How to Access the Tor Network
The Tor network (The Onion Router) is the world's largest anonymous communication network, used by journalists, activists, privacy-conscious individuals, and anyone who values internet freedom. This guide walks you through accessing Tor safely - from downloading the browser to visiting your first .onion site.
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Step 1: Download Tor Browser
The safest way to access the Tor network is through the official Tor Browser, maintained by the Tor Project:
- Official download: torproject.org - always download from the official site, never third-party mirrors
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
- Based on Firefox ESR with built-in Tor routing and privacy protections
- No additional configuration needed - it connects to Tor automatically
Important: Never download Tor Browser from unofficial sources. Malicious versions exist that log your activity.
Step 2: Use a VPN Before Connecting to Tor
While Tor encrypts your traffic within the network, your ISP can still see that you're using Tor. For maximum privacy, connect to a VPN before launching Tor Browser (this is called "VPN over Tor" or "Tor over VPN"):
- Your ISP sees VPN traffic, not Tor traffic
- The VPN provider sees you connecting to Tor, but not your Tor activity
- The Tor entry node sees VPN IP, not your real IP - double protection
- Recommended VPN providers: Mullvad (accepts cash/crypto), ProtonVPN (free tier), IVPN
This is especially important in countries where Tor usage is monitored or restricted.
Step 3: Configure Security Settings
Once Tor Browser is open, configure the security level:
- Click the shield icon next to the URL bar → Security Settings
- Standard: All features enabled. Good for casual browsing.
- Safer: Disables JavaScript on non-HTTPS sites, some fonts and symbols disabled. Recommended for most users.
- Safest: JavaScript disabled everywhere, only basic site features work. Maximum security for high-risk users.
Start with Safer level. Switch to Safest if you're accessing sensitive content or operating in a high-risk environment.
Step 4: Browse .onion Sites
Now you can access .onion sites - websites hosted exclusively on the Tor network. Here are some well-known, legitimate .onion sites to get started:
- DuckDuckGo: duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion - private search engine
- ProtonMail: protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion - encrypted email
- The New York Times: nytimesn7cgmftshazwhfgzm37qxb44r64ytbb2dj3x62d2lnez7prd.onion - uncensored news access
- BBC News: bbcnewsd73hkzno2ini43t4gblxvycyac5aw4gnv7t2rccijh7745uqd.onion - BBC's Tor mirror
- Facebook: facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion - Facebook's official onion site
- SecureDrop: Used by 70+ news organizations for anonymous whistleblowing
Want to Host Your Own .onion Site?
If you want to create your own presence on the Tor network - whether it's a blog, forum, marketplace, or any web application - you need a server configured with Tor hidden services.
AnubizHost offers dedicated Tor hosting with pre-configured .onion domains, managed Tor setup, and 24/7 onion availability. We handle the infrastructure so you can focus on your content.
- Pre-configured Tor hidden services (v3 onion addresses)
- Offshore servers in privacy-friendly jurisdictions (Iceland, Romania, Finland)
- Bitcoin, Monero, and crypto payments accepted - no KYC
- DDoS protection for .onion services
- Full root access with managed Tor configuration
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