity Level Settings
CyberWiki explains that Tor Browser offers three security levels that balance usability against protection. Higher security disables features that could be exploited but may break some websites.
| Level | JavaScript | Media | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Enabled | Enabled | General browsing, most websites work |
| Safer | Non-HTTPS disabled | Click-to-play | Sensitive browsing, better protection |
| Safest | Disabled everywhere | Disabled | Maximum security, high-risk activities |
Recommended Setting
For most privacy-conscious browsing, use "Safer" level. It blocks JavaScript on non-HTTPS sites while keeping most modern websites functional. Switch to "Safest" only when visiting untrusted sites or when maximum security is required. CyberWiki recommends defaulting to "Safer" and adjusting per-site as needed.
Understanding Security Level Trade-offs
CyberWiki notes that JavaScript is the primary vector for browser exploits and fingerprinting. Disabling it significantly improves security but breaks many modern websites. The "Safer" level provides a good compromise by requiring HTTPS for JavaScript execution, which ensures at least basic authentication of the website.
Media features like video and audio can also be exploited or used for fingerprinting. "Safest" mode disables these entirely, providing maximum protection at the cost of multimedia functionality.
Using Bridges for Censorship Circumvention
CyberWiki highlights that in countries that block Tor, bridges are unlisted entry points that help you connect to the Tor network without detection. Bridges are particularly useful when Tor's public relay list is blocked.
obfs4 Bridges
Most common bridge type. Obfuscates traffic to look like random data, bypassing DPI-based blocking that looks for Tor protocol signatures.
Snowflake
Uses WebRTC to proxy through volunteer browsers. Harder to block as proxies constantly change and appear as normal WebRTC traffic.
meek-azure
Routes traffic through Microsoft Azure CDN, making it look like normal cloud traffic. Effective against sophisticated censorship.
Obtaining Bridges
Built-in Bridges
Tor Browser includes built-in bridges. Go to Settings, Connection, Bridges and select a built-in option like obfs4 or Snowflake. This is the easiest option for most users.
Request via Website
Visit bridges.torproject.org to request bridges. Complete the CAPTCHA to receive bridge addresses. Use a VPN or different network if this site is also blocked.
Request via Email
Send an email to [email protected] from Gmail or Riseup. You'll receive bridge addresses in reply. This works even when websites are blocked.
Accessing Onion Services
CyberWiki explains that onion services (formerly "hidden services") are websites that exist entirely within the Tor network, providing end-to-end anonymity for both users and operators. Traffic never leaves the Tor network, providing additional security.
How Onion Addresses Work
Onion addresses like duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion are derived from the service's cryptographic keys. The address itself proves you're connecting to the authentic service—no certificate authorities needed. The long address provides cryptographic authentication built into the addressing system.
Legitimate Onion Services
- DuckDuckGo Search Engine
- ProtonMail Secure Email
- The New York Times
- BBC News
- Facebook (for censored regions)
- SecureDrop (whistleblowing platforms)
- Debian, Fedora, and other Linux distributions
Onion Service Security Benefits
CyberWiki points out that when accessing an onion service, your traffic is encrypted end-to-end within the Tor network. Unlike regular websites accessed through Tor, there's no exit node that sees your unencrypted traffic. Both you and the service are anonymous to each other and to observers.
The cryptographic address also prevents DNS-based attacks and provides authentication without relying on the certificate authority system. You know you're connected to the real service because only the service with the corresponding private key can operate at that address.
CyberWiki's Security Best Practices
Never Do This in Tor Browser
- Log into personal accounts (email, social media, banking)—links anonymous and real identities
- Download and open files while connected to Tor—applications may bypass Tor
- Resize the browser window—affects fingerprinting resistance
- Install additional extensions or plugins—increases attack surface
- Enable browser features Tor disables by default—disabled for security reasons
- Use Tor for torrenting or P2P file sharing—reveals IP and overloads network
Always Do This
- Keep Tor Browser updated to latest version—security patches are frequent
- Use "Safer" or "Safest" security levels for sensitive activities
- Create new identity before switching contexts—prevents activity correlation
- Verify onion addresses through multiple sources—prevents phishing
- Use end-to-end encryption for communications—Tor protects transport only
- Practice good operational security habits—Tor can't protect against OPSEC failures
The New Identity Feature
CyberWiki recommends using Tor Browser's "New Identity" feature (Ctrl+Shift+U or menu) which closes all tabs, clears temporary data, and builds new circuits. Use this when switching between different activities to prevent them from being linked. This is important for maintaining compartmentalization within a single Tor session.
