50 Tor Questions
Fifty Tor questions linked to practical guides about privacy, setup, and limitations.
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Tor: Are onion sites safer than ordinary websites?
An onion service hides the server's network location and encrypts the Tor-to-service connection without an exit relay.
Tor: Can an exit relay read my traffic?
An exit relay can observe traffic between itself and an ordinary website when that traffic is not protected by HTTPS or another end-to-end encryption layer.
Tor: Can changing Tor Browser settings make me easier to identify?
Yes.
Tor: Can I log into my usual accounts through Tor?
Yes, but the service will know which account you used, so that activity is no longer anonymous to that service.
Tor: Can I run a Tor relay?
Yes, volunteers operate the relays that carry Tor traffic.
Tor: Can my internet provider tell that I use Tor?
With a normal direct connection, a provider or local network observer can usually recognize that you are connecting to Tor, but cannot see the websites you visit through it.
Tor: Can opening a downloaded document reveal my identity?
Yes.
Tor: Can Tor hide my physical location?
Tor hides your home IP address from sites you visit through Tor Browser and makes a site see a Tor exit location instead.
Tor: Does Tor Browser protect other apps on my computer?
No.
Tor: Does Tor Browser save history or cookies?
Tor Browser is designed not to retain browsing history after a session, and its cookies are limited to the current session.
Tor: How can I support the Tor network without running an exit relay?
You can run a non-exit relay, a bridge, or a Snowflake proxy, depending on your bandwidth and hosting conditions.
Tor: How can I verify that an onion address is genuine?
Get the address from the organization through a trusted channel, such as its official website or an independently verified announcement, and compare the entire address carefully.
Tor: How does Tor Browser reduce fingerprinting?
It tries to make many users look alike by limiting or standardizing characteristics such as screen size, reported browser details, fonts, and site data.
Tor: How do I connect when Tor is blocked?
Open Tor Browser's connection configuration and try Connection Assist or an available bridge or transport.
Tor: How do I download Tor Browser safely?
Start at the Tor Project's official download page rather than an advertisement, mirror you found at random, or an unofficial app store listing.
Tor: How do I host an onion service?
Run a local web service, install and configure Tor, and map an onion service port to the local service as shown in the Tor Project's setup guide.
Tor: How do I install Tor Browser on my computer?
Download the correct Windows, macOS, or Linux package from the Tor Project and follow its platform instructions.
Tor: How do I report a Tor Browser problem?
Check the Tor Project's troubleshooting and known-issues pages first.
Tor: How do I secure an onion service?
Protect the onion service's private key, keep Tor and the web server updated, restrict access to the local service, and check that pages do not leak the host's real address or other identifying details.