The Tor browser is a great way to surf the internet safely and privately. It routes traffic through three Tor servers worldwide to make you anonymous online. As a result, monitoring your online data or using it to track you is nearly impossible. And with this much protection, you can access the dark web easily.
However, how can you use it if you don’t know how to install Tor on your device — this article highlights the easiest ways to configure the Tor browser on any OS.
How to install Tor on any device – Quick guide
- Go to the appropriate installation file for your operating system from the Tor Project’s download page.
- Install Tor on Windows by following the instructions on the screen.
- You can copy the installation package to the Applications folder on your Mac.
Downloading and installing Tor on your operating system: A step-by-step guide
As you may be reading this from various operating systems and devices, we decided to have a guide for every possible one. We value inclusivity over here, and every reader is important to us.
You can use the Tor browser on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, and below are the steps for downloading and installing on each operating platform.
How to install the Tor on Windows
- Visit the Tor browser homepage and click on the “Download” button at the far right of the page.
- It will lead to a download page for different operating systems; select the Windows icon. If you wish to choose from the 35 available options besides English, there is an option for “Download in another language.”
- Once you finish the download, open the file, select your preferred language, and click “OK.”
- Next is the browser setup, where you must select the destination folder. The folder creation and selection happens automatically and requires no user involvement. Now press install.
- You can set the Tor browser to launch after the installation. Doing otherwise would mean searching for and launching the program yourself.
How to install the Tor browser on an Apple Mac
- Visit the Tor browser homepage and click “Download Tor Browser.”
- You can now select the operating system you wish (Download for macOS, in this case) and choose which language to download the Tor browser.
- Once the download is done, open the file. Next, drag the Tor browser icon to the “Application folder.”
- On the Mac “launchpad,” scroll to the Tor browser and launch it. A prompt will ask if you are sure to launch the Tor browser. Click “Open” to establish a connection with the Tor network.
How to install the Tor browser on all Linux-based devices
Here’s our breakdown of how to install the Tor browser on devices using the Linux operating system. These steps are, of course, backed by external sources for the best and most accurate methods.
- Head to the “Terminal” on your device and enter the following command prompt text: “sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade—y. ” Then click enter, enter your passcode, and click enter a second time. This will “update a Linux installation.”
- Next, visit the Tor browser website and download the Tor installation file for Linux.
- Upon completion, click the downloaded file to start the installation process. To initiate the Tor browser’s extraction, right-click the file and choose the “Open with Archive Manager” option. Move your mouse to the file from earlier, right-click, and choose “Extract.”
- Choose the location where you wish to extract the file, then click “Extract” a second time.
- To use the app on your Linux device, you have to register the Tor browser as an app. You can do this using your terminal. First, choose the correct host folder and then type the Tor browser’s name, as seen in the console or after extraction. The command prompt to enter this is: “.start-tor-browser.desktop register-app.”
How to install the Tor on Android
You will be pleased to know that the Tor browser is also available for Android users. Below are the steps for installing the Tor browser on your device:
- Open the Google Play Store and download the Tor app by searching it in the search bar (Note: To make sure you are downloading the authenticated app, look for the application that has more than 10 million downloads).
- Tap the install icon.
- Let the installation run to completion.
- Tap on the “connect” icon to launch the Tor browser.
Steps on configuring and connecting to Tor
When you download and install the Tor browser on your device, you need to click the “connect” button on the landing page.
However, in locations like China, Egypt, and Turkey, which have strict censorship, especially against privacy-centered programs like Tor, you must select the “Tor Network Settings” icon before proceeding.
Clicking this will help configure your browser to get around whatever censors or restrictions are in your region.
Once the configuration is complete, click “Connect” to open the Tor browser. You can toggle the settings that determine which browser automatically connects whenever you launch the program.
Whenever a connection to the Tor network is established, your online traffic is encrypted, and you can browse the internet without fear.
How to safely use the Tor browser
As established, the Tor browser is amazing if you wish to surf the web anonymously and without any restrictions. It also lets users access the far-from-savory, dark web with great ease. But there is a catch for this last one.
The dark web has many potential risks, as cybercrime is all the rage on it. While there are many websites and forums on the dark web that you can visit safely, an equal number are largely unsafe.
And since the dark web lacks any real regulation or indexing like the regular web, there is no telling who or what might be waiting in the shadows. All sorts of evil and nefarious individuals with sinister intentions. Because of this, we do not recommend using the dark web without protection.
Moreover, nothing is completely safe online and can provide complete protection, and the Tor browser is no exception. The browser is considered illegal in most regions, so it’s important to take safety precautions. Below are the three major practices you need to use the Tor browser and access the dark web safely:
1. Subscribe to a premium antivirus
Antivirus is a great way to stay protected while using the Tor browser or the dark web. It will protect you from malware often littered across those harmful dark web pages. However, not every software provides top-notch security. Therefore, we recommend using a reliable, premium, subscription-based antivirus.