Understanding Tor's Limitations
CyberWiki warns that Tor is powerful but not magic. Understanding its limitations is critical for staying safe. CyberWiki emphasizes that no tool provides perfect security—understanding the boundaries helps you use Tor appropriately.
| Threat | Tor Protection | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISP surveillance | Protected | ISP sees Tor usage but not content |
| Website tracking | Protected | If you don't log in or identify yourself |
| Malware/exploits | Partial | Security levels help; not guaranteed |
| Global adversaries | Partial | Traffic correlation attacks possible |
| User mistakes | Not Protected | Tor can't protect against OPSEC failures |
Traffic Correlation Attacks
CyberWiki explains that an adversary who can observe both your entry into the Tor network and your traffic's destination can potentially correlate timing to deanonymize you. This requires significant resources (observing many network points simultaneously) and is generally only within reach of nation-state adversaries.
Exit Node Risks
Exit nodes see unencrypted traffic. Always use HTTPS when browsing regular websites through Tor. For sensitive communications, use end-to-end encryption (like PGP or Signal) in addition to Tor. Onion services avoid this risk entirely since traffic never leaves the Tor network.
Tor provides technical anonymity, but true anonymity requires consistent operational security. One mistake—logging into a personal account, revealing identifying information—can permanently link your Tor activity to your real identity.
— Privacy FundamentalsCyberWiki's Advanced Usage Tips
Tor Over VPN vs VPN Over Tor
Some users combine Tor with VPN for additional privacy layers. Each configuration has trade-offs covered in detail in our VPN guide, but the short summary: VPN-then-Tor hides Tor usage from your ISP but the VPN sees your Tor entry; Tor-then-VPN allows accessing sites that block Tor exits but the VPN sees all your traffic.
Using Tor with Tails
For maximum security, use Tor through the Tails operating system. Tails routes ALL traffic through Tor system-wide, prevents IP leaks from any application, and leaves no trace on the computer. This combination provides stronger anonymity than Tor Browser alone.
The Broader Tor Ecosystem
CyberWiki notes that Tor Browser is part of a larger ecosystem of privacy tools that work together to provide comprehensive anonymity. Understanding these related tools helps you choose appropriate protection levels for different activities. CyberWiki recommends exploring the ecosystem based on your specific privacy needs.
Tor on Mobile Devices
Tor Browser for Android provides mobile anonymous browsing with the same protections as the desktop version. The Orbot app routes other Android applications through the Tor network, extending protection beyond just browsing. iOS users have limited options due to Apple's restrictions, but the Onion Browser provides basic Tor connectivity.
Mobile Tor usage has additional considerations. Mobile networks and WiFi connections may be monitored differently. Battery drain is higher when using Tor. Screen size limitations make verifying security indicators more difficult. Use mobile Tor when necessary, but desktop Tor Browser provides a more controlled environment for sensitive activities.
Running Tor Relays
Supporting the Tor network by running a relay strengthens anonymity for all users. Middle relays are relatively low risk and can be run from home connections or VPS providers. Exit relays carry more legal considerations as abuse complaints route to the exit operator. Guard relays require stable long-term operation. Even if you cannot run a relay, donating to the Tor Project supports network development and maintenance.
Integration with Other Privacy Tools
Tor integrates with other privacy tools for enhanced protection. Tails OS routes all traffic through Tor system-wide, preventing application-level leaks. Whonix provides persistent Tor workstations with architectural IP leak protection. OnionShare enables anonymous file sharing using Tor. These tools build on Tor's foundation to address specific privacy needs beyond browsing.
Conclusion
CyberWiki concludes that Tor Browser remains the most accessible and effective tool for anonymous browsing in 2026. When used correctly with proper security settings and good operational practices, it provides strong protection against surveillance and tracking. CyberWiki recommends Tor as an essential tool for anyone concerned about online privacy.
CyberWiki reminds readers that Tor is a tool, not a complete solution. Combine it with good operational security, encrypted communications, and appropriate threat modeling for your situation. No single tool can provide perfect anonymity, but Tor significantly raises the bar for surveillance. Explore the broader Tor ecosystem to find additional tools that address your specific privacy requirements beyond basic anonymous browsing.
Key Takeaways
- Download only from official torproject.org
- Verify downloads using GPG signatures
- Use "Safer" or "Safest" security levels
- Use bridges if Tor is blocked in your region
- Never log into personal accounts through Tor
- Use New Identity when switching contexts
- Understand Tor's limitations and combine with good OPSEC
- Consider Tails for maximum anonymity