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[[File:Tor Logo.jpg|thumbnail|The Onion Router Logo|200px]]

[[File:Tor Logo.jpg|thumbnail|The Onion Router Logo|200px]]

'''Tor''' is free [[open source]] software for [[anonymous communication]]. It enables users to surf the Internet, chat and send instant messages [[anonymous]]ly.  

'''The Onion Router''' (often represented by '''Tor''')is free [[open source]] software for [[anonymous communication]]. It enables users to surf the Internet, chat and send instant messages [[anonymous]]ly.  

The Tor Project operates a group of volunteer-operated internet server which take messages from internet users and then forwards them to the intended internet website.  Typically, an internet website will know the IP address and characteristics of each user.  However, with Tor, the internet website thinks that the Tor server is the internet user, when in fact, the Tor server forwards the information back to the actual user without disclosing the identifying data to the website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en|title=Tor Project Overview|accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref>  The Tor Project also provides software including the Tor web browser, Orbot (which provides Tor for Android devices), and [[Tails (operating system)|Tails]] (an operating system that is preconfigured to operate Tor safely).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torproject.org/index.html.en|title=Tor Project|accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref>

The Tor Project operates a group of volunteer-operated internet servers which take messages from internet users and then forwards them to the intended internet website.  Typically, an internet website will know the IP address and characteristics of each user.  However, with Tor, the internet website thinks that the Tor server is the internet user, when in fact, the Tor server forwards the information back to the actual user without disclosing the identifying data to the website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en|title=Tor Project Overview|accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref>  The Tor Project also provides software including the Tor web browser, Orbot (which provides Tor for Android devices), and [[Tails (operating system)|Tails]] (an operating system that is preconfigured to operate Tor safely).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torproject.org/index.html.en|title=Tor Project|accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref>

Tor is an acronym derived from the original software project name The Onion Router. Tor makes it hard to track internet activity of specific users.  

Tor is an acronym derived from the original software project name The Onion Router. Tor makes it hard to track internet activity of specific users.  

In 2014, the Russian government offered a $111,000 contract to "study the possibility of obtaining technical information about users."

In 2014, the Russian government offered a $111,000 contract to "study the possibility of obtaining technical information about users."

Tor was thought out to protect US intelligence online, and was originally made by a US [[Navy Seal]]. Development started in 1997 by DARPA,  an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. However, in 2002 the Naval Research Laboratory released the code for Tor under a free license.

Tor was created to protect US intelligence online, and was originally made by a US [[Navy Seal]]. Development started in 1997 by DARPA,  an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. However, in 2002 the Naval Research Laboratory released the code for Tor under a free license.

Even subsequent government studies have concluded that Tor is difficult to infiltrate, because the government would have to penetrate all three computers handling a particular message to be able to trace it back to its origin.  Because the number of active Tor nodes is large, and the middle node is assigned at random, most of the node computers on a Tor network would have to be compromised for the privacy of the messages to be broken.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-01-23/tor-anonymity-software-vs-dot-the-national-security-agency|title=The Inside Story of Tor, the Best Internet Anonymity Tool the Government Ever Built|date=January 23, 2014 |work=Bloomburg Business|accessdate=February 29, 2016}}</ref>

Even subsequent government studies have concluded that Tor is difficult to infiltrate, because the government would have to penetrate all three computers handling a particular message to be able to trace it back to its origin.  Because the number of active Tor nodes is large, and the middle node is assigned at random, most of the node computers on a Tor network would have to be compromised for the privacy of the messages to be broken.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-01-23/tor-anonymity-software-vs-dot-the-national-security-agency|title=The Inside Story of Tor, the Best Internet Anonymity Tool the Government Ever Built|date=January 23, 2014 |work=Bloomburg Business|accessdate=February 29, 2016}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

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