How to use ‘Tor Over VPN’ for ultimate privacy

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]
The Tor browser revolutionized the way we browse in the age of privacy breaches, ad spams, mass surveillance, and data monetization. it provided the much-needed peace of mind to many browsing the internet.
Over the years though, Tor has been exposed quite a couple of times. The browser is still as secure – but not as leak-proof as some would want it to be. This piece aims to dissect what the Tor browser is and why you should be using it. Most importantly, I will touch upon how you can beef up your security and privacy with the browser using a VPN.

What is Tor?

Formally known as The Onion Router, the Tor browser is one which is characterized by a lot of different nodes/ servers. When data is transmitted through the browser, it is made to pass through all of the different nodes so that the origin cannot be traced.
Likewise, anyone who might be tracking such internet data would be lost as to where it is coming from or going.
This mode of operation has held a lot of promise for many. Political dissidents, activists, and journalists have been able to use the browser to communicate online without the fear of being found out.
Allowing users to browse the dark web anonymously too, it allowed for purchases without the revelation of any personal identity.
Although many might see the browser as a negative addition to the internet space, it has actually been able to do more good.
The kind of privacy it offers has led to the empowerment of those who would have been, otherwise, voiceless. It has allowed the management and effecting of change in various parts of the world. That is not to mention the form of protection guaranteed to a lot of its users.

How Tor protects anonymity

Tor embraces a randomized data transfer approach to haphazardly move your internet data across different servers. This happens from the time you connect through the browser to the time you reach the target website/ platform.
All of the many nodes that come with the browser are divided into three broad classes:

• The entry node: As the name implies, it is the point from where a user connects to the internet via the Tor browser. Note that this region stores your actual IP address onto its secure servers.
• The middle node: Through a series of zig-zag movements, your data ends up on different serves in the middle node. That effectively separates your IP address from your physical destination, obfuscating where your internet traffic is coming from
• The exit node: The exit node takes the information you sent over the browser and relays it to the target website. Here, neither the exit node nor the target website/ platform has an idea where your internet traffic is coming from.

Why use Tor over VPN

Looking at the offering of Tor from above, it is almost self-sufficient. We say ‘almost’ because:

• Tor has a habit of storing your IP address at the entry node which can provide security issues of its own,
• The browser is notorious for being slow
• Bugs have been known to disrupt the privacy model of the browser in the past, and a couple more like reasons.

That is not the end of the world though. Using Tor with a VPN, you can get rid of most of these issues. A good VPN will hide your IP address ever before you connect to the Tor browser at all. That means the entry node on Tor still records an IP address, but that won’t be your real location.
Combine that with the fact that you now get to use Tor in regions of the world where it is not supported, and we have a winner.
[/fusion_text][fusion_global id=”4728″][fusion_pricing_table type=”2″ backgroundcolor=”” background_color_hover=”” bordercolor=”” dividercolor=”” heading_color_style_1=”” heading_color_style_2=”” pricing_color=”” body_text_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” columns=”2″][fusion_pricing_column title=”SPONSORED BLOG POSTS” standout=”yes”][fusion_pricing_price currency=”” currency_position=”left” price=”£65.00″ time=”one-off fee” ][/fusion_pricing_price][fusion_pricing_row]For a one-off fee, you are able to submit your own post on the worlds’ largest coaching blog. [/fusion_pricing_row][fusion_pricing_footer][fusion_button link=”http://www.coaching-blog.com/contacts/” title=”Sign Up” target=”_self” alignment=”” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”default” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” size=”” stretch=”default” shape=”” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Contact Us[/fusion_button][/fusion_pricing_footer][/fusion_pricing_column][fusion_pricing_column title=”WEBSITE ADVERTISING” standout=”yes”][fusion_pricing_price currency=”” currency_position=”left” price=”£250.00″ time=”three month slot” ][/fusion_pricing_price][fusion_pricing_row]Above the fold rotating banner/box. Price is for a 3 month slot.[/fusion_pricing_row][fusion_pricing_footer][fusion_button link=”http://www.coaching-blog.com/contacts/” title=”Sign Up” target=”_self” alignment=”” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”default” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” size=”” stretch=”default” shape=”” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Contact Us[/fusion_button][/fusion_pricing_footer][/fusion_pricing_column][/fusion_pricing_table][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]