Tor hidden services explained

Tor hidden service allow users to publish their service without revealing their identity (IP address). Users can connect to this service using rendezvous point without knowing the publisher of service and revealing their identities.

1. Are Tor hidden services secure?
2. What is a hidden service?
3. Are hidden services onion services and Tor the same thing?
4. What does Tor service do?
5. Can you get caught on Tor?
6. Why do hackers use Tor?
7. How is Tor hidden service different from traditional web service?
8. Does CIA own Tor?
9. Can my ISP see what sites I visit with Tor?
10. Can my ISP see what I visit on Tor?
11. How do I make sure Tor secure?
12. Is there anything more secure than Tor?
13. Can VPN see Tor?
14. Can Tor over VPN be traced?
15. Do I need a VPN with Tor?

Are Tor hidden services secure?

Yes. This is different case from communicating with a server on Internet. Because your Tor node can verify the authenticity of the hidden service private key (by using the hash from its . onion name), it is possible to securely encrypt the information end-to-end.

What is a hidden service?

Servers configured to receive inbound connections only through Tor are called hidden services. Rather than utilizing a server's IP address (and thus its network location,) a hidden service is accessed through its . onion address.

Are hidden services onion services and Tor the same thing?

Onion services, also known as hidden services, are anonymous websites and other services that are set up to only receive connections through Tor. Their IP and location are completely unknown, including to the Tor network. They were first introduced in 2003 and have changed names from “hidden” to “onion” services since.

What does Tor service do?

Tor (The Onion Router) is a network that anonymizes web traffic to provide truly private web browsing. The Tor Browser hides your IP address and browsing activity by redirecting web traffic through a series of different routers known as nodes.

Can you get caught on Tor?

There is nothing the Tor developers can do to trace Tor users. The same protections that keep bad people from breaking Tor's anonymity also prevent us from figuring out what's going on.

Why do hackers use Tor?

Tor protects personal privacy, concealing a user's location and usage from anyone performing network surveillance or traffic analysis. It protects user's freedom and ability to communicate confidentially through IP address anonymity using Tor exit nodes.

How is Tor hidden service different from traditional web service?

Please note that Tor Browser and hidden services are two different things. Tor Browser (downloadable at TorProject.org) allows you to browse, or surf, the web, anonymously. A hidden service is a site you visit or a service you use that uses Tor technology to stay secure and, if the owner wishes, anonymous.

Does CIA own Tor?

The Tor Project says that it has always been transparent about its funding sources and that it has no past or present connection to the CIA. "We make free and open source software that's available for anyone to use—and that includes the CIA," says Stephanie Whited, communications director for the Tor Project.

Can my ISP see what sites I visit with Tor?

Your Internet service provider (ISP) and local network can see that you connect to the Tor network. They still cannot know what sites you visit. To hide that you connect to Tor, you can use a Tor bridge.

Can my ISP see what I visit on Tor?

For example, using the Tor browser will encrypt your traffic and prevent your ISP from seeing which sites you're visiting. However, this only works for browser traffic whereas a VPN encrypts all traffic going to and from your device.

How do I make sure Tor secure?

By default, Tor Browser protects your security by encrypting your browsing data. You can further increase your security by choosing to disable certain web features that can be used to compromise your security and anonymity. You can do this by increasing Tor Browser's Security Levels in the shield menu.

Is there anything more secure than Tor?

While both Tor and VPNs work to protect your online anonymity, VPNs are the most secure choice if used properly.

Can VPN see Tor?

Yes, the Tor browser hides activities from ISPs. However, VPNs encrypt traffic before it even reaches your ISP. So while Tor may make it more difficult for your ISP to see what you're doing online, a VPN will make it impossible.

Can Tor over VPN be traced?

Using a VPN is, in itself, a pretty secure method to stay anonymous on the web. So is using the Tor network, which also directs your connection through several random nodes to make it impossible to trace the connection back to you.

Do I need a VPN with Tor?

Generally speaking, we don't recommend using a VPN with Tor unless you're an advanced user who knows how to configure both in a way that doesn't compromise your privacy.