2. Subscribe to a formidable VPN
A VPN is another effective way to protect yourself online. Combined with the browser, it will provide maximum security and anonymity online. A VPN routes your online traffic through secure and encrypted servers to ensure you stay anonymous, unseen, and untraceable. It does this through high-level and top-quality encryption, providing you with an extra layer of protection at all times.
NordVPN is our recommended VPN for the Tor network. Favorite among many, it provides users with optimum privacy and security while browsing online. And the servers have a dedicated sum for P2P and “Onion Over VPN”.
NordVPN: The ultimate VPN service for the Tor Browser
A top-notch VPN service that offers a large server network, formidable privacy and securty feature, and many more exciting features to keep you secure online.
Boasting more than 5,500 fast VPN servers scattered in over 60 countries
Reliable threat protection (malware, tracking, and ad blocker)
Industry standard, most secure encryption available: AES-256
An easy-to-use kill switch feature
Split tunneling feature with high efficiency
Offers multi-hop VPN for double encryption
Provides seamless Onion over VPN functionality
Ensures that no logging is done
Users can connect up to ten devices simultaneously with each account
A 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked
Pros
- Supports two-way encryption, AES-128 and AES-256 bit
- Offers advanced features like the kill switch and split tunneling
- Provides Nordynx that enhances a swift and seamless streaming experience
Cons
- The OpenVPN configuration isn’t easy to navigate
NordVPN is a highly recommended VPN for the Tor network. Thanks to its fast, super-optimized servers, it offers comprehensive support for P2P file sharing, so you won’t have to worry about lags.
It has market-leading encryption, AES-256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and RAM-only servers. Based in Panama, the service has independently audited its privacy policy using PwC twice.
You are spoilt for choice with an extensive server network of over 6,000 in more than 60 countries. And what’s more? These servers support P2P activities no matter where you are.
Thanks to its NordLynx tunnelling protocol, it offers amazing speeds and retains a whopping 90% of its speed.
With Threat Protection, IP and DNS leak protection, and a kill switch, you don’t need to worry about exposure to online threats. For further anonymity, the service supports anonymous payment methods and lets you pay with cryptocurrency and cash.
And as for cost? It is not a hefty price to pay. You can start your journey to a safer online experience for $4.99/month for a yearly plan, which allows you to connect 10 devices simultaneously and with a 30-day money guarantee.
3. Do not click any links you don’t recognize
It is very important to be careful what links you click online. While this should go without saying, many links pose as legitimate, and you may unknowingly click and invite harm to yourself.
When you see a suspicious link, especially the ones containing seemingly random characters and numbers that cannot be resolved using public DNS, steer clear. These links containing said random characters and numbers are hard to verify as legit or safe.
Because of this, we recommend using Hidden Wiki before you use the dark web. Hidden Wiki is a directory of the various dark web links, with detailed explanations of where each link takes you.
4. Only use HTTPS sites
The “S” in HTTPS refers to security and indicates that a site has an SSL Certificate, which encrypts data between the device and a website. As Tor has top-class encryption by default, several dark web websites do not use this same certification. But, if you are on the surface web, you should only use HTTPS sites.
5. Don’t share too much online
While using the internet, don’t share your personal details with anyone, including name, phone number, address, email, and social app profiles. The purpose of using Tor is to stay anonymous, and providing any personal data online could comprise it. Plus, sharing these details on the dark web is rarely necessary.
Pros and cons of using the Tor browser
- It does not store or track cookies and keeps your online history clear.
- It enhances your privacy and keeps you anonymous online.
- While using public Wi-Fi, it makes sure your data doesn’t slip out.
- It helps you evade even the strictest cenroship.
- Lets you to stream geo-restricted content online.
- It may slows down your speed.
- Due to its illegality in certain regions, government officials can take strict actions against you.
- It is not completely safe; you would need an extra tool like VPN.
Conclusion
The Tor browser is handy in this endeavor; it routes users’ online traffic safely through the Tor network. While you access the regular web, you are relatively safe and private, but this isn’t the case with the dark web.
Speaking of how the need for full anonymity leads to searching for the means, many users are led to the dark web, a truly anonymous, murky side of the internet. The Tor browser can not assure you full protection here, which is where the need for extra programs comes in.
We recommend adding a VPN and an antivirus when surfing the dark web with the Tor browser. The VPN will ensure maximum anonymity, while the antivirus will keep your device healthy and prevent malware.
FAQs
The method for installing Tor varies depending on the device and its operating system. However, one step is common for all the methods: visiting the Tor browser webpage to kickstart the download process. The installation, however, is a different story, and we have already covered it for all known operating systems in this article above.
The installation process for Windows is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is visit the Tor browser webpage and click the Windows icon, leading to the installation process. The WIndows process is simple and requires you to allow or toggle certain settings.
Not entirely. In many countries, the installation and use of Tor are perfectly legal. However, using the Tor browser for illegal acts is possible since the network has increased anonymity. Aside from the potential for illegal actions, certain countries, such as China, Iran, and Russia, have banned it completely.
Yes, and it is simple. While you can’t install the Tor browser from the official website, Chromebook users can configure it via a few simple Linux commands.
