TOR Browser

TOR is my first experience with THE ONION BROWSER. It is supposedly one of the most private browsers available. I would love to explain how it works and what it does exactly and how this protects your privacy, but I must admit that I definitely do not have the skills to do that.

I am the average user that used to use Windows and google everyday.

As the media began reporting and as I began truly learning more about privacy and following Edward Snowden’s story my interest in protecting my personal privacy grew. There is a lot of information out there and a lot of supposed tools to help protect ones privacy and I am only beginning to learn about them.

By using different tools and less known services such as TOR browser it has had a twofold effect on my online habits.

1. I believe that my online privacy and browsing habits are being less tracked. I do notice a difference in the type of ads and the type of listings after a search in Google versus Tor. Even if I am not a computer techie and do not understand exactly how TOR does this with my basic computer skills I feel more secure just by turning away from one of the world’s largest information gather services in Google. So physically I use Tor browser to try and protect my online privacy, while psychologically it makes me feel the actions I am taking will help protect my privacy (regardless of whether it actually does: me not being computer literate enough (the placebo effect)).
2. Secondly by using Tor browser and getting off the beaten path it has lead me down avenues I would not have thought to look nor explore until I began using Tor. By downloading and installing Tor and finding more about privacy it lead me to try and learn more about computers and technology in general. This then lead me to look into Windows and Linux Mint.

The TOR browser is also supposed to be able to navigate the dark web. As of yet I must admit I have not been able to do much there. Actually nothing at all. I am not techie enough to do this, I am truly a beginner but learning and trying new things such as Tor has broadened my knowledge.

It has been almost a year since I have been using the Tor browser and to date I am very satisfied with it. I like the fact that it does truly erase the cookies and history every time. I know that when you change web pages and then try and go back, often the page will revert back to the search page. As a non techie I can understand that this permits a clean cut from the former page and limits tracking by cutting the previous page’s link. In my eyes that is good. I do see the actual effects of the browser such as less ads and pop ups. I disabled videos, so most of the videos will not automatically load when I land on a page.

The fact that Tor is a non profit and develops these types of programs and software also encourages me to use it. As I learn more about privacy and technology the more I learn about all these people who develop and work on (freeware) for the betterment of all of us. When the internet first started it was about being able to communicate between programmers, and universities. It was for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. The scientific method; the dissemination of information for the advancement of science and humankind. It was a true democracy.

As time went on the internet seemed to change for me, when browsing with Google and using Windows for example I feel that I am being served information that yes the computer thinks I will like, but also feels like rewarmed leftovers. It feels inorganic, if I can best describe the feeling. It is always the same type of ads the same type of stories and information. I understand that this is big stuff (Cambridge Analytica) but yes that is the feeling I get and was beginning to notice it.

So when I see all these developers ensuring that the internet remains free and democratic and that they do this simply for the passion and love of sharing technological information with their peers and all others inspires me to take my actions.

So Tor browser was it for me. The only drawback is that many times will not load up certain web pages, or will not load them up properly. This however is precisely because Tor is busy disarming all the tracking applications running in the back ground. So it is definitely worth it. It has never crashed on me and is very reliable.

If you are not sure about Tor the least you can do is try it. You can check out other information about it on the web and visit the website. As a non techie I am satisfied that it helps protect some of my online privacy. It browses good like I need it to, it enables me to get away from all mighty Google once in a while, and I feel that I have become part of this whole other tech community that keeps interesting me and challenging me to learn new things. Tor was my first step to becoming more computer literate and I am grateful.

Presently I use Tor on my windows laptop and will be installing it on my Linux Mint Driving Miss Daisy laptop shortly.