Tor Browser for Anonymous Web Browsing

Tor Browser is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Tor Project. It is based on Mozilla Firefox ESR and is pre-configured to protect user anonymity by routing traffic through the Tor network, a distributed overlay network operated by volunteers. Its primary purpose is to prevent network surveillance and traffic analysis by hiding a user’s location and browsing habits from observers.

FEATURES

Onion routing: Directs web traffic through a worldwide overlay network of relays, concealing a user’s location and network usage.
First-Party Isolation: Isolates browser state, such as cookies and cache, to the first-party domain to prevent cross-site tracking.
Circuit isolation: Separates Tor circuits for different domains, ensuring that browsing one site cannot be linked to browsing another.
HTTPS-Only mode: Forces encrypted connections to websites when available, protecting data between the Tor exit node and the destination server.
NoScript integration: Includes the NoScript extension by default to block executable content from running without explicit permission.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, Modern 64-bit Linux, Android 5.0+
Architecture: x86_64, ARM64, ARM, x86
Note: 32-bit Linux (i686) support is discontinued. There is no official build for iOS or Chrome OS.

WHAT’S NEW

Rebased Tor Browser stable onto Firefox 140.14.0esr.
Backported security fixes from Firefox 154.
Updated libevent to 2.1.13.
Updated Go to 1.25.13 (Windows, Linux, Android).
Updated keyring and subkey expiration dates.

FAQ

Does Tor Browser make me anonymous?

It provides strong network-level anonymity by hiding your IP address, but you can still de-anonymize yourself through user actions, such as logging into personal accounts or downloading unencrypted files.

Can I install standard Firefox extensions?

No, installing standard extensions is disabled because they can bypass proxy settings or introduce fingerprinting vulnerabilities that compromise anonymity.

What is a .onion site?

It is a hidden service accessible only through the Tor network, providing an additional layer of privacy for both the server operator and the visitor.

ALTERNATIVES

Mullvad Browser: Uses the same anti-fingerprinting techniques as Tor Browser but routes traffic through the Mullvad VPN network instead of the Tor network, often resulting in faster speeds.
LibreWolf: A customized Firefox fork focused on privacy and disabling telemetry, but it does not provide built-in network-level anonymity or IP masking.

PROS AND CONS

Pros:

Hides IP address and browsing location from websites and network observers
Built-in defenses against browser fingerprinting and cross-site tracking
Provides access to .onion hidden services

Cons:

Browsing speeds are slower due to traffic being bounced through multiple global relays
Some websites block access from known Tor exit nodes
High-latency network makes real-time applications like video streaming impractical

LICENSE

Free and open-source software released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

INSTALLATION / HOW TO USE

Download the installer or portable version for your platform from the official download page.
Optionally, verify the downloaded file’s signature using the official verification guide.
Run the installer or extract the files, then launch the application. Android users can install it through the Google Play Store or follow the Android installation guide.
Click “Connect” to initialize a connection to the Tor network. If you are on a censored network, configure the built-in proxy options before connecting.
Once connected, browse the web normally. Use the “New Circuit for this Site” option if a site is not loading correctly.

EXTERNAL LINKS