And when your data reaches the entry node, it will show the IP of the VPN server, not your device – meaning that IP is hidden and it can’t be traced back to you.Īt the same time, Tor encrypts data by itself. Your ISP won’t be able to see that you’re using Tor – only that you’re using a VPN (and good VPNs can obfuscate even that). The VPN will shield your data on its way to the entry node. To avoid these, you can use Tor over a VPN. In essence, only the first node – called “the entry node” – knows who is sending data but not what that data is, while the third node is the only one to know what data is sent – but not where it comes from.īut how is it different from a VPN? What is a VPN? Tor routes your data via three nodes (the servers established by volunteers) before it reaches online.Įach node removes a layer (with the previous address on it) to reveal the address of the next node.

To keep your identity anonymous, Tor software bundles your data into three layers of encryption. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the satire website of said name. The title itself comes from The Onion Router. It’s usually accessed via the Tor Browser maintained by the Tor Project, though there also exists an operating system called Tails that routes all of your internet traffic via the network. Tor is the name of the software for anonymous communication and the network it uses to carry this out.

Onion router vpn