9
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 15:
Line 15: + + + +
Added significantly more information to assist someone in using TOR
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>
Various other aspects of the design of TOR make it even harder to penetrate. For instance. there is now frequently multiple middle nodes, spread across the globe, adding legal issues as well. The "exit node" can be anywhere in the world, as can the middle node, requiring any investigation to obtain warrants internationally. TOR also has "hidden services" which themselves connect to the internet via a TOR protocol. While a "hidden service" can still be hacked, each service must be hacked individually, ensuring that only sites with illegal content and a large audience are taken down.
Tor, however, has a few weaknesses that must be compensated by other programs. It is possible to prevent a computer accessing the network simply by censoring all known TOR IP's. To get around this, one must configure their TOR browser to access a "bridge", an uncensored IP that permits access to the TOR network. A TOR website, if breached, can also be programed to download malware that reveals the location of your computer, allowing the Feds to arrest you. Other weaknesses include various programs that take advantage of capabilities given to that type of program, such as a PDF installing extra software on your computer. Using a antivirus to protect against such malware is highly recommended. Remember that TOR is the software used by criminals of all stripes, none of whom are beyond committing crimes against you.
==References==
==References==