Tor, short for The Onion Router, is a robust privacy network designed to enable anonymous web browsing through multiple layers of encryption. It was initially developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the mid-1990s with the aim of protecting government communications. Over time, Tor has evolved into an open-source platform maintained by a dedicated community of volunteers.

The network functions by routing user traffic through a series of nodes, each encrypting the data like layers of an onion. This intricate process makes tracking online activities extremely challenging. Today, Tor is used for a variety of legitimate purposes, including safeguarding the privacy of journalists and whistle-blowers, helping individuals maintain their online privacy, and circumventing censorship.

Protocol

The Tor protocol is described by specifications. You can find the specs on spec.torproject.org.

Tor Browser

Tags: Privacy Cryptography