Tor Browser
Tor Browser is a free and open-source web browser that protects your privacy by routing your traffic through the Tor network, encrypting it multiple times and bouncing it through three volunteer-operated relays before reaching its destination. Based on Mozilla Firefox ESR, it includes pre-configured privacy hardening: fingerprinting resistance, no retained browsing history, and isolation of each website so third-party trackers cannot follow you across sites. It is developed by the Tor Project, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing human rights and privacy through free and open-source anonymity technology.
Key Features
- Onion routing — Traffic is encrypted in three layers and relayed through three volunteer-operated nodes, making it nearly impossible to trace back to you
- Fingerprinting resistance — All users share the same browser window size and configuration, preventing websites from identifying you by browser fingerprint
- No browsing history saved — Tor Browser does not retain cookies, history, or site data between sessions (private by default, always)
- Isolation by design — Each website connection uses a separate circuit, so a compromised site cannot correlate your activity across different sites
- Built-in HTTPS-Only mode — Forces encrypted connections wherever available, preventing downgrade attacks on public Wi-Fi
- NoScript included — Pre-installed with NoScript to block JavaScript and other active content that could be used to deanonymise you
- Onion service support — Full access to .onion hidden services that are only reachable through the Tor network, providing another layer of anonymity
- Bridge relays — Can use obfuscated bridges to bypass censorship and connect even in countries where Tor is blocked
Why Use Tor Browser?
Tor Browser is the gold standard for anonymous web browsing — it is the tool recommended by whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and privacy advocates worldwide. While ordinary browsers leak information through IP addresses, cookies, and fingerprinting, Tor Browser is designed from the ground up to prevent all three simultaneously. It is not for everyday casual browsing (the multi-hop routing makes it slower than a direct connection), but it is the right choice when anonymity matters more than speed.
Use Cases
- Journalistic research — Reporters investigating sensitive topics can browse without exposing their location, employer, or personal IP address
- Avoiding surveillance — Protect your browsing from ISP tracking, government surveillance, or corporate data collection on public networks
- Accessing blocked content — Bypass internet censorship and regional blocks to access content freely, including .onion services not available on the clearnet
Platform
Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
Licence
BSD 3-Clause (Tor) / MPL 2.0 (Firefox base)